My latest article was published today in the Windsor Star. This is the first time I have been published in a Canadian newspaper. I am very honoured to be published on the Windsor Star's pages!
Update: The original article is no longer hosted on the Windsor Star website, but can be read on World Assessor.com by clicking here.
Thank you to everyone for reading my work!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
To Whom Can Israel Turn?
By: Robert D. Onley
Israel has always been an isolated nation. Except for the United States, few countries openly allied themselves with the Jewish State after 1948, and even fewer nations are willing to do so today.
The reality in late 2009 is that an overwhelming majority of the world is openly hostile to Israel – or at least vehemently opposed to Israel’s policies concerning Palestine. This hostility was especially evident following Israel’s defensive actions during Operation Cast Lead.
However, today even Israel’s historic ties with the United States are in question. Recent polls show that just 4% of Israelis believe President Obama to be “pro-Israel,” a figure in stark contrast to the 88% of Israelis who felt President Bush was “pro-Israel.”
Much of Israeli pessimism centres on President Obama’s demand for a complete halt to settlement activity in the West Bank. At a surface level, Israeli distaste for Obama’s demand is understandable. This is true because a complete settlement halt represents an untenable strategic concession at a time when Israel’s enemies are aggressively gearing up for another war against Israel.
Consider recent high-stakes incidents to appreciate Israel’s sense of abject isolation. On November 3, Special Forces from the Israeli Navy peacefully boarded an Antiguan-flagged ship 100 miles off the coast of Israel. Upon inspection, the ship was found to contain over 400 tons of weapons, including guns, grenades, ammunition and over 2700 missiles, all bound for Hizbullah and Syria.
The ship’s documentation clearly indicated the weaponry originated in Iran, providing further indictment of the Iranian Islamic Republic’s unfettered support for terrorism across the Middle East. In this instance, the ship’s condemnable contents also gave visceral credibility to the literalness of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s calls for the destruction of Israel.
Israel’s weapons find is disturbing on its own. Compounding the virulent implications of the discovery was Hamas’ test of an advanced missile with a 35+ mile range just two days prior. That Hamas’ would brazenly test such a far-reaching instrument of terror sent tremors throughout the Israeli Defence establishment, as the missile proves Hamas has the ability to strike the outskirts of Tel Aviv.
The test also highlights how weapons smuggling is thriving despite Cast Lead and emphasizes that the IAF’s continuing efforts to destroy tunnels between Gaza and Egypt are not enough to permanently stop such malevolent activities. Further military action on the ground is clearly required.
Moreover, the discovery of such a massive arms shipment bound for both Hizbullah and Syria also underscores a disturbing new strategic reality for Israel, positioned so precariously in the heart of the Middle East.
General (ret.) Uzi Dayan, the former Head of Central Command and head of Israel’s National Security Council, noted recently that in Israel’s next war “all Israel will be one front.” Dayan’s statement reflects the probability that future battles will see missiles rain down across Israel, launched from all sides.
Mere days after General Dayan’s sobering warning, Syrian President Bashar Assad suggested Syria may return to “resistance” in order to regain the Golan Heights, should peace talks again fail. It is perplexing that Assad also declared it Syria’s “patriotic duty” to return to armed struggle – given his statement came less than one week after Israel’s discovery of the enormous Iranian munitions shipment bound for Syria. Rather than downplay the inference therein that Syria is gearing up for war with Israel, Assad instead openly announced Syria’s hostile intentions.
Perhaps these turbulent developments are unsurprising. Perpetual rumblings about an impending collapse in Israeli-Arab relations were given substance by the debacle over the Goldstone Report, Turkey’s rejection of Israel in favour of Iran and Syria, and the return of clashes and Palestinian conspiracies over the Temple Mount. The attempted Iranian weapons delivery will only further rock the Israeli-Arab peace boat.
While ostensibly still protected under the nuclear umbrella of the United States, Israel’s most vocal ally today is actually Canada. Under the leadership of Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada has steadfastly supported Israel since early 2006. Harper continues to actively denounce Ahmadinejad’s provocations, reinforce Israel’s right to exist at the UN’s assorted 'hate-fests' and lead the moral charge internationally in Israel’s defence.
Unfortunately Canada is in no position to militarily assist Israel should war break out soon. Thus Israel’s lack of well-armed and willing allies leaves many Jews consigned to fate, and clinging to faith in the One who promised safety, security and prosperity to Israel all along. As throughout her lonely history, Israel is today forced to look up and turn to God above.
Robert D. Onley
Israel has always been an isolated nation. Except for the United States, few countries openly allied themselves with the Jewish State after 1948, and even fewer nations are willing to do so today.
The reality in late 2009 is that an overwhelming majority of the world is openly hostile to Israel – or at least vehemently opposed to Israel’s policies concerning Palestine. This hostility was especially evident following Israel’s defensive actions during Operation Cast Lead.
However, today even Israel’s historic ties with the United States are in question. Recent polls show that just 4% of Israelis believe President Obama to be “pro-Israel,” a figure in stark contrast to the 88% of Israelis who felt President Bush was “pro-Israel.”
Much of Israeli pessimism centres on President Obama’s demand for a complete halt to settlement activity in the West Bank. At a surface level, Israeli distaste for Obama’s demand is understandable. This is true because a complete settlement halt represents an untenable strategic concession at a time when Israel’s enemies are aggressively gearing up for another war against Israel.
Consider recent high-stakes incidents to appreciate Israel’s sense of abject isolation. On November 3, Special Forces from the Israeli Navy peacefully boarded an Antiguan-flagged ship 100 miles off the coast of Israel. Upon inspection, the ship was found to contain over 400 tons of weapons, including guns, grenades, ammunition and over 2700 missiles, all bound for Hizbullah and Syria.
The ship’s documentation clearly indicated the weaponry originated in Iran, providing further indictment of the Iranian Islamic Republic’s unfettered support for terrorism across the Middle East. In this instance, the ship’s condemnable contents also gave visceral credibility to the literalness of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s calls for the destruction of Israel.
Israel’s weapons find is disturbing on its own. Compounding the virulent implications of the discovery was Hamas’ test of an advanced missile with a 35+ mile range just two days prior. That Hamas’ would brazenly test such a far-reaching instrument of terror sent tremors throughout the Israeli Defence establishment, as the missile proves Hamas has the ability to strike the outskirts of Tel Aviv.
The test also highlights how weapons smuggling is thriving despite Cast Lead and emphasizes that the IAF’s continuing efforts to destroy tunnels between Gaza and Egypt are not enough to permanently stop such malevolent activities. Further military action on the ground is clearly required.
Moreover, the discovery of such a massive arms shipment bound for both Hizbullah and Syria also underscores a disturbing new strategic reality for Israel, positioned so precariously in the heart of the Middle East.
General (ret.) Uzi Dayan, the former Head of Central Command and head of Israel’s National Security Council, noted recently that in Israel’s next war “all Israel will be one front.” Dayan’s statement reflects the probability that future battles will see missiles rain down across Israel, launched from all sides.
Mere days after General Dayan’s sobering warning, Syrian President Bashar Assad suggested Syria may return to “resistance” in order to regain the Golan Heights, should peace talks again fail. It is perplexing that Assad also declared it Syria’s “patriotic duty” to return to armed struggle – given his statement came less than one week after Israel’s discovery of the enormous Iranian munitions shipment bound for Syria. Rather than downplay the inference therein that Syria is gearing up for war with Israel, Assad instead openly announced Syria’s hostile intentions.
Perhaps these turbulent developments are unsurprising. Perpetual rumblings about an impending collapse in Israeli-Arab relations were given substance by the debacle over the Goldstone Report, Turkey’s rejection of Israel in favour of Iran and Syria, and the return of clashes and Palestinian conspiracies over the Temple Mount. The attempted Iranian weapons delivery will only further rock the Israeli-Arab peace boat.
While ostensibly still protected under the nuclear umbrella of the United States, Israel’s most vocal ally today is actually Canada. Under the leadership of Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada has steadfastly supported Israel since early 2006. Harper continues to actively denounce Ahmadinejad’s provocations, reinforce Israel’s right to exist at the UN’s assorted 'hate-fests' and lead the moral charge internationally in Israel’s defence.
Unfortunately Canada is in no position to militarily assist Israel should war break out soon. Thus Israel’s lack of well-armed and willing allies leaves many Jews consigned to fate, and clinging to faith in the One who promised safety, security and prosperity to Israel all along. As throughout her lonely history, Israel is today forced to look up and turn to God above.
Robert D. Onley
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