Semsem
07-11-2004, 05:21 PM
http://www.maarivenglish.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=9631
“Hague Shmagueâ€
Ben Kaspit has a calming message for those worried about the outcome of the ICJ’s ruling; soon everyone will be talking about the Gaza Strip and Gush Katif Ben Kaspit
They’ve certainly done it again. What was formerly known as the “Useless UN†is now “Hague Shmagueâ€, only with the same exact anti-Semitic, mean-spirited, one-sided approach. With barely a mention of terrorism, showing up late in paragraph 116, the sea of tears that brought about the barrier’s construction was completely ignored. The decision was “evil, imbalanced, twisted, and ridiculousâ€, as an unmoved Jerusalem retorts, and understandably so.
The UN secretary general will pass the decision on to the General Assembly, who will in turn raise it in the Security Council, which will obviously reject it disdainfully (after the United States vetoes it of course). Then it will be passed back to the assembly, who will, as usual, compose a fancy decision that will call for sanctions etc. etc. The Palestinians will do their happy jig, as usual, but at the end of the day they will be no closer to achieving their goals.
This October, maybe November, nobody will be thinking about Hague. Everybody will be busy with the Gaza Strip and Gush Katif. True, had the decision been less biased and not a smack in the face to the victims of terrorism here, had it acknowledged Israel’s right for self-defense, had it called on Israel to erect the barrier on the armistice line (Green line), then we would have been in deep trouble. Go talk back at a reasonable claim, or at a legitimate and perhaps justified ruling.
The ICJ’s ruling is twisted to the extent that it has some unintentional good in it. But it is no cause for a celebration; quite the contrary. First, this decision will go down in history, carefully filed, as a norm in international discourse that does us a great deal of harm. No American veto in the world can change that; it is ethical, humane, public, international harm. It could really take off in Europe, for example. In a steady trickle of harm, it could ruin what was left of Israel’s reputation.
How long can we expect the Americans to stand as a barrier separating the world and us? I don’t know. And another issue, the court’s ruling expresses a contemporary trend: The world is getting tired of us. Hate for Israel is swelling, crossing borders. The ICJ’s ruling is writing on the wall; the world’s intolerance for our problems is so very strong, and nobody cares for Israel and its troubles.
Time is not at our advantage. We can’t always be strong. We can admit to our failings. How on earth have we made all the mistakes, paid the highest price, taken the worst road, had stones thrown at us, discovered landmines the hard way, and in the end, accepted this harsh ruling? We all know that ultimately the barrier will be made to be more reasonable, less obtrusive and not thanks to the ICJ but to our High Court of Justice. Not in Hague, in Jerusalem. But we had to learn it the hard way, as usual.
“Hague Shmagueâ€
Ben Kaspit has a calming message for those worried about the outcome of the ICJ’s ruling; soon everyone will be talking about the Gaza Strip and Gush Katif Ben Kaspit
They’ve certainly done it again. What was formerly known as the “Useless UN†is now “Hague Shmagueâ€, only with the same exact anti-Semitic, mean-spirited, one-sided approach. With barely a mention of terrorism, showing up late in paragraph 116, the sea of tears that brought about the barrier’s construction was completely ignored. The decision was “evil, imbalanced, twisted, and ridiculousâ€, as an unmoved Jerusalem retorts, and understandably so.
The UN secretary general will pass the decision on to the General Assembly, who will in turn raise it in the Security Council, which will obviously reject it disdainfully (after the United States vetoes it of course). Then it will be passed back to the assembly, who will, as usual, compose a fancy decision that will call for sanctions etc. etc. The Palestinians will do their happy jig, as usual, but at the end of the day they will be no closer to achieving their goals.
This October, maybe November, nobody will be thinking about Hague. Everybody will be busy with the Gaza Strip and Gush Katif. True, had the decision been less biased and not a smack in the face to the victims of terrorism here, had it acknowledged Israel’s right for self-defense, had it called on Israel to erect the barrier on the armistice line (Green line), then we would have been in deep trouble. Go talk back at a reasonable claim, or at a legitimate and perhaps justified ruling.
The ICJ’s ruling is twisted to the extent that it has some unintentional good in it. But it is no cause for a celebration; quite the contrary. First, this decision will go down in history, carefully filed, as a norm in international discourse that does us a great deal of harm. No American veto in the world can change that; it is ethical, humane, public, international harm. It could really take off in Europe, for example. In a steady trickle of harm, it could ruin what was left of Israel’s reputation.
How long can we expect the Americans to stand as a barrier separating the world and us? I don’t know. And another issue, the court’s ruling expresses a contemporary trend: The world is getting tired of us. Hate for Israel is swelling, crossing borders. The ICJ’s ruling is writing on the wall; the world’s intolerance for our problems is so very strong, and nobody cares for Israel and its troubles.
Time is not at our advantage. We can’t always be strong. We can admit to our failings. How on earth have we made all the mistakes, paid the highest price, taken the worst road, had stones thrown at us, discovered landmines the hard way, and in the end, accepted this harsh ruling? We all know that ultimately the barrier will be made to be more reasonable, less obtrusive and not thanks to the ICJ but to our High Court of Justice. Not in Hague, in Jerusalem. But we had to learn it the hard way, as usual.