Whenever one of these attacks took place, usually every day or two, Barak's response was always the same. "We shall know how to respond," he would intone to anyone who would listen. He would then duck back into the negotiating room and offer more concessions to Arafat in return for the increased murder rate in the streets of Israel.
Since Ariel Sharon was elected, the number of attacks outside the Gaza Strip has decreased slightly. But that hasn't stopped more Jews from being murdered in drive-by shootings or standing at bus stops. In addition, the number of attacks against the towns in the Gaza Strip has increased, and the past week has featured mortar shells being fired regularly from the Gaza Strip into towns in pre-67 Israel in a clear, aggressive act of war.
Until now, Sharon has been getting settled in office, spending time determining policy, and trying to figure out just what his response should be to attacks by Arabs against Israel. Until now, his response has been that "We shall respond appropriately" to the constant acts of violence aimed at Israelis.
Today, the wait is over. This afternoon, Arabs opened fire at the Jewish neighbourhood in Hevron, killing 10-month-old Shalhevet Tehiya Pass, and wounding her father Yitzchak.
Ariel Sharon was elected largely because Israeli voters were tired of Barak's rhetoric. Words are not an appropriate response to the kind of terror that Israel has been suffering since September. Barak, as a former IDF Chief of Staff, should have known this. But he could not offer anything more than platitudes when Jews were murdered. As a result, Barak has left the scene, to be replaced by Sharon. Sharon is also a former General in the IDF, but one whose political credentials are far more weighty than Barak's. He is a recognized hawk with an understanding of Israel's security concerns that is based on more than 50 years as a leading military officer and politician.
Internal Security Minister Uzi Landau, until now an outspoken hawk, was on radio and television this evening pleading with Israelis to place their trust in the government and the military and the response they choose to utilize against this attack.
Until now, Sharon has been learning the ropes of the Prime Minister's office. That is understandable. But the senseless unprovoked murder of a ten-month-old baby is not understandable. Sharon now has a choice. He can continue responding to violence with platitudes, as has become the norm for all Israeli Prime Ministers of the past ten years, or he can respond with the action that is now called for beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Landau's request for support is one that I can agree with, but only provided that the government's action is worthy of support. If the government continues with inaction as a response to the murder of Jews, then it will deserve to go the way of the previous government. Heroes deserve to remain in office. Cowards deserve to be sent home, just as Barak was.
Copyright 2001. Yehuda Poch is a writer living in Israel. Reproduction in electronic or print format by permission only.
