The ongoing ideological struggle between Democratic Western Civilization and the terrorism of Islam fanatical fundamentalists has catapulted the Middle East and the world to a crisis boiling point. 

On the front and back door of Israel are the terror groups of Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Palestinian Hamas, both surrogates of Iran, who are capable of doing anything and everything to annihilate Israel and all infidels who are non-believers of Islam.

The United States military is on the battle line and have been put in harms way in Afghanistan and Iraq fighting the Al-Qaeda and other Jihad fundamentalists.  These military operations accompany a propaganda campaign by forces of Islam that has direct effects on the political arenas of all Middle East countries and the rest of the world.

Yitzhak Shamir signing the Portrait

Israel, to counter the aggression of the Hezbollah, responded militarily with restraint and created a buffer zone in southern Lebanon for their security.  This conflict has demonstrated that Hezbollah is supported by Iran and supplied through Syria with massive amounts of military equipment and money.

In 2000, when Israel withdrew from Lebanon, they had United Nations resolutions and the assurances of the United States. Based on the proportionate percentage of population, Israel in Lebanon has endured almost triple the amount of deaths than the United States has suffered in Iraq.

While currently under a cease fire formulated by the United Nations with Lebanon, Israel's "Exit Plan" depends on the response of a reliable international military force to safeguard the borders and security of Israel against terrorism. Israel cannot afford any mistakes and their intelligence network will monitor all acts of aggression.  Remember, it was Israel who took out the nuclear threat of Iraq in 1981.

President Jimmy Carter

The question is, do the political leaders have the ability to make decisive decisions, when there is no margin for error?

President Bush made the decision to protect the world when the United States went into Iraq to end the terror of Hussein's regime and is now being chastised for not having the "Exit Plan".

There was an "Exit Plan," "the White Paper" which called for Iraq to be broken up into three individual autonomous countries for the benefit of the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds. The petroleum industry would remain nationally operated with the revenue being divided proportionally.

What happened? The political pressure that was put on the United States by its allies and friends was overwhelming.  The political world went into shock. Turkey, our longtime NATO Moslem ally and a stabilizing force in the Middle East, threatened chaos. There was no way that they would allow the Kurds to have their own autonomy in fear of the Kurds in Turkey rebelling and joining the new Kurd Republic. Russia and their ex-satellite countries were in fear of the same. Germany, France and England protested for economic reasons.

There was strong fear that the Shiite portion of Iraq would become controlled and eventually part of Iran. Saudi Arabia and all the Persian Gulf countries who felt the pressure of Iran strongly protested. The merry- go-round kept turning.

Why is Israel in a fight that their very existence is at stake?  Israel has been a true practicing democracy, not just a theoretical dream. This fact of harmony and coexistence between Arabs and Jews must be destroyed by the Islam fanatic fundamentalists in order for them to succeed.

Israel today has a population of nearly 6.6 million people. Of this, 5.1 million or 77% are Jewish; 19% or 1.5 million are Arab, of which over 1 million are Muslim (mostly Sunni); about 200,000 are Christians and the remainder is a mix of the world. The Arab population of 19% is about the same as when Israel was granted and declared their independence in 1948.

    Yitzhak Rabin with Michel Schwartz

The myth and ongoing lie by the Muslims that the Palestinian Arabs were expelled from their homes, their businesses destroyed, houses of worship burned to the ground and their women raped is the continuous propaganda that is furthest from the truth. What then are the true facts?

The exodus of an estimated 180,000 Arabs left before Israel declared their independence and 300,000 left before the war ended. Arabs fled in anticipation of a quick Arab victory and others left when leaders of Middle East countries called for them to evacuate for their own safety and not be in harm's way by being exposed to the battle of war while the Jews were to be slaughtered.  Five Arab armies were converging on Israel and after they defeated and drove the Jews into the sea, they would immediately return to their homes and receive the spoils and benefits of the victory. In 1948, the total Jewish population of Israel was about 750,000 and the Arabs that remained totaled about 150.000 and became Israeli citizens. The total Arab population declaring war on Israel was 80,000,000. In the next two years over a million Jews were evicted from Moslem countries.

Shimon Peres, Deputy Prime Minister

Ben-Gurion's position on what Israel stands for is documented within its Declaration of Independence which states:

"The State of Israel will be open to the immigration of Jews from all countries of their dispersion; will promote the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; will be based on the principles of liberty, justice and peace as conceived by the prophets of Israel; will uphold the full social and political equality of all its citizens, without distinction of religion, race, or sex, will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, education and culture; will safeguard the Holy places of all religions, and will loyally uphold the principles of the United nations Charter."

"In the midst of wanton aggression, we yet call upon the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to preserve the way of peace and play their part in the development of the state, on the basis of full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its bodies and institutions - provisional and permanent."

"We extend our hand in peace and neighborliness to all the neighboring states and their people, and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all. The State of Israel is prepared to make its contribution to the progress of the Middle East as a whole."

Israel remained true in carrying out the principles of Ben-Gurion's vision that the Declaration of Independence is the integrity and fulfillment for peace in Israel.

Who are the real enemies of Israel and the civilized world?  

The extremist fundamentalist teachers preaching and teaching hatred and creating terrorists to do their bidding are a fanatical faction within the clergy of Islam. Masquerading as the supreme interpreters of the Koran and disciples of Muhammad these fanatics are the core of the ideological values behind terrorism.  The Koran is a respected sacred book of good. It states that a Moslem will not kill another Moslem.  The extremists use the Koran as the instrument to change its interpretation and malign the truth. Appeasement or negotiations with terrorists and their supporters are just delaying the inevitable.  These extremists should first be identified as to their real names and what part they play in the international structure of the fundamentalist movement. What city and country is their power base of operation? Who are their supporters and followers?  After being identified and documented this information must be made public to every country just like President Bush's announcement that Iran is part of the "Axis of Evil".  A fully pledged public relation awareness campaign should be launched immediately.  When democracies were facing the threat of dictatorial communism after World War Two a strong instrument of communicating the truth to the people of these countries was the Voice of America. The repression of the truth about Israel must also end. The message to the Moslem world and its people is that "if it is worth dying for; it is worth living for". 

With the advent of new technology in the field of communication in cell phones and wireless internet and other devices, these vehicles as well as others must be used in an all out organized communication campaign telling the factual story of Israel that must be made available to all countries of the world -- an Israeli Arab is a first class citizen with all the rights and advantages that are available to all citizens; that he has freedom of worship, opportunity of education, health care, freedom of expression and represented in the government and the security of peace.

The choices we make dictate the lives we live.

When Israel declared its independence, Ben-Gurion knew that it would not be easy.  His legacy for the future leaders of Israel who are still searching for answers, when it doesn't appear there is one, is the Declaration of Independence and its implementation as the answer.

     Arik Sharon signing the Portrait