by Dr. Haim Shine
It's very important that the Arab population in Israel and their leaders decide -- whether they are adopting the Palestinian narrative that sees Israel as an enemy state -- or they are citizens of the state in every sense of the word
Friday's terrorist attack
on the Temple Mount was an act of fanatical hatred and one of the most
dangerous attacks in recent years. The murderers doubtlessly intended to
light things up at one of the most volatile, sensitive spots in the
Middle East, if not the world.
Only the courage of the
Border Police officers, who paid heavily for taking on the terrorists,
prevented the situation from becoming who knows how much worse. What was
especially terrible was the fact that the attack was carries out by
residents of Umm al-Fahm -- Israeli citizens.
The terrorists are the
latest in a long list of Israeli Arabs who have either been directly
responsible for or helped others take part in subversive, illegal, or
terrorist activity: the terrorist attacks at the Dolphinarium in Tel
Aviv; the Nahariya train station; the Netanya shopping center; Cafe
Moment and the Hebrew University cafeteria in Jerusalem; the Simta bar
in Tel Aviv -- not to mention Israeli Arab MKs smuggling cellular phones
to imprisoned terrorists or taking part in a flotilla in which IDF
soldiers were attacked.
Of course, Israeli
Arabs must not be blamed as a group for the acts of individual
terrorists from the sector. But anyone can understand that for an
individual to commit a terrorist act, he or she needs social
infrastructure, ideas, and politics that support it. The people who
commit terrorist attacks don't act in a vacuum; they will press the
trigger on a suicide vest only when they have the support and
recognition of the people among whom they live.
It's very important
that the Arab population in Israel and their leaders decide and make it
clear whether they are adopting the Palestinian narrative that sees
Israel as an enemy state that must be fought, frightened, and whose
existence should be nullified, or whether they are citizens of the state
in every sense of the word, including being loyal to the state and its
laws. One cannot be a member of the Knesset, swear allegiance, and at
the same time provide strategic advice to archmurderer Yasser Arafat and
his successor Mahmoud Abbas, who is responsible for incitement to
terrorism and funding it. It is likewise unacceptable to condemn the
"killing of innocents" while referring to people who commit murder. One
cannot claim that the killers of the three unarmed teenagers Gil-ad
Shaer, Naftali Fraenkel, and Eyal Yifrach aren't terrorists and cast
them as freedom fighters, while at the same time demanding societal
equality.
The religious,
municipal, educational, and political leadership of the Israeli Arab
sector should rethink its path. Every additional attack in which Israeli
Arabs play a part will lead to a dangerous clash that could tear apart
the fragile bonds that have been woven between Jews and Arabs over the
years. Anyone who plays with fire shouldn't be surprised when he finds
himself burned.
Dr. Haim Shine
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=19431
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