Here is a case in which reading the fine print is an absolute necessity. According to the JTA, Israel is on a list compiled by US immigration authorities of countries that might harbor terrorists.
One might raise a hue and a cry, and state that Israel is the first and worst victim of terrorism, and how dare they! Upon reflection, however, it makes perfect sense for Israel to be on this list and to realize that it conveys exactly what Israel is trying to tell the world.
The Dept. of Homeland Securitys list of 36 nations does not fault government policies, but recognizes the likelihood that a suspect traveler from that country might have terrorist ties. And why, pray tell, might a traveler from Israel have such ties? Precisely because Israel is a target, indeed, the target of terrorists virtually everywhere. Israel is precisely the place that terrorists are trying to get to. The fact that Israel is now on this list says exactly what Israel wants to be said: Terrorists seek to do their evil work within our borders. It only makes sense, then, that a disproportionate number of travelers leaving our borders would be terrorists!
We owe the Dept. of Homeland Security a thank you for unwittingly telling the world, not that Israel breeds terrorism, but that Israel is a chief target of the breeders.
Said Gillian Christensen of Immigration and Customs Enforcement: The US does not and never has considered Israel to have links to terrorism, but rather they are a partner in our efforts to combat global terrorism. Countries may have been included on the list because of the backgrounds of arrestees, not because of the countrys government itself.
The US maintains close intelligence-sharing relationships with many of these countries in order to address security issues within their own borders . . .
Precisely.
Israel has security issues within her own borders more security issues than any other country. Security issues caused by Arab, Palestinian and Muslim terrorists. Indeed.
Copyright © 2011 by the Intermountain Jewish News
