Avi Beiber, Israeli Hero

There can be no doubt whatsoever that 56 days in a military prison in Israel is no pleasure.

However, there can be no doubt either that what Cpl. Avi Beiber did was heroic. Many more will certainly follow in his path, and that will make his jail time worthwhile to him.

There was a time when the laws of Israel were wholly compatible with a Jewish conscience. That was a time when military heroes were praised, when the IDF looked at the result rather than at the rules, and when terrorists were not "partners" for what is now called "peace".

That time is long gone, and with it went the self-esteem and self-respect of a whole generation of Israeli heroes, from Yitzhak Rabin to... well... to General Ariel Sharon. He is probably the greatest living general alive, bar none, and yet he is taking the country to the brink and, quite possibly, beyond it, having learned absolutely nothing from the actions of his predecessor.

There was also a time when Jews had to break the laws of the rulers of Israel to make the Zionist dream come true. A time when our enemies were as hateful, as deluded, as determined, and as inhumane as today. A time when, despite the mortal danger to their livelihood in their home countries, Jews could not legally enter Eretz Israel.

And yet they did, and History knows that some things are more important than laws.

When a people's destiny is at stake, the limitations of any legal framework should be overcome.

And so it is today.

posted by Franklin D. Rosenfeld @ 6:45 AM