October 01, 2007 ... Why to ignore international legal opinion.

In London and Manchester, England the Jewish community live under constant threat and have had to resort to 3-4 million pounds worth of private security in lieu of any serious assistance from the police. Businesses in Golders Green are under constant attack, while in Manchester, Jewish school kids must learn unarmed combat techniques, and go to school behind razor-wire fencing and bombproof window-glass, all paid for by the sub-million Jewish community themselves. In contrast, the police are very much more concerned about community relations with respect to the much larger and dangerous Muslim community, elements of which, attack the Jewish community, amongst others.

In Belfast, Northern Ireland the Jewish community has dwindled very severely in numbers from what it was at the end of the 1960’s. The ‘Troubles’ motivated many Jews to emigrate to England or Israel to the point that there are only about 150 Jewish families in Northern Ireland, the birth place of Chaim Herzog. In spite of its modest size and maturity of years, here too, the Jewish community must be constantly vigilant against attacks, with many choosing to remain hidden to avoid trouble.

In short, non-Israeli Jewish communities are essentially no safer from attack than ever they were, and still do not get any serious support from the police or security services. Furthermore, it is now becoming common practice for non-Israeli Jews to renounce Israel as a way to deflect attacks upon themselves due to association with Israel’s defence policies against Palestinian and Lebanese aggression, for instance, which is promoted in the west as Israel’s wanton aggression against the downtrodden aforementioned.

Israel is now under criticism from international legal opinion about its necessary action against the terrorists and their supporters in Gaza-cum-Hamastan. Whilst it is desirable for Israel to adhere to twenty-first century norms of civilised behaviour as a modern and democratic state, Israeli’s must also be very mindful of the fact that they have nowhere else to go. The Palestinians can relocate to Jordan, Syria, Egypt or Saudi Arabia for example. But if Israel fails to defend Israel, Israelis do not have a similar option.

Thus, because non-Israeli Jews get no meaningful protection beyond Israel’s borders, and Israeli’s have only Israel to call a safe haven, Israel’s administration cannot allow itself to be distracted or diverted by international legal opinion. It’s very much a ‘them or us’ situation.

As a slight aside, the leadership of the Sommerton Road Synagogue, Belfast would very much welcome young Jewish immigrants thinking of choosing an EU destination as an alternative to Berlin City, which is only an hour and fifty minutes away if the mood takes them to go visit :-)