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November 28, 2006
The Enemies' Children
This week would have been my daughter's 21st birthday.
She won't be here to celebrate it, though. Five years ago, a Palestinian terrorist ended my Malki's life while she stood in line in the Sbarro pizza restaurant in the center of Jerusalem. Fourteen other innocent Israelis, including seven children, perished with her. One family was decimated - both parents and three of their eight children died.
That terror bombing elicited responses from leaders around the world. But not many. And certainly nowhere near as many as Israel's November 8th attack on Beit Hanoun in the Gaza Strip. That misfired artillery shell has unleashed a torrent of anti-Israel rhetoric both within Israel and beyond. After the first 24 hours, it drew 2,026 articles on Google. Fifty Sri Lankan civilians were killed in another artillery shelling that same day. By comparison, only 141 stories reported on their deaths.
Those 20 Palestinian victims generated immediate and heated finger-pointing and chest-beating. The European Union's spokesman called it a "profoundly shocking event." Italy's foreign minister saw it as "an escalation of violence I think is unacceptable." United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, found it such a "shocking development" that he promptly convened the Security Council. The Pope's representative in the Holy Land declared that he was "full of sorrow."
Three weeks later the Beit Hanoun tragedy still features in media headlines.
Five years ago when my child was murdered in cold blood, Mr. Annan could not find the time to address the media. He sent a spokesman to read his statement deploring not only that terrorist bombing but "all acts of terror" - familiar code words for Israel's actions against Palestinian terrorists.
The EU President's response oddly pointed out that the Sbarro bombing "mainly claimed the lives of innocent civilians." Which of the men, women and children having lunch in that restaurant was not "innocent" is anyone's guess.
The Vatican did not react at all.
But who can blame foreign leaders when Israel's own pundits and leaders set the same tone.
To read the rest of Frimet Roth's article from Frontpage mag, please click here.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Jeremiah.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at November 28, 2006 09:54 AM
Comments
Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.
1. No profanity.2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism. That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.
i was planning on heading off to bed, but after this post...
still now, 5 years later, when i walk past the street corner where that bombing took place i can hear in my mind's ear the burning children's screams from amongst the flames, calling out shema yisrael together with their fathers as their very innocent and very young souls ascended to heaven.
i dont think i'll ever eat at the bake shop that now occupies the sbarro's storefront.
Posted by: Josh at November 28, 2006 02:36 PM
Josh:
This past Friday night, Karen and I passed the bakery that occupies the former Sbarro. We slowed our pace and I said: "Baruch Dayan Emet."
No state should be allowed to emerge from such barbarism. To allow that to happen would be to capitulate to barbarism and set a precedent that will forever mark terrorism as a legitimate political means--and killing Jews as the preferred method.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.seraphicpress.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at November 28, 2006 03:29 PM
Hard to believe it was 5 years ago...and yet not hard to believe that this is still going on. Its scary. When will it end?
Posted by: Misc Reader at November 28, 2006 08:37 PM
if only jews weren't so darn good at forgiving and forgetting.
Posted by: Josh at November 29, 2006 01:11 PM