Why Arab Muslims rule over the IDF

Israel is the home of the Jews. Many of us believe that. But it’s not something a Jew can take for granted.

Israel isn’t like other countries. It doesn’t exist because ingenious Jewish politicians created a state. It exists because of HaShem.

For the last 68 years, since the founding of the modern Israel, Israel has had a G-d problem. Too many Jews believe that HaShem (our G-d) was irrelevant to the State’s birth. Too many believe that HaShem has nothing to do with modern Israel. Too many believe Israel was born because of Man, not HaShem. 

They believe HaShem has nothing to do with Israel’s survival. HaShem, they will tell you, doesn’t protect us. The IDF (Israel Defense Force) protects us.

Now, as the Jewish year 5776 begins, we’re learning that that’s untrue. The IDF doesn’t protect us. To paraphrase someone else, this belief in the IDF over HaShem is ‘stinkin’ thinkin’—the kind of thinking that leads to failure, not success.

The IDF can’t protect us. Arabs know it (Liz Baruch, “Terrorist Stabs Soldier, Snatches His Gun”, Arutz Sheva, October 7, 2015).

When Jew-hating Arabs attack Jews, the IDF now—more than not--stands idly by (Ari Yashar, “'They Were Going to Murder Me With Cinder Blocks'”, Arutz Sheva, October 7, 2015). The IDF doesn’t stand idle as Jews are attacked because IDF soldiers don’t care about Jews. Those soldiers do care. They stand idle when Jews are viciously attacked because the IDF hierarchy is afraid.

IDF command is afraid of what the Gentile nations will think if it harmed Arabs. Israel’s military leadership fears Jew-hating Gentiles more than it fears HaShem.

Jew-hating Arabs see this. They know it. The result is, they feel free to attack us (“Jewish Woman Escapes Arab Mob Attack”, Arutz Sheva, October 7, 2015). They attack, and the world ennobles them (Sarah Bernhaida, “ Bethlehem youngsters defy Israeli army after teen death”, AFP, October 6, 2015).

Teenage and pre-teen Arab boys are no longer wannabee Jew-killers who simply attack Jewish civilians and soldiers. They’re noble youth--plucky teenagers “itching for a fight” (ibid) with the Jew-soldiers who ‘brutally’ fire tear-gas and rubber bullets (and, sometimes, live rounds) at these teens when they (the teens) ‘bravely’ hurl firebombs and stones.

Arab Muslims claim that Jews have filthy feet that desecrate Muslim ground (“Abbas says Jews have filthy feet”, elderofzyion, September 16,2015). These filthy Jews (ibid) have no right to defend themselves (Seumas Milne, “It’s Palestinians who have the right to defend themselves”, theguardian, November 20, 2012). Jews have no such right because, Arab Muslims tell us, these Jews have no right to any ground the Arab Muslim claims is his (Nonie Darwish, “Why Muslims Must Hate Jews”, nairaland forum, August 5, 2012).

This is why the UN, US and EU are so silent when Jews are attacked. It’s why the UN, EU and US only condemn ‘the violence’ when Jews defend themselves. It’s also why the IDF is slow to respond: too many of Israel’s military leaders behave as if they believe the Muslim narrative. That narrative declares, falsely, that the Jews of Israel come from Russia and Europe; Jews have stolen Arab land; and there will be no justice until that stolen land is returned and Jews are removed.

Too many in Israel’s military appear to believe that Israel’s Jews have a dilemma: we Jews want to stay on land that’s not ours.  We’ll hold that land as long as we can. But when the ‘natives’ rise up, we really have no moral standing; all we can do at that point is retreat.

IDF command defers to Arab Muslim attacks. It retreats. It seeks a passive, reactive response. It allows Arab Muslims to riot on the Temple Mount. It bans Jews from the Mount. It treats Arab Muslims as if they are more important in Israel than Jews.

When Arab Muslims see this, they increase their attacks (“Watch: Gaza Incitement Video Teaches 'How to Kill Jews'”, Arutz Sheva, October 6, 2015; and, “Arab Terrorists Throw Stones at Security Forces in Jerusalem”, Arutz Sheva, October 6, 2015). They push the IDF onto its heels.

Today’s IDF demonstrates uncertainty. There should be no uncertainty. When Arab Muslims attack Jews in Israel, both our Prime Minister and IDF command should be the first to declare what’s written in the very first Rashi commentary on the very first posuk (sentence) of the Torah: HaShem, Creator of the universe, gave Israel to the Jews.

Until both the Prime Minister and IDF command stand up and say, Israel is the land G-d gave to the Jews, the IDF will appear weak. Until our political and military leaders stand up and say the Temple Mount is Jewish, and is the spiritual center-piece of our Jewish nation, the IDF will appear bewildered.

Until Israel’s political and military leadership stands up and says, ‘our strength comes from HaShem’, the Arab Muslim will continue to convince the world that Israel is a fraud. Until our leaders commit to HaShem, the world will see the IDF as just another army of political oppression.

Until our political and military leaders stand up for HaShem, the Arab Muslim will attack Jews with impunity. He will continue to push Israel off the Temple Mount.

Until IDF command speaks the name of HaShem, the Arab Muslim will rule over the IDF.