In the aftermath of the savage murder of the Fogel family in Itamar March 11 and the explosion of a bomb at a bus stop in Jerusalem March 23, President Obama called Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and reiterated his unwavering support for Israels security.
The call is welcome. The sentiment is important. The tragedy is clear. The hatred of Israel is equally clear.
What is not clear to President Obama and was not clear to President Bush is the definition of Israels security.
Take this: At the insistence of Obama and Bush, Israel dismantled many checkpoints at which Palestinians were screened before going into Israeli areas.
These checkpoints were annoying.
Delaying.
Sometime humiliating.
Restrictive.
Definitely not symbols or facilitators of freedom for Palestinians.
Just one thing: The checkpoints are essential for Israels security. A person with unwavering support for Israels security would support them.
Because:
A checkpoint near Itamar was dismantled. It was inconvenient and annoying and all the rest.
But it was essential for Israels security.
Its absence made it easier for savage murderers to get into the Fogel home.
About Libya, President Obama rightly said: I refused to wait for the images of slaughter and mass graves before taking action.
Well, the images of slaughter are before us images of the Fogel family.
If you dont want those images emanating from Israel, you do want checkpoints.
There is a way around the checkpoints, to be sure. Its called peace negotiations. And peace. Thats how the Palestinians can get rid of the checkpoints.
Until then, well take the checkpoints over the images of the Fogel family any time.
Copyright © 2011 by the Intermountain Jewish News
