Many will remember that both Netanyahu and Barak held similar points of view prior to their terms as Prime Minister. Netanyahu published a 450-plus-page book outlining how the Palestinians were an avowed enemy of Israel, how a Palestinian State could not be tolerated, and how giving Arafat any recognition or power would be a tangible threat to Israel.
Barak, a member of Yitzchak Rabin’s cabinet and then a rising star in Labor, abstained in the cabinet vote on the Oslo Accords. Having previously served as the IDF’s Chief of General Staff, and having made a military career out of fighting Palestinian terrorism, Barak knew full well that Oslo was the most serious mistake Israel has ever made.
It is very easy to make such strong statements from the chair of retirement. Netanyahu has always been a master of rhetoric and a genius at playing the public relations game. And Barak learned very quickly the value of the great soundbite. He even beat Netanyahu at his own game by winning the election in 1999 based on slogans and soundbites.
But neither man ever lived up to their harsh anti-terrorism postures while in office. While Netanyahu did succeed for the most part in quelling Palestinian terrorism during his term, he also signed an agreement handing over the cradle of Jewish civilization – Hevron – to the leader of the Palestinian Authority, the person he now says should be the first target of the International War on Terrorism.
And Barak offered to give this same Jew-killer 97% of Judea and Samaria – the Jewish historical heartland – as a gift. That offer was rejected with a war that has now gone on for a year, and shows no sign of letting up.
It’s all fine and good for Netanyahu and Barak to call this week for an international war against terrorism. They join most other world leaders in issuing such claims. But let us not forget that Netanyahu and Barak also coddled the most powerful terrorist in the world, awarding him arms, land, political legitimacy, and a place at the head table in Washington.
And while Netanyahu and Barak were making nice to Yasser Arafat, the other world leaders who today call so strenuously for action, were condemning Israel for unnecessary use of force against Palestinian terrorists. Indeed, such calls continue today from no less a source than US Secretary of State Colin Powell.
The hypocrisy sickens me.
Copyright 2001. Yehuda Poch is a writer living in Israel. Reproduction in electronic or print format by permission only.
