Imagine There's No Israel

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With apologies to John Lennon, “Imagine there’s no Israel, It's easy if you try, No hell below us, above us only sky, Imagine all the people, living for today...” Though Lennon was getting at something slightly different, the underlying philosophy is very much the same in the minds of too many people inhabiting this planet. What many people across the world believe is that this modern war between Western civilization and radical Islamic fundamentalism (Islamofascism) is the result of having a Jewish country, Israel, smack dab in the middle of Mohammed’s empire. In short, many believe that if it weren’t for the creation of Israel back in 1948, after UN Resolution 181 partitioned the territory of the British Mandate for Palestine into two states for Jews and Palestinian Arabs, radical Islamic fundamentalism would have never existed, there would be no Osama bin Laden, thus no “War on Terror.” At best this theory is flawed and worst, simply ludicrous.

For the Islamofacists and historically throughout the world, Israel and the greater plight of the Jews have been a convenient scapegoat. During the Biblical Age (ostensibly the book of Exodus) under Ramses II the Jews were severely persecuted until, allegedly, Moses led them out of Egypt.

Charles Pellegrino writes, “What about the Jews' persecution by Egypt? Around 1900-1800 BC a bunch of Semites invaded Egypt and took power. The bible does say that Joseph and co were refugees from famine, and came peacefully, but then they would have wanted to put themselves in the best possible light, showing that the "Egyptian persecution" was unwarranted and unfair,” so that means little. Around 1730 BC the Egyptians staged a revolt and regained control. This lead to a century of oppression and forced labor for the former Semite "masters". Egyptian records reveal that there were "several" Semite exoduses during those 100 years, the final one coming at a time of "darkness, famine, plague and a parting of the waters" The OT may have merely combined all of these into one "big" exodus. Actually the last exodus was when the Egyptians kicked out the remaining Semites, since they were facing a famine and didn't want to feed them. Not so much Moses saying "let my people go" but pharaoh saying "get lost!”

The Jews also have historically been persecuted as the supposed murderers of the Christian god, Jesus. More pointedly they were persecuted during the rise of the Christian Empires because they were the money lenders and when said kings no longer wanted to pay their debts, it was nice and convenient to invent a reason to murder Jews. Then of course there’s the most popular and modern example of singling out Jews for hatred and genocide, oft mentioned but rarely truly appreciated holocaust of World War II perpetrated by the German National Socialists (Nazi’s). Needless to say, irrational hatred and wanton murder of Jews is not new nor the sole province of the Muslims.

So if hating Jews is nothing new and even par for the course when one wants to distract their people from the real causes of hopelessness and misery, then what exactly are the Islamofascists on about? The roots of Islamic fundamentalism as we know it today begin with Wahhabism. Wahhabism, according to Wikipedia is, “a movement of Islam named after Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab (1703–1792)… Wahhabi theology advocates a puritanical and legalistic stance in matters of faith and religious practice.
Wahhabists see their role as a movement to restore Islam from what they perceive to be innovations, superstitions, deviances, heresies and idolatries. During the time of Mohammed Ibn Abdul Wahhab, whose prominence gave name to this movement. There are many practices that they believe are contrary to Islam, such as:

▪ That invoking any prophet, saint or angel in prayer, other than God alone, is polytheism
▪ Grave worship, whether to saints' graves, or the prophet's grave
▪ Celebrating annual feasts for dead saints
▪ Wearing of charms, and believing in their healing power
▪ Practicing magic, or going to sorcerers or witches seeking healing
▪ Innovation in matters of religion (e.g. new methods of worship)
▪ Erecting elaborate monuments over any grave

Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia began with a surge of reformers seeking to reclaim orthodox Islam from innovation by various sects of Sunni Muslims. In the 18th century, it spread in Najd along with the expansion of the First Saudi State under Muhammad bin Saud and his successors.”

It is Wahhabism that is mostly responsible for the creation of modern Saudi Arabia. For years the Saudi Royal family have had a deal with the devil (the Wahhabists) where so long as the Saud’s financially supported the Wahhabis, the Wahhabis would not attempt to overthrow the kingdom. Once again, for years this allowed to the Saudi Royal family to lead a dual life of being both friend and enemy to the US, all for the explicit purpose of continuing their dictatorial rule. This obviously finally came to light and thus serious scrutiny after the events of 9/11 where almost all of the hijackers were of Saudi descent.

The fact of the matter is that despite Israel being on alleged Palestinian soil, if it were to disappear tomorrow that act by itself would not be enough for the Wahhabis. If we had never gone into Iraq, both in 1991 and in 2003, that act by itself would not be enough for the Wahhabis. If we had never established military bases in Saudi Arabia, miles from the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, that would not be enough for the Wahhabis. In a June 1999 interview on "Al Jazera" television, Osama Bin Laden stated that his aim is to destroy Western civilization and everything it represents: "We view every American man as an enemy." In August 1998, Bin Laden told the Italian newspaper 'La Republica' that "the international Islamic front has declared that the war has begun." This is what I’m trying to tell those that are clinging to some mystifying belief that these people can be reasoned with. At the end of the day, no amount of appeasement will matter when the sum total of the enemy’s demands is that you either convert to Shia’ism or die.

You can spend all day in your “anti-Bush” black T-shirt at the next Greenwich Village protest, carrying anti-Semitic signs, condemning Israel to hell all you want. The fact remains that even if you’re a Wiccan or an atheist, you’re still an infidel and just as soon as bin Laden gets around to it, you’re a dead person. The “War on Terror” is not about Israel or our occupation of Iraq. It’s not even about 9/11 per se. These Muslims whom have decided that blinding hatred is their only guiding light are just the latest batch in a new round of people who have completely lost the purpose and majesty of faith. They are no different than the Christians and Jews of antiquity who were just as zealous and murderous in their time. That’s what this is really about. It’s about a Reformation and an Enlightenment that will sharply divide the modern Muslim world from the barbarians who cannot see past their suicide pact with a god whom they clearly do not understand.

Though I am an ardent supporter of Israel, if I actually thought it’s removal would end the Wahhabis war against the Western world I might actually call for it. However, if you really look at who those people are and what they want, it is very clear that in the end, it doesn’t matter if Israel is in Palestine or South Carolina. Imagining there’s no Israel is just an exercise in anti-Semitism, bigotry, lazy thinking and invitation to ones own eventual murder.

Ladies and Gentlemen, once again, Mr. John Lennon, “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one, I hope some day you'll join us, and the world will live as one.”