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Steps That Will Improve Israel
By Prof. Paul Eidelberg
Back in April 1986, a bomb exploded in a Berlin nightclub. This was the
latest act of international terrorism of which Libya was clearly
implicated. Two Americans were killed in that bombing. In retaliation,
President Ronald Reagan ordered the bombing of Libya.
In less than two years, 720 Jews — equivalent in population terms to
39,600 Americans or 13 September 11s — have been murdered by Arab
terrorists under the Sharon Government. Not only does Sharon refrain
from aerial bombardment of Arab military targets — the policy of the
United States in Afghanistan and Iraq — but he has deliberately refused
to pursue a policy of zero-tolerance for Arab terrorism. (See The
Jerusalem Post, September 29, 2002.) Sharon gives the enemy more time
to accumulate more and deadlier weapons to kill more Jews.
There is but one way to deal with Arafat: utterly defeat and disarm his
army and try him as a war criminal according to international law. To
meet with his representatives disarms and degrades Israel. Arab
violence must be totally suppressed.
No nation at war — and Israel is at war — can survive without national
unity. But there can be no national unity in Israel unless its prime
minister exhibits Jewish national pride on the one hand, and Jewish
national purpose on the other. Hence the first thing that Israel’s
Government must do, after crushing Arafat and his PLO-Palestinian army,
is to proclaim absolute Jewish sovereignty over the Temple Mount, all of
Jerusalem, and all of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. Territorial compromise
is a formula for disaster. The enemy’s ambition extends beyond the
Green Lines.
Second, the Government should inaugurate a system of education that
imbues all students with solid knowledge of Judaism and Jewish history,
as well as with love of the Jewish people and Eretz Israel.
Third, the Government must initiate legislation that would repeal the
“grandfather clause” of the Law of Return, which has enabled hundreds of
thousands of gentiles to enter Israel.
Fourth, the vast majority of Israel’s Arab citizens identify themselves
as “Palestinians,” and their Arab representatives in the Knesset violate
the law prohibiting any party that negates the Jewish character of the
State. These Arab MKs must be expelled from the Knesset, and those who
have engaged in sedition should be deported. Also, the 1952 Nationality
Act should be enforced. This act empowers the Minister of
Interior to nullify the citizenship of any Israel national that commits
an act of disloyalty to the State.
Fifth, at least 60 members of the Knesset should be individually elected
by, and accountable to, the voters in regional elections.
Sixth, the judges of the Supreme Court should not be involved in the
appointment of their successors. They should be nominated by a
Presidential council of legal and rabbinical experts and confirmed by
the Knesset.
Seventh, to promote justice, a jury system, with qualified private
citizens, should be introduced into Israel, as should civilian parole
boards. (The latter will preclude the arbitrary release of terrorists.)
Also, the Knesset should enact a law that would enable the victims of
Arab terrorism to sue, without any statute of limitation, terrorists as
well as any Arab state or organization responsible for such criminal
acts.
Eighth, the Knesset should enfranchise Israelis living abroad to augment
their interest in Israel and thereby encourage many to return.
(Enfranchisement would also increase the influence of Jewish vote.)
Ninth, the Government should accelerate privatization and Jewish
settlement. For these two purposes the Government it should (a) promote
capital investment and a homestead act in Judea and Samaria, and (b)
move certain government ministries to these areas.
Finally, the Knesset should form a Constituent Assembly for the purpose
of adopting a constitution based on Jewish principles and values. The
constitution should incorporate the Foundations of Law Act of 1980,
which was intended to make Jewish law “first among equals” among the
various legal systems used in Israel.
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from the February 2003 Edition of the Jewish Magazine
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