Jewish World Review Nov. 27, 2007 / 17 Kislev

Gang-rape in Annapolis, Saudi-style

By Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.

http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | It is fitting that Condoleezza Rice chose
the U.S. Naval Academy for the venue of today's so-called Mideast peace
conference. The reputation of that extraordinary institution in Annapolis has
been sullied in recent years by a succession of rapes of young women. Despite
official efforts to low-ball its significance, Ms. Rice's conclave is shaping
up to be a gang-rape of a nation on a scale not seen since Munich in 1938,
when the British and French allowed Hitler and Mussolini to have their violent
way with Czechoslovakia.
 

This time, the intended victim is Israel. As with the effort to appease the
Nazis and Fascists nearly sixty years ago, however, the damage will not be
confined to the rapee. The interests of the Free World in general and the
United States in particular will suffer from what the Saudis and most of the
other attendees have in mind for the Jewish State - namely, its dismemberment
and ultimate destruction.
 

As it happens, millions Americans have lately been introduced to the Saudis'
attitude towards gang-rape, pursuant to the theocratic code known as Shari'a
that they seek to impose on us all. We learned that a 19-year-old Saudi woman
identified only as the Girl of Qatif had been kidnapped and raped by seven
men. The rapists were to receive prison sentences and whippings. The woman,
though, was sentenced to receive 90 lashes for the crime of sitting in a car
with a male who was not a relative. When she had the temerity to appeal her
barbaric sentence, it was increased to six months in prison and 200 lashes.
 

There will, of course, be no punishments for the perpetrators of the coming
gang-rape of Israel at Annapolis. To the contrary, the Bush Administration
feels deeply indebted to the Saudi foreign minister for his participation and
that of a representative of a country Ms. Rice's department lists as a
state-sponsor of terror: Syria.
 

In fact, as an inducement for attending, a host of nations who have never
formally and concretely abandoned their historic determination to bring about
Israel's liquidation have been assured by their U.S. hosts that they will be
able to use this event to promote their agendas. As one American official
blithely put it: "No one's microphone will be turned off."
 

Consequently, it seems likely that Annapolis will feature an outpouring of
sentiment - in fact, near unanimity - on the following points: Israel must
relinquish to its Palestinian and Syrian enemies territory essential to the
defense and security of the Jewish State. Hard experience in southern Lebanon
and Gaza leaves no doubt that the vacuum thus created will be used by
terrorists to attack Israel, and perhaps America.
 
 
 
 

The gang assembled at the Naval Academy - Europeans, Russians,
non-governmental organizations as well as Arabs - will largely insist that the
Israelis allow the capital of a new Palestinian state to be established in the
section of Jerusalem most holy to Jews (and Christians). Never mind that from
East Jerusalem, the Israeli-controlled remainder of the city can be shelled at
will with Kassam rockets or even mortars.
 

At Annapolis, virtually everyone will also agree that Israel must accept some
arrangement affording rights to millions of Arabs who have been, as the
esteemed historian Bernard Lewis points out in today's Wall Street Journal,
deliberately condemned to refugee status (in some cases, for as many as five
generations) by their regional "brothers" and UN enablers. Everyone
understands this demand will translate demographically into the end of the
Jewish State.
 

By virtue of its sponsorship of the event and its actions, both there and
subsequently, the United States will once again assume the role of "honest
broker." This mutation of Israel's one ally makes it still less likely that
America will block such international demands.
 

Even before Annapolis, Condi Rice has found it inexpedient to do more than
mouth platitudes of the kind that once governed George Bush's policies vis a
vis the Jewish State and its enemies. Today, Palestinians can remain in the
terror business - they can even officially and explicitly refuse to recognize
Israel's right to exist as a Jewish homeland - and still enjoy the
Administration's political support and access to U.S. military equipment,
training and vast amounts of taxpayers' funds.
 

The bigger problem is that the government of Ehud Olmert seems disposed to go
along with the emerging "international consensus." Indeed, Olmert has already
signaled a willingness to compromise his country's future security and
integrity as a Jewish state in the hope of rescuing his failed premiership and
avoiding prosecution for corruption. For their part, his people seem to be
sleep-walking, unable to believe that every one of their longstanding national
requirements (for example, a unified Jerusalem, secure borders, no "right of
return" for "refugees," etc.) is being abandoned in the pursuit of a "peace"
no one can seriously believe is in prospect from the Saudis and their friends.
 

Sadly, like the Girl of Qatif, the people of Israel stand to be punished for
putting themselves in such a compromising position. Unfortunately for them and
for others who will be victimized in the future by Israel's emboldened
Islamist enemies, the penalty for the "process" resuscitated at the Naval
Academy and the concessions that will flow from it will not be the lash. It
may well prove to be a death sentence.