Thank you Edith,

Today is Tisha B'Av. This day of mourning has been commemorated for exactly 2587 years. In the year 586 before the Common Era, our first Temple fell and the Jews were taken into exile. As we sit every year on the 9th of Av on the floor and lament, we repeat the words which were uttered then: "We sit on the rivers of Babylon and cry and we remember Zion." But the Jews returned to their homeland, re-built the Temple and thanked God. In time however, complacency set in, then over-confidence and later quarrel broke out between the Jews about a variety of issues. A deep split wounded the unity of the people.

When Israel was attacked again in 68 C.E., the division amongst the people impeded the fight of the heroic defenders and the second Temple fell. It happened again on the 9th of Av. The attackers were people from a foreign land - the Romans. Palestinians did not exist at that time at all.

In the third chapter of the struggle for their homeland, it took the Jews almost 2000 years till they returned again. But they returned. After the long dark period of exile and persecution, the deliverance and heroism of newborn Israel caused exhilaration and gratitude to the Almighty. The sworn affirmation of Israel was; "Massada will never fall again."

After two thousand years, a newly and artificially created people, the Palestinians took it over to replicate the Roman's victory and to destroy Israel. And among the Jews, the old plague of complacency, overconfidence and quarrel set in.

The tactic of the Romans was forthright attacks against Israel. The Arabs tried the same, but failed. So they invented instead a combined strategy, consisting of infamy, defamation, provocation and murder. The aim was to dehumanize the Jews and make them a Pariah, so that the pressure of the world would help destroy Israel. The Palestinians bitterly presented accusation are untrue and endless The Jew stole their land. The Jews have special delight in killing of Arab children. The Jews poison their wells and infect them with Aids. Jews murder innocent people. Jews invented the Holocaust. Jews desecrate their Holy Places, whereas a Jewish present in the Holy Land never existed. There never was a Jewish State and no Jewish Temple. And Jewish "settlers," sit on the land belonging to the Arabs. Lies, lies and more lies.

A Jewish settler is not a "settler." He is resident of Israel on Jewish land. That Israel had to take possession of its land in a war of defense does not make it less valid, maybe even more. No one calls the Mongols - settlers in Hungary or Finland. The British - "settlers" in Australia. Germans -"settlers" In Amishland, Americans - "settlers" in California. Not a single one of these and many other similar "settler-countries," have by far such a long history and right in their places than the Jews.

The Arab tactic was insofar successful, as world-pressure hindered Israel to protect itself in a way, as each of these countries would have normally done under similar circumstances. At the beginning of the "Peace-Process," the majority of Palestinians opted for peace and peaceful negotiations. This information could not have been obtained by an official survey, as there is no Democracy. The information is based on polls taken. Now, after Israel's withdrawal, 98% of the Palestinian population live under Palestinian rule, yet the new polls show 82% opt for war and 74% even for suicide bombings. The Palestinians, incited by their deceitful leadership believe that by killing innocent people they will succeed by making Jewish life miserable and to get the infidel out of their country.

Israel will never imitate the despicable brutal Arab murderers. But we should not be surprised when the "settlers" will protect themselves and make life equally miserable for the Palestinians. As legal defense is not permitted, maybe the Arab tactic used on Arabs will teach them to stop shooting and take instead the stretched out Israeli hand in peace.

We are used to evaluate the situation of Israel by putting on standards of politics, power, interest, oil etc. We mostly omit the most important factor, the word of God. It is his word, his command and his supreme judgement: "This is the land he gave to the Jews." Massada will not fall again.

I am Barry Cohen

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