The Knesset doesn't care about the will of the people

Ever since the results of the Israeli elections were announced, we’ve been hearing non-stop about “the will of the people.” Every ridiculous idea proposed by the far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties is met with the same response - the people have decided.

 

That notion, however, is incorrect. The people didn’t vote to accept a list of demands made by the Agudat Israel or Shas parties. Although it’s true the right-wing and ultra-Orthodox bloc won some 56.22 percent of the overall vote (including the parties that didn’t pass the threshold), it doesn’t mean the people have decided against a new IDF draft law, intended to draft the ultra-Orthodox to the military.

MKs Rafi Peretz and Aryeh Deri at the 21st Knesset's opening meeting (Photo: Amit Shabi)

 

It also doesn’t mean the people decided to annex the West Bank, increase budgets for Haredi education, and exempt the ultra-Orthodox from studying core subjects (Math, English, Science and Hebrew). And it certainly doesn’t mean the people decided to grant those accused of fraud protection from indictment.

  

In the existing coalition system, an excessive amount of power is given to small parties that barely pass the electoral threshold, and following the April 9 vote, the amount of such parties has grown significantly. The small parties in Israel are not concerned with preserving a stable political environment and its integrity. These parties have an agenda and they don’t really care what the general public wants.

  

Small parties have the power to impose their will, even if it means going against the popular opinion on certain issues. A unity government (even if it’s headed by the right-wing), would have reflected the will of the public much better than a right-wing and ultra-Orthodox coalition. Unfortunately, it will not happen even if the majority prefers it.

File photo: MKs Yaakov Litzman and Aryeh Deri; 'the people didn't decide against against a draft law for the ultra-Orthodox'' (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg, Avi Mualim)

  

The sad truth is that having a consensus within the coalition on certain issues doesn’t make it a popular opinion among the general public. That's the flaw in the system. Former center-left coalitions (just like the right-wing ones) were also forced to yield to extortion from small coalition partners, threatening to bring about a collapse of the government. Thus, the people are not the ones who decide. It’s the minority that does and imposes it on everyone else.

  

This issue becomes much more serious when a ruling party proposes restoring legislation granting Knesset members parliamentary immunity in order to protect its leader from an upcoming indictment. This sort of proposal, that would turn the Knesset into a safe haven for criminals - has nothing to do with the will of the people.

Not only did the people not decide on exempting Netanyahu from an indictment. Election contenders themselves said that they won't support bids that would make the Knesset a felon's sanctuary.

The 21st Knesset's opening meeting (Photo: EPA)

Netanyahu said, just a day before the elections, that "there will be no immunity law" on his interview with channel 13 news. Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein and MK Gideon Saar, both Likud Party members, also said they won't support legislation that proposes immunity. It's true, promises given during election campaigns are often quickly broken, for a million excuses. However, one thing must be clear: the people didn’t decide on immunity — not for the prime minister, nor for others.

I must confess. I've been writing against the rule of judges for years, the rule that is supposedly there to save us from dangerous politicians. History shows that when such politicians come to power, no court can save the public from them. And in many cases, politicians are far more enlightened individuals than judges.

But will we be seeing dangerous legislation in Knesset's term to come? Let's hope not. But if we do, we must remember that it isn't going to be because the people had decided on it. It's going to be because dangerous politicians have decided to trample the will of the majority.

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Islamic Jihad tries to dictate events in Gaza

In the past weeks, according to Israeli military sources, there are signs the Islamic Jihad plans to escalate tensions between Israel and the Gaza strip.

Notably Jihad's efforts to place a large explosive devise on the border targeting Israeli troops and culminating with the launching of a long-range rocket which landed off the shore of Israel late Sunday night.

Rocket launch from Gaza (Photo: Avi Roccah)

These actions by Islamic Jihad are taken without the knowledge or consent of the Ruling Hamas faction and are in fact meant to impede efforts by Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, with Egyptian mediation, to reach a long-term ceasefire arrangement with Israel, that if reached, will deal with some of the suffering by the civilian population, and is also expected to improve Hamas's dire economic situation.

Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yaha Sinwar

Progress towards such an agreement has been made. As a good will gesture, Israel expanded Gaza's fishing zone considerably, for the first time increasing the numbers and variety of fish, contributing to the local economy.

Islamic Jihad's leadership aims to disrupt this course of events even if publicly they say they support it.

Though a Suni Jihadist movement the Islamic Jihad takes its direction and support from Iran.

Ziad Nahala, Islamic Jihad's chief, is intent on maintaining the organization's relevance as the spear head of resistance to Israel

Ziad Nahala

Islamic Jihad's motivation is twofold. On the one hand it is attempting to foil and long-term ceasefire agreement and on the other,

it intends to disrupt Israel's Independence Day festivities and the Eurovision song contest due to take place in Tel Aviv next Month.

Israeli military, Monday, named Islamic Jihad's commander in Gaza city, Baha Abu Al Ata, as personally responsible for the rocket launch on Sunday. Israel wishes to signal to Hamas that as the rulers of Gaza, they too, are responsible for Jihad's actions and cannot claim to be in the dark about who is to blame for the rocket fire.

Islamic Jihad Gaza commander Baha Abu Al Ata

Israelis are also notifying Al Ata directly that he is in the cross hairs and must take into consideration possible retaliation from Israel.

The renewed restriction on fishing, bring home to Hamas, Israel's position, that they, Hamas, are ultimately responsible for everything in Gaza.

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Israel should prepare for the day China will rule the Middle East

When a senior Israeli security official was recently asked who will rehabilitate Syria, ravaged by a decade-long civil war, he replied without hesitation - the Chinese. This has been the prevailing assumption among the high-profile Israeli security experts over the past two years, and it’s no longer just an academic assessment.

This development requires the Israeli government to prepare for a new Middle East in which China plays a key role. Israel's research and assessment institutes - both governmental and military - should have already made plans for what happens once China establishes its presence on Syrian territory. The Israeli government, however, seems to make decisions after the damage is already done.

Back in 2015, Israel allowed a Chinese company to operate parts of the Haifa port for the next 25 years, with an option to extend it for another 25. The decision was made without fully understanding the implications of long-term Chinese involvement in a key strategic infrastructure. The Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Finance were certain they were being sophisticated and everyone would get to enjoy the crumbs of Chinese trillions. But the crumbs come at a price when it comes to not only politics, but security as well.

Syrian flag on the Israel-Syria border (Photo: Reuters)

The Americans claim the Chinese involvement in the Haifa port activities is a blow to US national security, and the day when Israel will have to decide between US and China is not far away. As a result, the government is now trying to hurriedly amend the arrangement with the Chinese in order to soften the blow as far as the White House is concerned.

The Chinese involvement in Syria could be much more dramatic and complicated. The rehabilitation of the war-battered country is a project that would cost trillions and would most likely take decades to complete. Since the start of the civil war in 2011, the Syrian economy had lost some $ 250 billion, half of the country’s inranstrucure was destroyed, six million Syrians fled the state, and an additional four million became refugees in their own homeland.

Some estimate that restoring the country to its pre-2011 condition will take up to 30 years. The Russians don’t have the ability to invest in Syria beyond military infrastructure, while Iran (another ally of President Bashar Assad’s regime) needs to rehabilitate itself first following the reintroduction of US sanctions on the Islamic Republic. The Americans have no interest in investing there, the Europeans only seem to invest their optimistic rhetoric and not money, while the Gulf states and Saudi Arabia would never do anything that could potentially strengthen the Assad regime due to its close relationship with Tehran.

This leaves the Chinese - who have both money and interest, as part of their $900 billion New Silk Route initiative - as the only ones capable to take on a project of this scale. The plan includes a construction of land and sea routes connecting China with Europe's largest market, while simultaneously creating Chinese dominance of future global communications. China doesn’t differentiate between national security and economic initiatives. The New Silk Road is designed to ensure China's global dominance vis-a-vis the US and Russia.  

China's Vice-President Wang Qishan with Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife Sara

Syria will never be able to pay back the Chinese government, therefore, it will be a repeat of the investment model Beijing officials have established in Africa. China is building infrastructure in many African countries and since they are unable to repay the mounting debts, the Chinese companies are taking over these countries' natural resources and subjugating state policies to accommodate China’s interests.

 

China is now involved in the economies of more than 60 countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Some of these countries have become completely enslaved by the Chinese interests. Once China has poured hundreds of billions of dollars into Syria, the Russians will sit quietly in the port of Tartus - leased to them by Assad for the next 49 years - trying to protect their assets. The Iranians will also have to behave themselves.

Israel, meanwhile, will have to deal with the fact that our border with Syria will be under the Chinese jurisdiction. When will the Israeli government begin preparing for this inevitable scenario? Most likely the day after it happens.

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Elections are over; now Israelis notice the Palestinian Authority is collapsing

Last week, UN envoy to the Mideast Nikolay Mladenov issued his report on the situation in the Palestinian Authority, waring the financial crisis it is in, endangers West Bank.

Looking at what may lay ahead, requires an understanding of how we've gotten to where we are now.

Nicolai Mladenov (Photo: AP)

In July 2018 the Knesset passed a law to withhold funds to the PA, from their legitimate tax income, collected by Israel. The amount being the exact sum spent on support to families of terrorists.

Mahmoud Abbas (Photo: Associated Press)

The law states that the Israeli minister of defense will report the exact amount that the PA payed out to these families, the previous year, and that amount will be deducted from the monthly transfer of funds. But since the beginning of 2019, no one in Israel was in any rush to enforce the law, knowing it would bring about the financial ruin of the PA.

West Bank demonstrations (Photo: AP)

So, what has happened since? In February of this year, A Palestinian murdered 19-year-old Ori Ansbacher and the right wing began asking why the law was not being applied.

The combination of pressure from his right and the upcoming elections pushed Netanyahu to ratifying the law by the cabinet.

Israel transfers an average of NIS600,000,000 ($166 million) each month, money collected as taxes for the PA. Since the law has been ratified, the amount withheld, will be approx. $11.5 million a month.

In response, Palestinian president Abu Abbas announced he will refuse to accept any of the tax revenue, if part of it is withheld, and meanwhile the PA will continue supporting the families as they have been doing, financial repercussions be what they may.

At the same time $ 1 billion in US aid previously given the PA was also stopped.

Palestinian cabinet

It appears Abbas has decided to burn down the house, in the hopes, Israel will re-think its position. But the elections were taking place, and no one was paying attention. No one but the security forces, who saw clearly where this fire would spread but still stayed silent. Who wouldn't? the entire election campaign was about showing the Palestinians who's boss.

After the elections, reality came knocking. Urgent meetings are being held at the highest levels. But is it too late.?

For the time being NIS1.2 billion ($330,000,000) are waiting in the finance ministry in Jerusalem. This months' payment will be added next week, The holy month of Ramadan is expected to compound the pressure on the PA.

The cost is felt by PA employees among them 30,000 security personnel entrusted with maintaining stability and calm in the West Bank in coordination with their Israeli counterparts. They have been receiving half of their salaries for the past three months. Their frustration is clear, and Hamas is quick to take advantage increasing their efforts to enlist security forces in exchange for a generous payment.

The trump peace plan will be rolled out in less than two months. Ramallah has already made clear it will be rejected. This too will contribute to instability in area.

Israeli officials, so far, are unwilling to back down. Abbas, while continuing globe trotting in his private jet, has cut all PA salaries in half.

The Arab league has pledged support in the sum of $100 million each month. So far only pledges were received.

Good luck to all.

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Does Jewish anti-Semitism exist?

One of the most influential newspapers in the world, the Jewish-owned New York Times decided to present the Jews with a gift in honor of the last day of Passover - a major Jewish holiday - an antisemitic caricature. The controversial cartoon shows US President Donald Trump as a blind man with a skullcap on his head, being led by a dog that looks like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. And to make sure the reader knows it is indeed the Israeli premier, the dog has a Star of David dangling from its collar.

That caricature is worth a thousand words. The rhetoric of the likes of Ku Klux Klan and far-right anti-Semites is beautifully conveyed by the caricature published in one of the world’s most liberal newspapers. That caricature erased the differences not only between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism but between the philosophies of the extreme right-wing and extreme left-wing as well.

Over the past year, the paper has consistently supported the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement that denies Israel's right to exist and has members who openly express their anti-Semitic views. Although the paper’s content usually has human rights discourse pepperd in, it can’t not hide the ugliness of racism.

Caricature in the New York Times

Australian-Iranian Imam Mohamad Tawhidi on Saturday wrote that Islamist ideology considers Jews as offsprings of monkeys, pigs and dogs. Now, claims Tawhidi, the New York Times serves to advance the global jihad agenda. The paper seems to have gotten the message, seeing as it removed the cartoon from its digital edition shortly after, admitting the caricature had anti-Semitic undertones and its publication was “an error of judgement.”

The newspaper could have been forgiven if the cartoon was their only “error of judgement.” Given the paper’s continued support for Congresswoman Ilhan Omar - who on multiple occasions made anti-Israel and anti-Semitic remarks - it’s hard to take the apology of the New York Times seriously. Every newspaper makes mistakes, the problem here is that it all seems to be part of an anti-Israel agenda.

In addition, on the eve of the Passover Seder, the paper’s Jewish readers had been treated to an article which speculated that Jesus Christ was a Palestinian. I don’t believe that the newspaper's editors are so ignorant that they don’t know Jesus’s origins, they are probably just trying to prove Trump’s notion that media does indeed publish “fake news”.

Omar, for her part, was enthusiastic about the article describing Jesus as a Palestinian, and didn’t hesitate to tweet her support for this theory. The New York Times for their part once again issued an apology in this instance as well, once again citing an error of judgement. Well, at least Omar and this newspaper - which is owned by Jews but insists on being anti-Jewish - have fallen deeply in love with each other.

The New York Times has excellent writers who don’t hesitate to criticize the paper’s anti-Israeli obsession. There is, however, something incredibly sad about the fact that a world-famous newspaper, on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Days, publishes a caricature that reminds us of something that could have been seen in Der Stürmer (German tabloid during the Nazi regime).

This whole situation provides us with an answer to the question whether Jews can be anti-Semitic? That caricature proves that yes! There is indeed such thing as Jewish anti-Semitism.

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Willful ignorance at war with knowledge

There is a world war raging between the Western world of science and conspiracy theorists who are disciples of ignorance.

Albert Einstein, it is believed, said: "I do not know with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

 

Albert Einstein (Photo: Associated Press)

The Cold War he was referring to is over and the threat of nuclear war is somewhat diminished, but Einstein, clever Jewish man that he was, still had it right.

There is a full-blown world-wide war being waged today and the weapons used in it are loose tongues, typing hands, and fingers clicking "like" buttons.

The warring sides are on the one hand the "Western world order," ascribing to clear thought, and on the other, a growing trend of denial of science, conspiracy theories and a suspicion of education.

The destructive effects of drinking bleach can be explained by science, but some people will still feed it to their young children. Why? Because they read "something interesting," or "there's a Facebook page someone clicked 'like' on," or perhaps even something someone at work, or over coffee, about drug companies just wanting to profit off your illness so they don't want you to know about a cheap, natural drug.

So millions believe the world is flat, man did not land on the moon, there are no germs because we cannot see them and vaccines make us sick.

Ascribing to non-belief is growing in Israel and is spreading to every aspect of life.

Photo: Shutterstock (Photo: Shutterstock)

We now live in a world with endless available information at our finger tips - and that includes fake news and conspiracy theories.

When this epidemic of "non-belief" begins to spread, a "bug" appears in our process of deduction, resetting our default to nonsense and not the knowledge amassed by humanity over centuries.

"I don't know that, Do you know that?" asked television host Avri Gilad on his morning show, when he dismissed findings that showed an electrical fault ignited the flames in the Notre Dame Cathedral.

His suspicion that the fire was started by Muslims, on its own, would not be so far-fetched, But Gilad is equating knowledge with non-knowledge. And that is what this world war is about.

Ironically the battlefield only exists thanks to scientific knowledge amassed over centuries, but for now, willful ignorance is sweeping the world, proving Einstein right.

If this trend is not reversed we are truly on our way to sticks and stones.

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Israeli election patterns defy popular theories

A theory circulating around, tries to explain why "the poor voted Likud." This is problematic because it is an attempt to explain something that is not true.

The poor in Israel did not vote Likud. The middle class that saw a rise in their standard of living and their social status over the past decade, voted Likud

Benjamin Netanyahu (Photo: Yoav Dudkevitch)

The poor voted for the ultra-Orthodox and Arab parties.

Why do poor people vote for ultra –Orthodox parties, when those try their best to keep them poor, is an interesting question in sociology - one I do not assume to know the answer to.

People ascribing to this theory use the southern town of Sderot and the northern town of Kiryat Shmona as validation. They must not have visited these places lately.

Sderot, despite the ongoing Gaza conflict on its doorstep, is a city on the rise. In Kiryat Shmona, Netanyahu recently opened a new medical center which is seen by the local community as progress.

Other theories tie poverty, a Mizrahi family origin (Arab countries and North Africa) and the Likud.

Likud's recently re-elected leadership is neither.

Likud voters see the party, as able to look out for their needs, as it had for the past 10 years. That is why they are Likud voters.

Likud celebrates election win (Photo: Getty Images)

These are considered and well thought decisions, reflective of their interests.

Emotional voting occurred on the other side, among the voters of the Blue and White party.

These voters did not demand to see a political platform before voting. They did not demand to see the economic platform either.

Nor did they receive a program to deal with infrastructure in, advance.

They heard just "Anyone but Bibi" and that was enough for them to cast their vote.

You could say voting for the Blue and White Party was an expression of concern over the future of Israel's democracy, especially in regards to its judicial system, which is under constant threat from Netanyahu and his cronies, but this would miss the point.

The 2019 election results can be seen as a vindication of Netanyahu by a majority of voters.

Israel's law and order establishment is under attack, so the early release of impending charges against Netanyahu should not have been made public before the elections, when millions voted to keep him in power despite them.

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The plague of burning churches on Passover

The Passover Haggadah has been read in a format familiar to our contemporaries for over a thousand years.

When it comes to the custom of the Passover Seder, almost all Jews are observant, even though following it requires considerable effort. The stomach rumbles along as hours of prayers are recited, although many are beyond the comprehension of the average listener.

A table laid for Seder night (Photo: Shutterstock)

Few are able to even utter even a complete verse without making any mistakes. The songs do make it a little easier, although the familiar melodies are often at odds with the number of syllables – a combination that demands an ability to perform linguistic gymnastics as well as sing.

The message contained within the strange text is somewhat fuzzy. It is often said that it is a pedagogic exercise whose function is to kindle the desire for freedom from the recollection of the agony of servitude.

And what in this instance qualifies as freedom? According to the Haggadah, it has nothing to do with freedom of thought - on the contrary, it is to strengthen and adhere to the doctrine of faith in God.

The Haggadah is about a release from hard labor that is followed by voluntary enslavement to the whims of God. It is not the slaves of pharaoh who initiated a rebellion – it is the shadowy force that sits in the heavens and plays "masters and slaves" like a puppeteer.

Moses, the great rebel and leader of the people of Israel, whose wonderful image so captures the imagination in the Torah, is not mentioned in the Haggadah even once.

There is no doubt that the Haggadah is not a politically correct text. The participants in the Seder are directed to rejoice in the suffering of the Egyptians and to dab drops of wine that are reminiscent of blood.

It is contrary to the teachings of the Book of Proverbs: "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles". And it is contrary to the Sanhedrin story of how God reproaches His angels at the demise of the Egyptians: "My handiwork is drowning in the sea, and you are singing."

Yet it was this schadenfreude that was expressed last week by Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, a famed and respected clergyman in Israel who had perhaps allowed the spirit of the holiday to sway his mind a little.

Notre Dame on fire (Photo: AFP) (Photo: AFP)

Answering questions about the terrible fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, he replied that a rabbi must faithfully adhere to the truth and he would therefore not express sorrow over the sight of a church in flames, although non-Jews might see that very sentiment as provocation.

Is it advisable to set churches on fire? The answer apparently is that Jews are exempt from setting fire to churches abroad, but not in Israel.

In fact, we are commanded to burn churches in Israel, but it is not worthwhile to fulfill this commandment, lest we must rebuild the burnt-out church, which is a graver sin than leaving it in its ruined state.

Rabbi Shlomo Aviner

So really, Rabbi Aviner should be commended for his thorough treatise on the "pros and cons of setting fire to churches."

It really is a joyous festival for Jews.

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Netanyahu's embrace of a serial sexual offender

It has been less than a year since the social media campaign #WhyIDidntReport gained traction, at the time when U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh was accused of sexually assaulting a number of women. But here we are with a blunt reminder of what happens when sexual harassment is entrenched in a political system - and it is thanks to none other than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

 

In the past few days we have seen Natan Eshel freely coming and going in the room where negotiations on forming a new government are being held. Eshel is Netanyahu's representative to these negotiations. Eshel was also convicted in a disciplinary court and banned from civil service by the Civil Service Commisser for taking so-called "upskirt" pictures of women in the Prime Minister's Office. And here he is, back in our lives and the corridors of power through the back door.

Prime Minister Netanyahu and Natan Eshel (Photo: Tal Shahar)

Similar criticism of his presence was made during the last coalition negotiations in 2015.

This is not a marginal role. Eshel is a key negotiator for Netanyahu, helping to decide who takes key positions in the next government, its agenda and how it will shape our lives in the years until the next elections.

Not least is the issue of how - or even if - the next government deals with deeply rooted gender discrimination, domestic violence that affects thousands of women, wage discrimination, the endless list of women who have been sexually assaulted and ignored by law enforcement and the exclusion of women from swathes of public life.

What are the chances that Eshel - who saw women as nothing more than a tool for his personal pleasure - will also worry to deal with such issues? The answer seems clear.

Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, who accused Brett Kavanaugh of assault (Photo: AFP)

What are women (and no few men) who were sexually assaulted supposed to think and feel when their prime minister honors a person like Eshel?

How can a system in charge of eradicating sexual violence to be trusted? When at the top of the pyramid sits someone who embraces another already convicted(!) of such behavior?

When by doing such a thing Netanyahu seems indifferent to the humiliation and pain inflicted on women who have been victims of sexual assault.

The #MeToo campaign launched about a year and half ago exposed the full extent of sexual assault in Western society – a plague affecting almost every woman - and demanded a firm stand against it.

A lot has been said about the need to find a solution to deal with the complaints, to change the attitude of law enforcement officials towards the victims and to put an end to the grim reality in which most women prefer not to complain because they do not believe justice will be served.

The women who launched the #MeToo Campaign on the cover of Time Magazine

 

Yet there is one other thing that needs a systematic overhaul: the politicians who set the agenda and are supposed to be the epitome of morality for millions of people, need pursue zero tolerance to sexual assault and harassment.

They should not open the door for people like Eshel in the public sphere. They need to stop excusing, turning a blind eye, saying "it's not that bad," worrying about the future of offenders, and start caring for the welfare of their victims.

This is the only way our society has a chance to heal itself of this plague, and make our private and public spheres safer, less violent and more equal. There is no better way to start than with a good example set by the prime minister.

Natan Eshel needs to be booted out of politics, once and for all.

Miriam Zelkind is director of policy and legislation at the Israel Women's Network

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The electoral base trap

Although it seems that the task of forming a government coalition is a complicated puzzle, in fact, not much has changed and the election results dictate that portfolios will be distributed more or less on a sectarian basis so that each party can have something to show its electoral base.

 

Even if ministers is keen on serving all sectors of Israeli society, most likely they will be obliged to cater primarily to their niche voters, or risk political consequences.

 

Controversial candidate for Justice Minister Yariv Levin, flanked by Regev and Bitan

Lieberman will ask for and receive the defense and immigration portfolios; his base consists of immigrants from the former Soviet Union and they gave him his mandate.

Liebermna (Photo: Ohad Z)

Yahadut Hatorah, with its eight Knesset seats, will return to the Finance Committee and Health Ministry. Their party Chairman Yaakov Litzman was once a highly popular minister of health (passing legislation for child dental care), but later became trapped in internal sectarian matters of the ultra-Orthodox populace. The party will undoubtedly also seek deputy ministerial positions in the education and housing ministries.

Litzman (C), Gafni (L) and Porush

A strengthened Shas Party will continue to be at the helm of the Interior Ministry and will probably seek expanded powers in matters related to planning and businesses operating on Shabbat. They will also seek the Religious Affairs Ministry and posts responsible for the periphery, finance and education departments.

Interior Ministry Deri

The Union of Right-wing Parties is seeking the Justice Ministry, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems determined to give it to his fellow party member Yariv Levin. They might have to suffice with the Housing Ministry, vital for approval of construction projects in West Bank settlements and Jerusalem. Although Netanyahu already promised that the Education Ministry will be manned by a Likud MK, he will have trouble following through and that post will probably go to Rafi Peretz, as the religious Zionist community highly values the post. And thus, there is nothing new under the sun. If there are no last-minute surprises and once the smoke clears from the internal Likud squabbling over portfolios, we will once again find a government whose ministers are mainly concerned with sectarian issues at the expense of the nation as a whole. In his election victory speech, Netanyahu pledged to be the prime minister of all citizens. The same must be true for ministers. This does not go to say that a politician should not have their own world view or that he or she should abandon their base voters, but they must be ready to represent even minority sectors. In a democracy, the majority ought to protect the rights of the minority. A few decades ago, we, members of the Herut Party, and earlier, in the Revisionist movement, were a minority persecuted by the majority ruling class. "It is folly to identify majority rule as the essence of freedom and democracy," wrote Ze'ev Jabotinsky, "In an ideal state, there ought to be an acceptable compromise between the majority and the minority as a permanent practice." Netanyahu won a resounding victory, but he is trapped in a situation which leaves him very little choice: he must satisfy his partners in order to form a coalition, or he will be left without a government. In order to escape the model in which ministers cater almost exclusively to their electoral base, Netanyahu should forma coalition with the Blue and White Party, or with elements of it, for the benefit of the nation. Although this might seem like an unrealistic option at this point, "never say never" is a good rule to follow in politics. Perhaps the option is still on the table.

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Perfeting intelligence gathering - the lessons of Sri Lanka terror

Israeli tourists flocking to Sinai for Passover holiday don’t seem to be taking seriously the warnings by the security officials about an imminent threat from Islamic State cells operating in the area. The reason is that over the years these warning never materialized. This time, however, I would take the calls of Israeli defense establishment seriously, as the cooperation between Israeli and Egyptian security services seems to be stronger than ever and that's exactly what Sri Lankan government appears to have failed at in the wake of the terror attacks that killed at least 359 people.

Three years ago I visited Sri Lanka along with a number of former Israeli security personnel, who gave a short seminar - to an audience of local security officers - on the subject of prevention of terror attacks. Although the officers politely listened to the lecture, it appears they had not internalized the message, since they probably felt they already had everything under control.

After all, Sri Lankan security apparatus managed in 2009 to thwart a violent, decades-long campaign by the Tamil Tigers (a rebel group demanding independence) and achieve national reconciliation. Unfortunately, as we have seen this week, nothing lasts forever.

Funeral of the victims killed in Sri Lanka terror attacks (Photo: Reuters)

The current regime in Sri Lanka failed similarly to the US government in the wake of 9/11 attacks and to some extent to our failure at the onset of the Second Intifada. In Europe too, similar failures led to a series of terror attacks in recent years. The failure stems from the lack of ability - from the government and security forces - to adapt their security response to changing conditions on the ground.

There are three lessons which can be learned from the horrific Easter Sunday attacks and all of them have - one way or the other - to do with intelligence gathering.

Firstly, the biggest difficulty in the war on terror stems from not knowing who’s the real enemy. Fortunately, today’s technology allows the security forces to access the information from even the darkest corners of the Internet and listen to any phone conversation. The advanced search engines can easily identify repeated searches related to terror activity. Yet, governments around the world still prioritize investment in warplanes and tanks rather than in advancing its intelligence capabilities.

Secondly, it’s important to establish communication between the various intelligence agencies, similar to what the United States did after 9/11 - and what Israel did 20 years ago - and what Sri Lankan government should’ve done. There was concrete intelligence information, which didn’t reach those who were supposed to act on it.

In Israel, the key event that led to an overhaul in the intelligence gathering network was a suicide bombing at Mike's Place bar in Tel Aviv in April 2003. Two terrorists with British passports flew from the UK to Jordan, from there made their way to the West Bank, then to Gaza and eventually to Tel Aviv where they carried out the attack.

Which Israeli security agency was supposed to thwart it? Well, when the two were still in England, the Mossad was responsible, when the two were in Jordan it was the Military Intelligence Directorate, when they were in the West Bank and Gaza it was the Shin Bet, and when they arrived in Tel Aviv it was at the hands of Israel Police.

Therefore, Israel came to the conclusion that it needed one big database that all the intelligence organizations could use, while maintaining their autonomy.

The final lesson to be learned has to do with the importance of international cooperation. Since the establishment al-Qaeda and Islamic State, terrorism has become a global phenomenon, and case in point, on Tuesday, Islamic State claimed responsibility for the bombings in Sri Lanka. Intelligence gathered in one country could be relevant to another. Therefore, even if there is political tension between the countries (for instance India and Sri Lanka or Israel and Egypt), security cooperation should remain the supreme interest.

These three lessons are old and well known, but unfortunately only a large-scale traumatic event on a country's own soil causes governments to finally adopt the right policy.

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Main problem with Trump's peace plan

The upcoming publication of President Donald Trump's deal of the century is putting the region on edge. Conflicting reports of the content of the peace deal are taunting us - and probably will for months more. The Palestinian Authority is anxious about the deal and even in Israel the details aren't met with much enthusiasm.

 

Israel should - for the time being - be celebrating. The details of the deal have yet to come out but it is already clear that it will be much better for Israel than any other deal proposed by a third party in recent decades.

Donald Trump with Benjamin Netanyahu after signing the recognition of Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights (Photo: EPA)

Naturally, there is much doubt over whether Trump has truly been the best US president for Israel. Think whatever you want about Trump as a person, but there is no doubt that his administration is the best we could hope for. We had yet another example of this in the past few weeks, with Trump recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Three or four years ago no one in Israel could have dreamt of such a massive gesture. So why are we still worried about the deal of the century?

  

Truthfully, the uncertainties stem not from the main contents of the deal' the main problem is with its very existence. Our painful experience as Israelis has taught us to always fear proposed peace deals because they tend to end in bloodshed.

Everyone who lived in Israel in the mid-90s remembers the rivers of blood that drowned the Oslo Accords. A wave of suicide terror attacks in the two years between September 1993 (when the accords were signed) and September 1995 murdered 164 Israelis.

Yasser Arafat and Ehud Barak at Camp David in July 2000 (Photo: Getty Images)

And a few years later, when the peace talks with the Palestinians at Camp David reached a dead end in July 2000, the result was the Second Intifada. This uprising was deadlier than the first, and claimed the lives of more than 500 Israelis alone in the 18 months between the start of the intifada and Operation Defensive Shield in Passover 2002.

These are just two examples that stand out.

The knowledge that a political process and specifically its outcome is the trigger for bloodshed causes us to fear any such process. The deal of the century is no different. Ehud Barak, who was prime minister during the Camp David summit, once said that the failure of peace negotiations exposed the true nature of the Palestinians, but it is worth it at such a deadly cost?

The attack at the Park Hotel in Netanya on the first night of Passover 2002, in which 30 people were killed (Photo: Shaul Golan)

 

Thus, while we have great appreciation for Trump's administration and its giant pro-Israeli gestures, we must caution against the danger of promoting it as the deal of the century.

The thought of trumpeting the end of the conflict through some plan or another might well prove deadly to all sides.

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Criticize the IDF, but stick to the facts

"The Israeli media is occupied with the number of vacationers visiting nature reserves. The atrocities occurring in the territories remain unseen." Thus, wrote Yariv Oppenheimer, former chairman of Peace Now, in a Facebook post.

 

What "atrocities"? Here they go again promoting slander and formulating false conspiracies; in any case, the media has in fact covered the story.

Bound teenager shot while fleeing

What happened was that there was a road accident, perhaps a hit and run, and a resident of the Palestinian town of Teqoa, teacher Fatmah Suleiman, was killed. Residents of the town embarked on a protest aimed at IDF forces and during the protest, according to Oppenheimer, "a soldier drew his pistol and shot at a bound and blindfolded teenager from short-range." Oppenheimer based his information on a post by "Sabi Ta'ayush," ostensibly an activist with Ta'ayush (a Left-wing network of Palestinians and Israelis to counter the nationalist reactions aroused by the Al-Aqsa Intifada), who based his post on one by Tamar Goldschmidt, whose Facebook page proudly features an image calling for the release of convicted terrorist Marwan Barghouti (who is serving multiple life sentences in an Israeli prison).

Yariv Oppenherimer

Goldschmidt wrote: "When the residents cannot take it anymore and have the audacity to go out and protest as they see fit, a soldier draws his pistol and shoots a bound and blindfolded teenager from close-range." I was convinced that this was merely another anti-Israel plot produced by the bizarre extreme Left. There is almost never an encounter between IDF forces and Palestinians that is not filmed from several angles. This is true in this incident as well. I viewed the video and images for myself and I asked: what indeed did occur? I referred my question to Oppenheimer, whom I know and respect, as well as to two activists who shared the video and images. Sabi added to his post: "300 views to a video clip which I uploaded of IDF soldiers losing control in the town of Teqoa and shooting at a bound boy. 562 Likes and more than 350 Shares to the horrible images that I uploaded of the event." The post added that nobody in the media has mentioned the incident, while in fact, it has been covered by several outlets. But Sabi rejected my inquiries, apparently learning from Netanyahu how to ignore journalists.

IDF provides medical care

I turned to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit to shed some light on the incident. I was told that there have been frequent disturbances at the site for some time now and that indeed soldiers shot at the lower body of the bound youth during a chase. I learned that the story was indeed true even if the description is exaggerated. The Left-wing activists refrained from mentioning that he was shot while trying to flee, as can be clearly seen in the footage. Yet there remain several question marks regarding the justification for the shooting and it is not clear why he was shot when the images show that there were soldiers in front as well as behind him. "The incident will be investigated," the IDF Spokesman told me. Publications by the radical Left must be treated with caution. There have been numerous falsities and we must not turn a blind eye. When it comes to the comments, the tone worsens. One commenter sufficed by writing one word: "Nazis." It is safe to assume that he would not write the same regarding Hamas which repeatedly calls for the destruction of the Jews. A commenter by the name of Rachel Navot wrote: "I am a second-generation Holocaust survivor and all my life I read and read in order to understand… and here I am receiving answers, here and now." Most of the responses were similar. It is manipulation; it is dehumanization. I can't recall an incident in which a Nazi soldier shot at the legs of a fleeing Jew. Nor can I recall an incident in which the Nazis provided medical care for an injured Jew. And I also cannot recall any Nazis who assisted Jews with evacuating one of their wounded. It is also not the case that the life expectancy of Jews rose under the Nazi regime or that they enjoyed a sharp increase in education. But how easy it is to simply spread lies and slander and compare IDF soldiers to Nazis. The IDF does not have a free pass with regards to criticism. Mistakes were committed and injustices too. It is correct to criticize the shooting of the fleeing Palestinians teenager, but the video and images demonstrate that it was not done out of brutality. Blowing the incident out of proportion and using terms such as "atrocities" and Nazis is no less than a blood libel.

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Unlike Ukraine, Israel already has clowns for politicians

When the news broke that a Jewish comedian with no political experience - who for years played a president on TV - won Ukraine's presidential election, it wasn’t surprising.

During his elections campaign, 41-year-old Volodymyr Zelenskiy promised to improve the country’s dire economic situation, put an end to the bloodshed in eastern Ukraine (where an armed conflict between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian groups has been tearing the area apart since 2014) and make the Internet available to residents of every remote village in the country.

The problem is with his lack of experience and questionable skills as a politician. His platform is about as realistic as me - as a fellow comedian - saying that if I became prime minister I would be able to lower the sky-high housing prices in Israel.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy hosts a comedy show before presidential election

 

On the other hand, Zelenskiy’s victory reminded me of a case I witnessed in the army. One of the veteran soldiers, who was not the sharpest tool in the box, climbed onto the roof of a sergeant’s office and declared that if he wasn't allowed to go home at the weekend, he would jump. Even though the office building was just above two meters (6.5 feet) high, everyone on the base came out to watch the “Sergeant on the Roof” show, while me and a few other young soldiers tried to convince the guy with a broken spirit not to also break his legs.

About an hour into the event, the sergeant finally came out of the office, looked on the roof and without hesitation barked at the soldier standing there: "Hello, soldier! Come down this instance!” The soldier looked at the sergeant - who himself wasn’t the most sensible of men - and to everyone’s surprise climbed down. He went straight into a military courtroom where that same sergeant explained to him there are worse things in life than not being able to go home for a weekend, for instance, not being able to go home for a month.

The point of this story is that when two loonies have an argument, there’s a good chance they will eventually solve it in a most rational way possible. So perhaps at a time when Ukraine is collapsing under the pressure of various economic, security and social problems, someone with no political experience - and no interests attached to it - will be actually able to solve the problems.

In any case, Zelenskiy’s victory is not strictly a Ukrainian issue, because he’s a part of a wave of young leaders around the world with no political experience being elected by the public that’s disgusted with politicians.

Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz (Photo: Tal Shimoni)

In the last general election in Israel we saw this phenomenon gain momentum when those voting for the inexperienced former military chief and Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz, said they prefer him simply because “he’s not Bibi.” Soon, we may see this wave of electing “non-politicians” sweeping Israeli politics as well.

If, however, you’re wondering when the Knesset will have its first comedian as an MK, then just look at those currently occupying parliamentary seats. The question is not when our comedians will become politicians, but rather when our politicians will stop acting like a bunch of clowns.

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Can Palestinians mount an effective campaign against the 'deal of the century?'

Before leaving for Egypt, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stopped for a photo-op with the Palestinian winner of the Arab Beauty Queen Pageant. The photo shows a young woman originally form Jerusalem who now lives mostly in London – full of glamour and beauty in a traditionally tailored dress. Abbas on the other hand couldn't even bring himself to smile. It is easy to understand why, he had a lengthy and discouraging day ahead.

 

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"I came here to talk to you about our relations with Trump, Israel and Hamas," Abbas began his speech by referring to the three hostile entities he is dealing with.

Mahmoud Abbas

 

Heeding to his advisors, he softened his rhetoric against Trump and decided to focus his criticism on Trump's aides. But the speech clearly laid out the depth of the historic low the Palestinian National Movement currently finds itself.

"I ask myself what is left?" said Abbas, asking the audience, made up of foreign ministers of Arab Countries who are at odds with each other, for economic aid.

 

The US decision to postpone the announcement regarding the "deal of the century" until June seems reasonable: the Trump administration is giving Prime Minister Netanyahu time to form his government coalition and since the Palestinians, and maybe the Jordanians, will run a campaign against the deal, it is best to wait until after the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan – when every Friday is prone to demonstrations and likely violence.

Trump, Kushner and Greenblatt with Saudis

On the other hand, its postponement gives the Palestinians time to organize their campaign and try to rally the Arab Countries behind them. For the time being it doesn't seem like an easy task. Although the Jordanians, with a hostile populace, already reject the deal – especially the part concerning Jerusalem - Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will do everything not to criticize Trump outright.

 

In general, it is hard to organize a campaign if you do not know what you are fighting against. "The deal of the century" seems to have become synonymous to a scheme aimed at depriving the Palestinians of the remainder of their rights, but the media blackout of the deal's particulars by Trump advisors Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt is making it hard to formulate a robust argument against the deal.

Trump with Muslim leaders (Photo: Reuters)

If the Americans were any bolder, they would have engaged in a digital campaign aimed directly at the Palestinian people, bypassing their leadership, to emphasizes the advantages of the deal for the Palestinian People. For example, naturalizing hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees and their descendants in the countries where they reside today and have resided for decades.

 

Many believe that the portion of the "deal" that deals with Jerusalem will determine the intensity of Palestinian and Arabs resistance to it. The problem is that Palestinian sovereignty in Jerusalem, even if only over Abu Dis on the eastern outskirts of the city, will put the Trump administration at odds with its evangelical support base (which supports Israeli Sovereignty over all parts of the city). On the other hand, further US support for Israeli Sovereignty over Jerusalem will give the deal's opponents a rallying point for an all-out campaign against the deal.

Ivanka Trump at US Embassy in Jerusalem inauguration

 

"Apparently the situation is not so bad if, in light of what they describe as the 'second Nakba,' Hamas and Fatah can still not even manage to sit down together in the same room, not to mention form a unity government," says an Egyptian commentator.

The Palestinians aren't stupid and know that Netanyahu is counting on their traditional rejection in order to gain further advantages from the Trump administration, or at least achieve a better footing for Israel in any future agreement — on the ruins of past agreements, from President Clinton to Secretary of State Kerry. Yet, somehow, the Palestinians are still unable to say anything in unison.

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Egypt is unlikely driving force behind 'deal of the century'

No leader, intelligence chief, or ambassador in the Arab world knows the full extent of President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plan dubbed the “deal of the century." The changes to the peace proposal are still being made and the final draft will most likely be unveiled in early June after the holy month of Ramadan. There is one change, however, that has already become quite apparent, the extent of Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi’s involvement in the agreement.

Initially, Saudi Arabia was meant to be the Arab world’s representatives in the deal, but Trump’s “excellent friend” Sisi has recently found himself in the driver's seat. Although many in the United States have an issue with both of them - Saudi leader Mohammed bin Salman is linked to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, while Sisi’s government has a problematic human rights record - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has swayed Trump's heart in favor of the Egyptian leader.

The Israeli view of Sisi is different from the way he’s perceived in the rest of the world (in some cases as a dictator). To Israeli government he is a neighbor and a partner who watches over the Sinai Peninsula - where thousands of Israelis are spending their Passover holidays - along with Israel.

President Sisi and President Trump (Photo: AP)

Sisi has in the past already been a recipient of Trump’s preferential treatment. When the Egyptian president made it clear to the White House he doesn’t intend to confront Iran - either in Yemen (where Iranian-backed Houthi rebels are trying to topple the government) or through the means of US sanctions on the Iranian regime - Sisi was given an all-clear from Trump and a warm welcome from Tehran.

Sisi’s main role in the deal - even though he probably doesn’t know all the details himself - is clear: to recruit the moderate Arab world into supporting Trump’s peace plan. The Egyptian leader can potentially recruit Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the Persian Gulf states, and perhaps even Qatar, which despite being at odds with the Saudis, maintains a warm relationship with Egypt. Sisi has already taken a step in this direction by announcing that Egypt is committed to the two-state solution.

However, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, with whom Sisi met in Cairo on Sunday, is fed up with the Egyptian leader and his domestic woes are much more pressing.

Basically, the deal is being formulated on the down low as we speak, like a transaction: Netanyahu recommended, Trump placed the order, and Sisi is the one getting the package. Egypt will lead the Arab world to accept the so-called “deal of the century”, and will be asked for its input in the proposal before all the details are finalized. In return, the Cairo administration will receive a massive economic aid package from the US government.

It seems as though Netanyahu's fingerprints are all over this peace plan, to the extent that it’s not clear who really formulated it. What is clear, however, is the advice on Egypt’s role in the long-delayed agreement is being given to the White House directly from Jerusalem.

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When the doctor is ill; Thoughts about Israel's health system

The medical profession requires long and arduous training and long working hours. Physicians often deal with life and death situations calling for quick qualified decisions made in crisis mode, compounding physical and mental stress.

Many doctors, having invested years in specializing and perfecting their skills, push themselves to the limit to recoup some of the financial costs they have incurred over time. These doctors work both in the public health system and the private sector, to which they devote the latter part of their days.

Doctors are mad (Photo: Shutterstock)

This stressful life-style impedes any attempts to rest and recuperate from one day to the next, with visible affect to their general and mental health. We just recently, learned of a number of unfortunate incidents involving doctors collapsing and even dying on the job. We also know of tragic cases of suicide among doctors at the height of their career.

A Doctor weeps (Photo: S)

An article published in the prestigious Lancet medical journal, described how doctors refrain from seeking help for their own medical and personal problems. This puts them in the same category as the homeless population, in that regard.

Most doctors are unable to perceive themselves as being ill, and are diagnosed and treated when their illness is in an advanced stage giving them less chances for recovery. Anxiety, depression, suicide and substance abuse are common.

Some doctors, specialists in heart catheterization for example, whose job requires they stand for long periods of time, wearing heavy lead-lined robes,in high-radiation environments, suffer from serious back problems and a high percentage of cancerous tumors.

The fact doctors also work in the private sector, to increase their income, means that when a doctor is sick and needs to take time off to heal, his pay, is derived from his basic public sector salary only and that is often as little as a third of his usual income. This results in doctors staying on the job when they should be on sick leave. 

Doctors are not super-humans. When coming across one, in the crowded halls of public hospitals or institutions, it would be wise to remember how much pressure they are under and how prone they are, sometimes, even to lethal diseases.

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A moon mission for all Israelis

Legend has it that when George Mallory was asked why he decided to climb Everest, the British mountaineer replied: "Because it's there."

Mallory was never hailed as the first person to reach the summit of the highest mountain in the world. He vanished in 1924 and his frozen body was only discovered 75 years later some 250m from the top.

The Beresheet spacecraft (Photo: SpaceIL/IAI) (Photo: SpaceIL/IAI)

Whether he made it or not is one for historians to debate, but it led New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay to claim the title of the first people to scale Mount Everest and return alive in 1953.

  

A few years later, on May 25, 1962, President John F. Kennedy announced that by the end of the decade that the United States would land a man on the moon.

"We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard," the president said in his historic speech. Kennedy was murdered, but his vision came true in 1969.

When the Israeli spacecraft Beresheet began its journey to the moon, there was quite a bit of criticism: why spend so much money to send a spacecraft to the moon instead of investing in health, education and welfare?

Similar criticism was heard when the manned flights to the moon began 50 years ago. The Apollo project was dozens of times more expensive than the modest Israeli spaceship, and was fully funded by the government.

Beresheet's last image of the moon before it crashed into the lunar surface

When Beresheet slammed into the moon last week, the internet was flooded with jokes about Israeli drivers, Benjamin Netanyahu's election win and even the misstep by politicians Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked that saw them crash out of the Knesset.

But despite the criticism and the mockery, it is reasonable to assume that if Beresheet had completed its mission, raising the flag of Israel on the moon and making us the fourth nation ever to land a spaceship there, it would have filled us with tremendous pride, crossing political and sectoral boundaries.

True, Likud voters would say that this achievement was down to Benjamin Netanyahu; Meretz and Blue and White voters would claim that he and Sara simply pushed their way into the control room in Yehud, since this was a purely private enterprise; and Shas and United Torah Judaism voters would say that God's hand was behind the success.

Yet for a few hours, perhaps even days, we would all have felt proud. Each of us would feel that we played a part in the achievement, even though most of us have no idea how to update software on the computer, let alone send a spaceship to the moon.

For a few hours, perhaps even days, we would all have been Israeli together. Not rightists or leftists; not "Just Bibi" or "Just not Bibi" - just Israelis. And in these bad times, that's no small matter.

Morris Kahn, left,with the Beresheet team (Photo: Yariv Katz)

At the weekend, Morris Kahn, the billionaire who sponsored the project, announced the launch of Beresheet 2 and promised that the Israeli flag would stand yet on the moon. Netanyahu also promised that the state will participate in the project this time. Here's hoping he will keep his word.

True, a moon landing will not add a single bed to a hospital ward or help a single disabled person who lives on a meagre allowance, but it will inspire hundreds of thousands of young people and prove to them, and to all of us, that the sky really is the limit.

It is as inspiring as the Israeli scientists who conquered their own personal Everest this week when they created a living heart using a 3D printer.

If you want to save the dying health system and the collapsing welfare system, I can propose a variety of alternative sources of funding. But that is a subject for another time.

Of course, there is another reason why Israel should go to the moon. Because it is there.

Excelsior.

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Who owns the Holocaust?

Russian-Israeli poet Avraham Shlonsky, having read reports of the Nazi death camps, while WWII was still raging, wrote in his poem, The Oath:

I took an oath to remember everything.

To remember it all and not to forget.

Two lines directed at Israel and its people when dealing with the Holocaust.

A Holocaust survivor at the Auschwitz death camp (Photo: AFP)

Poets are precise. They are weavers of words. Shlonsky elected to write "Not to forget anything – until the tenth generation.” He could have written "to not forgive."

He knew we would forgive. He prayed we would not forget.

Israel forgave Germans for the Holocaust years ago. In 1952, seven after the end of the war, David Ben-Gurion pronounced a new, modern Germany was now in place, and forgave the country. That same year, the reparations agreement was signed by Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett on behalf of Israel and Chancellor Konrad Adenauer on behalf of Germany.

Forgiveness brought money. German-made cars filled Israeli roads, German appliances filled homes and airliners carried tourists to and from Germany.

Berlin has become the most popular destination of young Israelis.

It is not for us to attack Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who said it was time for forgiveness.

The Germans and collaborators who perpetuated the horrors are mostly long gone from this world. Their millions of victims will never get justice. Those actually prosecuted for their crimes are a drop in the ocean.

Morality does not burden the grandchildren with the sins of their grandparents.

There is no longer a question of forgiveness. There is only one of remembering.

Despite concerns, the memory of the Holocaust as a mass extermination, has not faded nor dimmed. In fact it's intensified and become iconic in modern history. It exists in the layers of Western culture, and even the popular Star War film series portrays its villains as Nazi-esque stormtroopers.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel at Yad Vashem (Photo: EPA)

So who's Holocaust is it? As it becomes a more universal story, Jews disappear from the discourse. It is up to us to preserve its importance for us.

But in Israel the memory of the Holocaust is encased in school trips to Poland, sirens on Remembrance Dday and the obligatory visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial by foreign dignitaries.

Universities in Israel hardly teach or research it, leaving the field open to non-Israeli institutions and scholars.

If we do not learn from and about the Holocaust, as Shlonsky warned in his poem, it really will become nothing but a string of ceremonies and text.  

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