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November 19, 2007

Farewell Israel: A Review

In the West, people have short memories, or no memories at all, especially when it comes to Islam. And the jihadists use this against us.

Our terrible ignorance plays itself out every day, every hour, in Israel's battle for survival against her Arab enemies. Most in the West see the conflict as a simple battle about land and refugees.

This is an infamous lie. A crucial link in the strategic plan to defeat and slowly dismember Israel in diplomatic stages rather than through war.

It's a battle of Islam against the Jews. The issues of so-called occupation, so-called refugees, are merely fig-leafs for the true religious confrontation that animates the Islamic war against Jews and Judaism.

Farewell Israel: Bush, Iran and the Revolt of Islam written and directed by Joel Gilbert lays out the true nature of the Arab Israeli conflict with an unblinking eye. He is eloquent about the Islamic point of view, which should put to rest, once and for all, the notion that we are are all alike:

First, an understanding of the Islamic world view, from the point of view of Muslims. In the West, there is a huge gap in understanding Islam on every level, from the man on the street, to Jewish and Christian religious leaders, to our elected officials. Only by gaining an understanding and appreciation of Islam's world view, through its historic trials and its theology, can the West begin to deal with the real issues and challenges.

Second, misunderstanding leads to war. Israel's lack of understanding of Islam, its values and goals, have lead it to a policy of surrender of territory, based on the belief that it will achieve "Peace" in Western terms. In reality, "Western Peace" between Israel and Islam is unattainable. Peace can only be achieved in Islamic terms - "Peace with Justice" - which requires the elimination of Israel as a Jewish state. Muslims have 1,400 years of experience and holy scriptures to refer to that deal with Jews. Because Judaism predates Islam, Jews have no such foundation in dealing with Muslims, hence the Israeli misunderstanding, and the Islamic advantage. That's why when the Israelis negotiate anything, they give up everything, and in return receive nothing.

Gilbert is a gifted Islamic scholar who speaks Arabic and knows Islamic history cold. His film lays out the bitter and bloody confrontation between Islam and the Jews from the time of the prophet Muhammed to this very day. The film is an historic journey from the birth of Islam, through its 1,200 year imperial reign over much of the civilized world, to the last 300 years of its decline, dominated by the West, and humiliated by the very existence of a Jewish state.

Farewell Israel makes clear that it is a religious duty for every Muslim to reject Israel. The film also shows how Israel tragically misunderstands Islamic goals and values, hence a parade of Israeli and American politicians play into the hands of Israel's enemies at each and every turn.

Finally, Gilbert's film focuses on the Iranian strategy for acquiring weapons of mass destruction to eliminate Israel, and the West's inability to deal with this existential threat.

Gilbert believes that Israel cannot survive. He believes that Israel faces two choices: abandonment by America and eventual military annihilation, or dhimmitude.

I met with director Joel Gilbert and discussed his film. I voiced my concerns about his "pessimistic" vision. Joel countered that it was a "realistic" vision.

It's an odd feeling, discussing the annihilation of the Jewish state, the murder of millions of Jews with a Bob Dylan look-alike, an earnest and likable Jewish man who wants nothing more than to warn the Jewish people and the Western world about the Islamist cut-throats oozing through our doorways.

I diagree with Joel. Obviously.

Israel, Jews, have always fought against enormous odds.

I believe that Israel will, must, in the near future, launch a pre-emptive strike against Iran's nuclear facilities and eliminate the Persian nuclear threat. I also believe that the Palestinians will overplay their bloody hand and launch a series of horrific terrorist attacks against Israel that will force Israel, once and for all, to smash Hamas and the PA, and send their leadership packing to Tunisia once again, never to return. And if any Arab country dares attack Israel, Israel should retaliate with such force and such power that this country must accept an unconditional surrender. No more cease-fires. No more last minute reprieves by petro-dollars.

In any case, save for its conclusion, Farewell Israel is a powerful film, an informative film, and I urge everyone to order Farewell Israel and screen it for as many of your friends as possible.

Posted by Robert J. Avrech at November 19, 2007 09:53 AM

Comments

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Posted by: Jake at November 19, 2007 01:12 PM

Posted by: David at November 20, 2007 10:57 PM

Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at November 21, 2007 10:57 PM

Posted by: miguel at July 15, 2008 11:23 AM

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