ISIS NOW HAS a presence on the Golan Heights and in the Sinai
- the latter no doubt being entered via the Gaza strip. ISIS attacked five
Egyptian check points and in the ensuing battles there were over 70 deaths. The
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has, probably with ancient Rome in
mind, said "We see ISIS at the
gates …"
– the gates being Israel's eastern and western borders.
If it
is proven that ISIS used tunnels built by Hamas to enter the Sinai, then Hamas
would be as culpable as ISIS for the Egyptian deaths that have occurred. Since
the removal of Morsi as president of Egypt, Hamas has been hard pressed to
supply its people with black market consumer products tunnelled into Gaza from
Egypt. Morsi and Hamas are both members of the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas did
very well out of Morsi's presidency. A blind eye was turned to black-marketing.
Hamas
collected millions in 'import' duties; and when the practice was ended by
Egypt's current president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Hamas made several attempts at
taking on Egypt in the Sinai but failed; and if a link can now be established
between Hamas and ISIS, then the Palestinian cause will suffer the loss of much
sympathy in the West – especially after the events in Tunis.
ISRAEL NEEDS the West's support more today, than at any time
in its short lived history as a modern democratic state – still a rarity in the
Middle East. But in Washington we have for the first time an administration
headed by a president that has always been cool toward Israel (in the American
president's case; I would suggest hostile; for reasons it is better not to go
into here[1]).
Israel,
without the support of America stands alone. Israel is portrayed by the Left in
this country at least, as a Goliath and the Palestinians, as the heroic
underdog David. It is a blasphemy of the reality. It would be true if the
Israelis were only up against the Palestinians. But of course we know they are
not. Historically they have had to look beyond the Palestinians toward Egypt,
the Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and in the modern age to Iran. In fact all Arab
countries wish the state of Israel to depart the Middle Eastern stage and have
made two attempts in 1967 and 1973 to bring this about. The 'Goliath' Israel
has more to consider than the Palestinians. They have always had to defend
their nation from the Arab world itself – this is the context; this is the
reality; and to suggest that Israel is the Goliath is asinine at the very
least.
IF ISIS COUNTINUES on its savage way with a limited Western
response; their Caliphate will eventually try to integrate Israel itself into
it; not into a Palestinian state but as an Islamic one which will be
incorporated into their Grand Caliphate. The Palestinians will be no nearer to
their beloved state than they are today - if successful in defeating the
Israelis and by driving them back into the Diaspora the Palestinians think
themselves 'liberated' – then no such concept exists under ISIS. So if Hamas
did allow ISIS to use their tunnels to enter the Sinai and attack Egyptian
security forces, then it was a desperate measure based on a fit of piqué at the
way they had been treated by Morsi's successor, as well as a historical hatred
of Israel.
Benjamin
Netanyahu is a hard man. His hero is Winston Churchill whose photo he keeps in
his office – while Obama removed a similar photo of Churchill from his office
in the Whitehouse the moment he entered it. Netanyahu is, for all his faults,
which I recognise,[2] is
the best man for the job of keeping Israel secure at a time when the state
faces opponents who treat diplomacy as a means to an end; and are prepared to
lie and cheat to serve their ends. Israel has always understood the importance
of intelligence gathering surrounded as she is (unlike any other nation) by
enemies who wish to see her state wiped from the face of the earth.
ISIS is
a new force on the intelligence radar for Israel. So far Mossad has managed to
adapt to all conditions to keep the state of Israel safe. It now faces its
greatest challenge; greater than the threat from Syria which is now in turmoil
- but it is still left wondering about its outcome. Israel has always believed
in the part of the world they existed in and were familiar with – it is summed
up in this one expression; it is better the enemy you know; and Israel would
sooner see the Syrian president Assad overcome ISIS and return to the old
hatreds, than see ISIS become victorious.
Israel
is now feeling the impact of ISIS on its borders. This impact will grow
exponentially as the ISIS advances continue without meaningful Western
intervention. Israel must now consider itself alone. The effete West troubled
by their ruling liberal consciences that condemned Israel as war criminals when
last year they took on Hamas in Gaza, must now stand alone without any support
from the USA; while, that is, Obama remains in power.
Israel
has always had to fight its corner. These are desperate times for Israel, and
they can no longer, under Obama's presidency, rely upon America when they need
it. Obama dislikes Netanyahu and would have liked to have seen a more liberal
prime minister elected.
Netanyahu,
like Churchill, is a war time leader. War time leaders are gifted to perform
their primary function of saving the nation they dearly believe in which was
the case with Churchill, and now with Netanyahu. Netanyahu is a war time leader
like Churchill and must be supported in his task of keeping the state of Israel
safe.
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