SWAPPING LAND by Helen Freedman

Helen Freedman, Executive Director of AFSI, is a very special friend.  Her words are wise.

SWAPPING LAND

by Helen Freedman

It was with great pride and pleasure that I listened to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu address the U.S. Congress on Tuesday, May 24. The applause that greeted him over and over, from Democrats and Republicans, reflected the genuine good feeling that Americans have in regard to Israel.

Despite the distortions of the liberal left-wing media, most Americans understand that, as the PM said, "Israel is not what's wrong in the Middle East. Israel is what's right."

They also understand that "the conflict has never been about the establishment of a Palestinian state. The conflict has been about the existence of a jewish state. "

I also enjoyed hearing Netanyahu assert that there is no need to develop, democratize, nor defend Israel, since Israel is already a developed, democratic country in the Middle East,able to defend itself.

Of course, when I hear the words, "painful concessions," I cringe. We know what that means and we know that the prospect of removing Jews from their homes is intolerable. However, since we also know from past "negotiations" that the Arabs will never speak those magical six words, "I will accept a Jewish state," we pray that no more token concessions and "sacrifices for peace" will be necessary to appease the enemy appetite.

The New York Post, May 25, had a series of excellent articles and opinion pieces on PM Netanyahu's speech. I thought that the cartoon by Sean Delonas captured the absurdity of President Obama's demand that Israel retreat to the pre-1967 lines. The imagined exchange between Obama, now visiting in England, with the Queen Mother, says it all: