The boomerang
Backing expulsion of Jews could pave way for expulsion of Arabs
All those who currently show understanding as their political adversaries’ freedom of expression is being curbed, must take into account that in the future, their own freedom of expression may be curbed, too.
Today, freedom of expression is being stripped from those who object to Sharon’s policy. The police arrest them for as much as standing in the street with a sign, and the courts keep them in custody arbitrarily.
Meanwhile, Sharon’s destructiveness is ruining every good aspect of democracy. Soon, we may all find ourselves in a country whose political character had been wholly distorted, the kind of country that the mind, any mind, cannot bear.
Future leader may adopt Sharon's tactics
Citizens who at this time lend their support to the expulsion of Jews will have to remain silent when a different government decides to expel Arabs. They will be forced to, in fact, support every decision of any future government, even if it appears silly and dangerous to them, and even if it not only defies everything they hold dear, but also human logic itself.
After Sharon, we may see the emergence of a decent, honest government, but maybe we won’t. Chances are what Sharon is being permitted to do, will be allowed in Israel from now on.
The next prime minister may well take the same bad path paved by Sharon’s bulldozer at this time, and use his methods to coerce the country into adopting any idea he comes up with.
Those who didn’t protest when ministers were fired in order to create an artificial government majority in favor of razing settlements would not be able to protest if and when other ministers are dismissed from the next government, in order to pass the annexation of the West Bank and Gaza and the relocation of Palestinian refugees.
Their silence for the past two years would hit back at them like a boomerang: they would not be able to prevent a future prime minister from also treating them as if the country is his private herd of sheep, even if that future prime minister will suddenly feel like implementing radical right-wing policies.
Citizens must come to country’s defense
If they still attempt to protest, they should not be surprised if the future prime minister ignores them completely. They also should not be amazed if once they are prevented from resorting to all acceptable democratic methods of protest, they would feel they have no choice but to hit the streets and block intersections.
Moreover, they should not be astonished to discover the future attorney general, who would be the future prime minister’s loyalist, defines their outcry as “sedition” and attempts to prevent their detained youngsters from exercising the right given even to terrorist murderers, to do their high school matriculation exams in prison.
A country where citizens can be prohibited from entering public venues for wearing orange, the color associated with the anti-pullout campaign, is a country where all decent people must urgently come to the defense of its sanity and proper governance.
After all, all of us will have to live in this country even after Sharon.