Political bondage

Netanyahu [Image Source]

Chag Sameach to all. Enjoy the holiday and don't waste any energy pondering our prime minister's recent declarations. I am referring to last week's headline grabbing "vow", as the media have called it, never to relinquish control over the Golan Heights.

“It's time that the international community recognize two fundamental facts,'' Netanyahu declared after posing with Cabinet members at a spot overlooking the Sea of Galilee -- Israel's largest water reservoir. “First, no matter what happens on the other side of the border, the line itself isn't going to change. Second, it’s time that the international community finally recognize that the Golan will remain forever under Israel's sovereignty.” [Los Angeles Times, April 17, 2016]

Well, it's hard to deny that those are powerful, emphatic words. But, as I said, don't bother focusing on, pondering or committing them to memory.

Because they were uttered by a man whose promises often prove empty.

In fact, on the heels of the previous "vow", in the wake of this week's bus bombing we were treated to a second Netanyahu assurance:

"We will find whoever made the bomb, we'll get to [the terrorists] who delivered it, we'll get to the people standing behind [this attack] and we'll settle the score with these terrorists." [Israel National News, April 18, 2016]

For those of us with a modicum of memory, those words ring hollow. We recall what the very same man told us when he was the opposition leader back in 2008.

"The government decided to release terrorists and I ask, why? In return for what? What have we received? This crossing of a line, of releasing murderers, is dangerous in the struggle against terror." The Kadima government had just released 200 terrorists as a “gesture” to Mahmoud Abbas in an attempt to strengthen his position. Only two of those had blood on their hands. [Israel National News, July 29, 2013]

Netanyahu asserted that rather than strengthen Abbas,

“it weakens Israel and strengthens terror elements. Most of the public – a great part of the public – understands that this thing is unacceptable and reflects weakness and a loss of direction. The government has lost its direction – if it ever had a direction to begin with.” [Israel National News, July 29, 2013]

Of course, in 2011 Netanyahu trumped the Kadima government not with the identical act but with the king of all terrorist releases, one that has never been replicated anywhere in the world. Some 1,027 hardened, convicted terrorists, including hundreds of murderers were freed that year by prime minister Netanyahu in the Shalit Deal.

Does that sound to you like a leader who "settles scores with terrorists"? Sounds to me more like a settled politician who uses terrorists to score.

So, this Pesach, as we celebrate our release from Egyptian bondage, let's remember that we still await our release from Netanyahu.  Too much pain and suffering have been inflicted by his actions over his current seven year reign.