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Jewish World Review June 21, 2006 / 25 Sivan, 5766 Short Bites … By Ed Koch
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
The Democrats strongly believe they can take control of Congress in November. But if they are to succeed, they
better stop counting their chickens and start getting some real leadership in both the House and Senate.
Recently the Republicans ran circles around the Democrats, securing a vote on a resolution that, according to The
New York Times, "promises 'completion of the mission' in Iraq and rejects any 'arbitrary' deadline for an American troop
withdrawal."
Democrats in the House fell into the trap. According to The Times, "Democratic leaders said they did not try to
persuade members to vote a party line. More than half of the 42 Democrats who voted for the resolution were from the
South; several of the others were from conservative districts elsewhere." The Republican-sponsored resolution passed by a
vote of 256 to 153. Twenty-five percent of Democrats voted for it.
The more intelligent course would have been for all Democrats to "abstain," with their leaders saying that the
Democrats will not vote on non-binding issues intended solely for partisan political purposes and having no substantive effect.
In the Senate, Democrats are in disarray seeking to offer a counter resolution. Some Democrats want to set a date for
withdrawal, while the majority of Democrats seek to fudge that issue. To win in November, Democrats need better
leadership.
Israel's response to the rocket shelling of its towns by Hamas terrorists and their allies is paying off. The Hamas
government now recognizes that it is suffering more than the Israelis. The Israelis have counter-fired nearly 6,000 artillery
shells into Gaza, responding to the more than 600 rockets fired by the Palestinians.
The Palestinians have killed eight people and the Israelis have killed 80. On June 16, The New York Times, quoting a
Hamas leader, reported, "'I spoke today with the Prime Minister and he said we definitely want quiet everywhere,' the
spokesman, Ghazi Hamad, said Thursday on Israeli radio, referring to Ismail Haniya, the top Hamas leader. 'We are
interested in a cease-fire everywhere.' He later qualified that, saying Israel would have to stop all attacks against Palestinians
in both Gaza and the West Bank. But he also said that in that case, Hamas would attempt the difficult task of restraining other
Palestinian militants from firing Qassams on their own. In Gaza the launchings are generally regarded as legitimate resistance in
the wider war against Israel. Israel responded with its own condition -- that the rocket attacks end -- but did not dismiss the
offer. 'If this terrorist activity ceases, of course we will be more than happy to cease our defensive measures,' said Mark
Regev, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry."
Moral of the story: Israel is not a punching bag. You punch them, they will punch you back, and with ten times the fire
power. The Palestinians will not win these wars of attrition. They lost the two intifadas and are losing the current battle of
rockets and artillery. Interestingly, even in countries in the European Union that have traditionally supported the Palestinians,
public opinion is shifting. Guysen Israel News (www.guysen.com) reports, "According to a poll carried out by the American
research institute, Pew, Israel has a wide support base in Europe. In Germany, 37% of those interviewed were in favor of the
Jewish State in the conflict with the Palestinians and 18% on the side of their enemies, whereas two years ago, 24% sided with
Israel and a similar amount with the Palestinians. In France, 38% side with Israel against 38% who are pro-Palestinian. In
2002, only 19% were pro-Israel (and 36% pro-Palestinian). The poll was carried out with the participation of 17,000
people." More and more people are coming to see that it is Israel, not the Palestinian leadership, that is truly working for
peace.
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JWR contributor Edward I. Koch, the former mayor of New York, can be heard on Bloomberg Radio (WBBR 1130 AM) every Sunday from 9-10 am . Comment by clicking here.
© 2006, Ed Koch |
Mitch Albom | |||||||||||
