The Foundation for Constitutional Democracy

As we pray for Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier kidnapped by Hamas, it would be well to recall the Entebbe rescue and ponder the wisdom of its fallen hero, Jonathan Netanyahu, z”l. The following is abstracted from his published letters.

September 3, 1965, to his family: “As you know, there is a great hubbub in Israel now with the elections approaching…. None of the parties satisfies me, and none of them represents what I think is right.”

February 16, 1969, to his parents: “Zahal [the Israel Defense Forces] is the only thing that stands between ourselves and the slaughter of our people as in days gone by.” (more…)

A basic principle of democracy is the subordination of military to civilian authority.

This principle prompts democracies to pursue a foreign policy based on peace, hence to resolve international conflicts by diplomatic rather than military means.

What tests the mettle of a nation, however, is not peace but war. War often steels a nation’s will, produces heroes, fosters self-sacrifice and dedication to the common good. In contrast, the quest for peace is often symptomatic of self-indulgence, cowardice, and decadence.

Welcome to Israel. What has happened to this once dauntless nation? What has happened to its superb military establishment, the Israel Defense Forces? (more…)

[Edited transcript of the Eidelberg Report, Israel National Radio, June 26, 2004.]

For more than three decades, Europe has been dominated by the Left, by its post-Christian politicians, professors, and journalists. Today Europe is dying—Arabized. But as Oriana Fallaci has boldly pointed out, the Right is no less to blame for Europe’s cultural demise.

By the “Right” she means “nationalists” who, whether in France or in Holland, could have galvanized the people of their respective countries against the Left’s multiculturalism and permissive Arab immigration laws which have stripped each nation of its cultural heritage. The Right failed to counter the Left’s rhetoric that the nation-state is obsolete, that nationalism conduces to war, and that democratic universalism must be the basis of the New World Order. (more…)

CAMPAIGN LAUNCH: A Message From Friends of Gush Katif

More than ten months after their tragic expulsion from Gush Katif and northern Samaria, most of the expellees still have not received the compensation promised them by the Israeli Government. And, the major American Jewish organizations, as a whole, have ignored their plight and welfare. Since the organized Jewish community is not assisting these needy Jews financially, we as individuals must provide the necessary aid. To that end, and as announced yesterday on the ZOA Middle East Report radio program (available at www.zoaphilly.org), I hereby announce the email launch of the Friends of Gush Katif Jewish Refugee Fund, from which 100% of the dollars raised will go directly to the expellees, through the registered 501C(3) charitable fund, “Friends of Gush Katif.” (more…)

Although democracy had its origin in classical Athens—what could be more democratic than an assembly whose members are chosen by lot?—the Athenian attitude toward sexuality in those days was very different from that which prevails in democracies today.

In his book Law, Sexuality, and Society, David Cohen reminds us that in classical Athens “a wide variety of [sexual] offenses brought some degree or another of loss of civic rights (atimia: literally: the state of being without honor).” An honorable reputation was of fundamental political importance in Athenian democracy. (more…)

This article is based largely on Bat Ye’or’s book Eurabia, which shows that Europe has succumbed to “dhimmi-tude” and is waging a war against Israel in collaboration with the Arab League.

Dhimmi-tude is the condition of servility and humiliation Jews and Christians suffered under Muslim rule. But today Europe itself has succumbed to dhimmi-tude and is committing cultural suicide. (more…)

Israelis should not be surprised by the reported success of Ehud Olmert’s first tour of Europe as Israel’s prime minister. Although European leaders did not publicly endorse, they did not oppose, Mr. Olmert’s “Realignment Plan.” Why should they?

Israel’s surrendering Judea and Samaria to the Arabs is quite consistent with Europe’s long-established policy of appeasement. In fact, numerous studies reveal that, since the 1970’s, Europe’s political, media, and academic elites have allowed and even encouraged Arabs and Islam to encroach extensively on European civilization, now post-Christian. (more…)

As Kassam missiles continue to rain on Sderot with only verbal retaliation by the Kadima-led government of Ehud Olmert, it occurred to the present writer—who had just published an article on self-restraint or Havlaga—that some patriotic high-ranking officers of the Israel Defense Forces ought to call on the prime minister and tell him that unless he takes firm and decisive action against the enemy, they will resign and arouse the public against his spineless government.

On the other hand, if Israel were a third world country, high-ranking officers in such a country would simply stage a coup d’etat. Ah, but Israel is a democracy, or rather, its ruling elites must preserve Israel’s reputation as a democracy, for that alone endows them with legitimacy and respectability. (more…)

Contemporary democracy is a subtle form of tyranny—something the people of Israel, including political scientists, are unaware of. You will ask: How can contemporary democracy, which is based on freedom, be tyrannical? I will answer this question by means of Aristotle, the founder of political science.

In his unsurpassed Politics, Aristotle demonstrates that tyranny combines the worst aspects of democracy and oligarchy. The worst aspect of democracy—which is not to deny it any merit—is a hatred of privilege. Democracy readily succumbs to egalitarianism—to egalitarian envy and a leveling of all moral distinctions. All lifestyles become equal. (more…)

Hatikva, a few days after the liberation of Bergen Belsen.

This recently discovered recording [access by clicking on the link below] was made by the BBC on April 20, 1945, a few days after the liberation of Bergen Belsen by the British Army.

An amazing recording.

http://tinyurl.com/jbmou

May we be worthy of these incredible Jews.

U.S. Admiral Bull Halsey, a rational and responsible man, said, “Hit hard, hit fast, hit often.” Rationality and responsibility are qualities quite foreign to those who shape Israel’s policy toward its enemy, the Palestinian Authority. Their policy is “Hit softly, hit slowly, and hit seldom.”

In Hebrew this policy is called “havlaga”—self-restraint. This policy is motivated by fear of world opinion, perhaps also by the desire to display Israel’s moral superiority vis-à-vis its Arab enemies. It is an utterly inane and immoral policy. (more…)

In his article: “The Power of Muslim Zionism” (NY Sun, June 6, 2006), Daniel Pipes concludes: “the Muslim use of Zion represents a more powerful force today than the Jewish love of Zion.”

The notion of “Muslim Zionism” is an oxymoron, and Pipes conclusion is an insult to the Jewish people, especially those that made the Land of Israel flourish. Muslims or Arabs have no real love of the land, as history clearly demonstrates. (more…)

Daniel Pipes has taken the position—contrary not only to that of Bernard Lewis and Samuel Huntington, but Muslims themselves—that Islam and the West are not engaged in a “clash of civilizations.” Pipes also claims that Islam is not decadent.

Before examining some of Pipes’ own writings, a word from the renowned Lebanese-born scholar, Fouad Ajami of Johns Hopkins University. (more…)

Dear Dr. Pipes:

I have long praised your courage and much of your work, but you have crossed a red line with this outrageous article “Muslim Zionism.” It is utterly irresponsible and even treacherous, that you should give your name to what is by no means an in-depth study. All your essay will do is reinforce the greatest evil confronting Israel and the West. This intellectually shallow journalism will not wake up Jews—if that was its intention—but only arm their enemies. Disgraceful!!! (more…)

[Edited transcript of the Eidelberg Report, Israel National Radio, June 5, 2006.]

One of the absurdities of Israeli governments is their supine policy of self-restraint toward Arab terrorists. When the government retaliates against Arab terrorists, the world’s media multiplies the number of Arabs killed by ten. If Israel is going to be accused of committing genocide for killing 50 terrorists in Jenin, why not kill 500? We lost 23 Jewish soldiers by failing to use air power in that “Operation Defensive Shield.”

Israel should not bother to defend its anti-terrorist actions to an anti-Semitic world. It’s not only futile, it conveys weakness—for it suggests that Israel needs the approval of the nations to defend itself. (more…)

FOR ENGLISH SEE BELOW—
PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE MESSAGE AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE—Thank you!

-נא עזרו לנו להפיץ את המידע המצורף להכי הרבה אנשים-תודה

ביום שישי הקרוב, י”ג בסיוון תשס”ו, 9/6/06
יתקיימו 2 פעילויות בו-זמנית
בדרישה לפתוח את ציר תקוע-ירושלים הסגור ליהודים

[Regarding the pamphlet distributed in synagogues throughout Israel, “Our Way at This Time”, which attempts to set a path for consensus in the religious-Zionist community in the event of future withdrawals from the Land. The pamphlet is discussed on the website of Arutz Sheva News in the article: New Religious-Zionist Pamphlet: “Our Way at This Time”]

(The critique appears in red text)

Signed on the 15-paragraph document are leading religious-Zionist leaders such as Rabbis Chaim Druckman, Yaakov Ariel, Shlomo Aviner, Tzfaniah Drori, Moti Elon, Eli Sadan, Aryeh Stern, Chananel Etrog, Yigal Kaminetzky, David Stav, Avi Gisser, and more.

The document begins with this introduction:

“Out of a true connection with the public, and out of a sincere attentiveness to the troubles we face today, we sense the need to map clear directions for the public in times of crisis; and out of a recognition that where there is a vacuum, all sorts of unclear opinions burst forth—the undersigned group of rabbis has gathered to formulate clear guidelines regarding the path of Religious Zionism at this time, and to take responsibility for disseminating these principles and teaching by their light.”

With due respect to the above mentioned Rabbis and their good intentions, but with even greater respect for Truth, I must say the following:

With due respect to the above mentioned Rabbis and their good intentions, but with even greater respect for Truth, I must say the following:

The Davidson Press is proud to announce the publication of Professor Paul Eidelberg’s provocative and revolutionary booklet, The Myth of Israeli Democracy: Toward a Truly Jewish Israel.

This collection of ten brief ground breaking essays might be a called the “Jewish Federalist Papers.” The booklet challenges the wisdom and justice of American and Israeli statesmen who advocate the establishment of an Arab Palestinian state in the heartland of the Jewish people. (more…)

Ever since Menachem Begin, Israel has been contracting, has been undoing the miracle of the Six Day War. The policy of contraction, otherwise known as “territory for peace,” has been drilled into minds of the Jewish people. This policy of contraction—of defeatism—which has already afflicted thousands of Jews with great suffering, dooms the Third Commonwealth.

The gentile world will never respect, and Arabs will never fear, a diminutive Israel, especially one whose government seeks to gain foreign approval by a policy of territorial contraction. It was during the premiership of Ariel Sharon, who pursued that ignominious policy, when a French diplomat referred to Israel as a sh-ty country. (more…)