22 OPINION
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26 AUGUST 2021
OPINION
Perhaps we should stop looking for peace OPINION PIECE BY ROBERT FESTENSTEIN I read an interesting article earlier this month about the bombing of the Sbarro pizzeria in Jerusalem 20 years ago where 15 Israelis and tourists, including seven children, in the restaurant were killed by the explosion and 130 injured, some with appalling life changing injuries. The bombing was part of the Second Intifada which in turn prompted the building of the security barrier. Following its construction, the number of attacks fell dramatically and as matters stand there is no desire for it to be removed. The Sbarro atrocity was accompanied then by open calls from Palestinian leaders for the destruction of Israel. Whilst the attacks might have reduced since then, sadly the demands for Israel’s demise have not. The withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 was intended to allow the Palestinians to create a ‘Hong Kong in the Middle East’. Instead, the territory was taken over by Hamas who since then, have been determined to shun every opportunity to make
peace with their neighbour. It seems odd that a territory which is so poor, and which could so easily be wealthy seems determined to stay poor. Similarly the West Bank, where the Palestinian Authority remains implacably wedded to their ‘pay to slay’ policy so that terrorists or their families are rewarded if an Israeli is injured or killed as a result of the terrorist attack. What makes the Sbarro bombing significant, is that nothing appears to have changed in the last 20 years. Hamas are determined to kill Jews and destroy Israel, and the Palestinian Authority are as far away as ever from coming to the negotiating table. In simple terms, Israelis want peace and Hamas/PA don’t. Little wonder then that
the issue of this particular conflict did not feature particularly highly in the recent Israeli elections, simply because most Israelis recognised that for as long as the Palestinians are not interested in peace there is little point in trying to do anything about it other than contain the situation as best they can. Yet despite the clear evidence, the demands for Israel to give concessions in exchange for peace remain shrill and urgent on both sides of the Atlantic even though the only demand from Hamas and the PA is the destruction of the Jewish state. The push for concessions amongst some UK Jewish groups ignores the reality that as matters currently stand, no concession is going to bring about peace. As a community we need to come together
Hamas are determined to kill Jews and destroy Israel, and the Palestinian Authority are as far away as ever from coming to the negotiating table.
and recognise this. Instead of bringing pressure to bear on Israel, the pressure needs to be directed to those who are the real barriers to peace, Hamas and the PA as well those who fund them. There needs to be a rethink amongst the groups who are blaming Israel for lack of peace and the development of a strategy which addresses the real issues. It is simply unrealistic to expect Israel to give away land as part of a peace process when that process simply doesn’t exist. All that this does is give support to those who hate the Jews and pushes the prospects of a settlement further away. For as long as the Palestinians refuse to even try and get involved in a peace process, we will remain stuck in August 2001 and the hatred that brought about the deaths and injuries at the Sbarro pizzeria will go unchecked. Robert Festenstein is a practising solicitor and has been the principal of his Salford based firm for over 20 years. He has fought BDS motions to the Court of Appeal and is President of the Zionist Central Council in Manchester which serves to protect and defend the democratic State of Israel.
FJL Students meet with President Herzog and Chief Rabbi Lau Participants of the Forum for Jewish Leadership (FJL) Summer Programme had the distinct privilege to meet with Israel’s President Isaac Herzog and Chief Rabbi Lau during their summer experience. 45 students from the UK, USA and Canada embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime journey of two growth-filled months in Israel dedicated to cultivating young Jewish leadership. The Q&A session at the President’s residence, was a highlight of the programme at the end of an incredible day dedicated to meeting a host of Jewish leaders including Founding Director of Momentum, Lori Palatnik, as well as Founding Director at Palestinian Media Watch, Itamar Marcus, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau amongst others. The various scholars and experts equipped the students with a passion to lead proud Jewish lives and the tools to combat antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment back at home. Director of FJL, Ben Thwaites, said, “FJL range of courses and programmes provide an in-depth understanding of the theory and practice of Jewish leadership as well as Jewish perspectives on a host of legal,
FJL Students’ Q&A with President Herzog
political and social issues associated with the modern world. Despite the extra Covid-related challenges faced this year, FJL has provided these young people with the skills and confidence they will need to become effective and committed leaders of the Jewish community.”
During the programme, participants undertook internship placements in a range of industries including hi-tech, law, finance, media, engineering and more. The combination of professional and educational opportunities enabled the students to understand the centrality of Jewish values in
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one’s career pursuits. At weekends, the students spent Shabbat with their new friends in community-hosted experiences in the cities of Ra’anana, Efrat, and Jerusalem. The Shabbat experiences provided an opportunity for students to reconnect after a busy week of work, gain inspiration from FJL Educators, and plug into the magical atmosphere of Shabbat. The weekends were topped off with travel up and down the length and breadth of Israel’s ancient and modern sites partaking in powerful and important experiences, including: a visit to the Sodastream factory in the Negev to see Jews and Arabs working together; recommissioning broken wheelchairs for third world countries; and a tour of the former Pussycat nightclub in Tel Aviv where they learnt how the venue has become a centre for supporting activism and training for at-risk groups, including women from troubled backgrounds. One participant said, “I’ve been on trips to Israel before but nothing compares to the opportunities on FJL to simultaneously gain important career experience and also transform my understanding of my Jewish identity and connection to Israel.”
