Israel has just turned sixty. In some quarters there is celebration, in others there is devastation. Whenever anyone talks about ‘homeland’, there will always be issues of possible invasion, displacement, resentment and even raw anger. Out of all the countries in the world, every one of these issues affects Israel the most.

At the 60th Anniversary celebrations, President George W Bush made a speech at the Knesset – the Jewish Parliament – and made references to ‘appeasement’. When one mentions appeasement, one always thinks of how Neville Chamberlain, then UK Prime Minister, appeased Hitler by allowing him to have a slice of Czechoslovakia in 1938. This is how some saw that action:

Unlike Chamberlain, Daladier (French PM) was under no illusions about Hitler’s ultimate goals. In fact, he told the British in a late April 1938 meeting that Hitler’s real aim was to eventually secure “a domination of the Continent in comparison with which the ambitions of Napoleon were feeble.” He went on to say “Today it is the turn of Czechoslovakia. Tomorrow it will be the turn of Poland and Romania. When Germany has obtained the oil and wheat it needs, she will turn on the West. Certainly we must multiply our efforts to avoid war. But that will not be obtained unless Great Britain and France stick together, intervening in Prague for new concessions but declaring at the same time that they will safeguard the independence of Czechoslovakia. If, on the contrary, the Western Powers capitulate again they will only precipitate the war they wish to avoid.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Agreement

And this is what George W Bush said:

Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along. We have heard this foolish delusion before,” Bush said.

“As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: “Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided.” We have an obligation to call this what it is — the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history,” he added.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUKN1524290920080515

This political race is getting dirty, we can all see that. But to use this sort of talk to a race of people whose history is totally wrapped up in ‘homeland’, ‘territory’ and ’statehood’ is simply underhanded. Linking these comments in a not too veiled way with Senator Barack Obama is nothing short of appalling. You don’t have to be a Rhodes Scholar to put the pieces of the George W Bush jigsaw together. Obama – Chamberlain, Ahmadinejad – Hitler.

Now I have no issue comparing Ahmadinejad to Hitler. This is one scary little guy. However, why is it when we want the Jewish people to come on board with us and our ideas, all we have to do is mention the Holocaust or Hitler? I am hoping that there were many Jews sitting in the Knesset who were thinking ” no, George, not the same.” Bush’s ultimate aim is not simply to paint Obama as an unsuitable candidate, but someone who will talk to terrorists, agree with terrorists, side with terrorists, and before you know it, the Jewish State is no more. In short, Obama is the wolf in sheep’s clothing, and the Jew will suffer again under his watch.

Some have said that this is the lowest one can go in order to woo voters. I agree. The Jewish population in the US is around 6 million. This is not at all big, around 2%.( Source: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Israel/usjewpop.html). However, it holds a lot of sway, especially in important geographical parts of the United States (notably New York), and across influential sectors (entertainment and business).

If we are making comparisons, let’s hope the Jewish people treat Bush’s words with the same contempt as they do for Hitler. The worse thing we can do now is appease him.

Enjoy your day.

P.S. By pure coincidence, this happens to be my 60th blog post. Thank you to all who read my blog regularly, and thank you for all the comments I receive.