When the Enemy is Within the Gate

Throughout history, nations have gone to war against enemies. In the 1700s, the United States fought against England to exist. In World War II, the allies defeated the Nazis. And after World War II, the U.S. fought, either literally or rhetorically, against Communist forces during the Cold War. War is typically fought against enemies who attack one’s homeland or that of an ally: the enemy at the gate. But what if that enemy is not at the gate but within it? How can one fight an enemy that lives among the citizens of that nation? And how does one do it when the international community is looking over one’s shoulder, condemning one’s every move?

This is the reality for Israel. Her goal is to protect her people from the enemy within the gate.

The enemy within the gate is the radical population of Arabs who live in Judea and Samaria, otherwise known as the West Bank. This is only a portion of the Palestinian population in that area. Many of the Arabs of Judea and Samaria are simply trying to feed their families and live their own lives; not die in a suicide mission against Israel. But the leadership of the Palestinian Authority and Hamas regularly express anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic propaganda, propagating lies to serve their agenda of destroying the Jewish state. They continually put forth “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” a Russian forgery used to demonize Jews since its publication in 1903.These Palestinian leaders refuse to acknowledge the legitimacy of the state of Israel to exist in any form. They send suicide bombers to blow up innocent civilians in cafes and on buses in cities like Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, shoot rockets into Israel, and teach their children that Jews are apes and pigs. Most of all, they would love to see Israel pushed into the sea.

For this reason, Israel has developed strong security measures. The rise in Palestinian terrorism has led Israel to build a security fence, develop the Iron Dome missile defense system, and institute checkpoints within Judea and Samaria. Israel also coordinates humanitarian aid into Judea and Samaria to help the people. It’s important to remember though that even as she fights a war within her borders, Israel always strives to find the least-intrusive measure to prevent attacks against her citizens.

In the international community, these tough security measures seem to have caused a confusion. They see Israel as the oppressor, as anti-democratic and as racist. But these are all myths for one reason: Israel is not an oppressive regime.

Many at the United Nations have used the word “apartheid” to describe Israel. Nothing could be further from the truth. This accusation is widely promoted by the Palestinian Liberation Organization which uses it to promote the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction movement against Israel.

Apartheid was a series of rules and regulations in South Africa that relegated blacks to second-class citizens and prevented them from entering certain buildings or from receiving anything more than inferior medical treatment. Unlike South Africa under apartheid, Israel routinely brings Palestinians from Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip to Israel for medical treatment or other services. These Palestinians are given the same treatment as Israeli citizens. Commonly, if you ask Palestinians on the street whether they would like to be citizens of Israel or a Palestinian state, they will say Israel, because they are treated better. Also, unlike the infamous signs in South Africa under the apartheid system that severely limited services to “whites,” there are no such comparable signs or limits in Israel to Jews, whether it be at hospitals, restaurants, water fountains, or something else.

In the modern age, a good example of an oppressive regime is in North Korea. Political dissenters in North Korea are placed in work camps where they are subject to forced labor, medical experimentation, torture and even murder. Even outside the camps, life is strictly controlled. Everything from education to employment to how much food one is given is determined by the government based on how loyal the person and his or her family is to the government. There is no freedom of the press, freedom of speech, freedom of movement, or freedom of religion.

In Israel, these freedoms are enjoyed by all Israeli citizens, whether they are Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze, or members of any other religion. Even anti-Zionist press and anti-Zionist organizations are allowed to operate and protest despite the harm their lies do to Israel. Israel has members of the Knesset who openly advocate for terrorism.

Israel is and always has been a democratic state. Its identity as a Jewish state merely defines its purpose. Israel has and always will respect the religious rights of all its citizens and others living within its borders. The restrictions on Palestinian Arabs are only those required to keep Israel’s people safe. The enemy within the gate remains, and there are no easy solutions.
Originally published at World Net Daily: http://www.wnd.com/2017/08/when-the-enemy-is-within-the-gate/#48WIfJS5q0C28L62.99