From the other side of the bench — Do something, Mr. Olmert

By David Seidemann

Issue of Dec. 5, 2008 / 8 Kislev 5769

For those that still don’t believe that the Torah is timeless and speaks to all generations, study the last few portions of the week. Therein you will find Yishmael described as a wild being who relishes weaponry. Therein you will find Eisav described as the epitome of selfishness and self indulgence.

The two came together on my TV screen last Thursday. At the same moment that the main screen was describing the latest barbaric acts of murder and mayhem at the hands of the Islamists in Mumbai, the news ticker on the bottom detailed the death of a Walmart employee trampled to death by self indulgent descendants of Eisav that just had to be the first ones to purchase the latest in electronics.

Not much has changed since the original Eisav and Yishmael walked this earth, nor can it be expected to change unless “they” are dealt with utilizing the same resolve and ferocity with which they act. They are not interested in talk or idle threats. They know only one way and either they are neutralized and defanged or they will kill us and ruin society as we wish it to be. End of story.

To believe otherwise is patently foolish and emanates from a deeply disturbed psyche that ignores self preservation.

Rabbi and Mrs. Holtzberg, OBM, without knowing so, months ago hosted the very terrorists that murdered them. Posing as “tourists,” the animals dressed as humans partook of Chabad’s hospitality only to use their visit to survey the premises for the ultimate attack. I think it is safe to assume that no one would willingly play host, providing shelter, food and a warm place to sleep to someone whose intentions are to ultimately kill them.

I think we would all agree that if we knew someone who was providing necessities of life to their eventual killers, we would be the first to drive that “host” to an insane asylum. Do we know any such insane hosts? Of course we do. You make the plane reservations, I’ll drive Olmert and company to the asylum.

There is a concerted effort to have George W. Bush, in his final days in office, pardon Jonathan Pollard. I am in favor of it, as all of us should be. It would preserve Bush’s legacy at least on the Jewish/Israel front. A similar appeal should be made to Ehud Olmert.

In your final days in office, Mr. Olmert, do something positive. Before you leave in shameful disgrace, do something to avenge the blood of all those of our brethren that have died or been kidnapped or both, under your watch. Do something that will have permanent ramifications that will revoke the welcome mat from those sons of Yishmael that maim and kill us after being your guests in our homeland. Avenge the blood of those killed by animals you refused to hunt down. Avenge the blood of those killed by animals you gave food, water, electricity and jobs to. Avenge the blood of dead Israeli soldiers you traded for living, breathing, wild men who have borne arms and caused terror since Biblical times.

In your final days before you depart, after you fed the enemy and then served us up to the enemy, do something, anything to show the world that Jewish blood is not cheap. Do something, anything, that will reassure fathers and mothers that their young children who are defending Israel are more important than a “peace agreement” with those that are searching legitimacy.

In your final days before you are forced to leave public office, do something, anything that shows the world that the Jewish homeland’s borders will remain where they are today, with defensible borders, with borders that not only provide security, but with borders that reflect a connection to the Bible. For without the proclamation and understanding that Israel today is the Israel of the Bible, we might as well set up shop in Uganda.

Do something, Mr. Olmert, anything that will stop Israel from being the laughing stock of the world, a nation with the ability to defend itself that refuses to do so.

As I write this article, Olmert is preparing to release 250 Palestinian prisoners that were intended to be used as bargaining chips for the release of Gilad Shalit. Shalit is still far from home as Olmert begins the process of playing host to yet another 250 of them.

So why shouldn’t they laugh at us? Why shouldn’t they continue to plan our demise? Do something Mr. Olmert, anything to show that they are wrong and you, and we are strong.

Do something, Mr. Olmert, before you leave, anything that shows that in your heart of hearts, beneath the cloak of a political image, that shows your allegiance to your Jewish roots.

I am not foolish enough to believe that Mumbai is the final resting place of terror. I am not naïve enough to believe that the curtain has come down on the final act. But on the other hand, I have not been beaten to the point that in spite of the pogroms, the wars, the holocaust, the suicide bombers, I have not been beaten to the point where I abandon faith in our ability to outsmart and outduel Yishmael and Eisav. Do something, Mr. Olmert, anything that shows that you haven’t given up either.