In 1973 Israel was attacked by Egypt and Syria. The attack happened on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for Jews: When they fast, repent, and spend the entire day in synagogue praying and reflecting. In 1973, Jews had much to contemplate. Their survival was at stake. Egypt and Syria had gained the upper hand.
Egypt had crossed the Suez Canal. Syria had an open road to Jerusalem. Golda Meir pledged not to be taken alive.
In the South, Israel baited Egypt into a trap, destroyed their tanks, and surrounded the Egyptian Third Army. Cairo was there for the taking, and the Israeli Air Force was ready and willing to destroy the Egyptian Capital. It was only then that Anwar Sadat recognized Israel’s right to exist. It was only in the face of absolute destruction, the President of Egypt agreed to Peace Talks, establishing a peace which has lasted to this day.
In the North, in the Golan Heights, Israeli tanks then recaptured the initiative and Damascus was within range of its guns. A cease fire was agreed to. Syria has never attacked Israel again.
One hero amongst many in this war was Yoni Netanyahu, older brother of Israeli Prime Minister Bebe Netanyahu. Yoni wrote a letter to his family. In it he stated Israel should never compromise, that compromise would eventually lead to Israel’s destruction.
And here we are today: Israel faces an army of terrorists bent on the destruction of Israel. Like Anwar Sadat prior to the 1973 war, Hamas refuses to recognize Israel’s right to exist. And as his brother instructed him, Bebe Netanyahu is showing Hamas no mercy, demonstrating no intent to compromise. Unlike Anwar Sadat who loved his people and cherished his nation, Hamas has no affection for any flag. They honor no national anthem. They kill their own citizens, steal their food and water. They seek to destroy Israel, to kill, to torture, to rape, to burn Israeli citizens alive. Netanyahu, just as Golda Meir would have destroyed Egypt had Anwar Sadat not recognized Israel’s right to exist, is going to destroy Gaza. Daily the question is asked: Who will govern Gaza? What will replace the totally ineffective Palestinian Authority? Daily that question goes unanswered
History repeats itself. Henry Kissinger, the United States Secretary of State met with Golda Meir. She told him the exact words Sadat must use to create a cease fire and prevent the destruction of Egypt. Sadat listened and acquiesced. Egypt exists today a stronger and peaceful nation
I suspect someone today is telling Gazans what they must say to halt the destruction currently taking place. But no one seems to be listening. Iran supports Hamas, so they will not listen. Egypt wants no part of this. Saudi Arabia is Muslim nation of the Sunni branch. Members of Hamas are also largely Sunni, while Hezbollah and Iran are Shia.
Ending the destruction in Gaza today, falls on Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu will not compromise. He is waiting for someone like Anwar Sadat to say Israel has a right to exist. Who will step up and do this? The person who does, will likely as Sadat did, win the Nobel Peace Prize, and then like Sadat, be assassinated by Muslim terrorists. But the peace, as it has in Egypt, may last