Gilad Sharon: Israel Is Under Attack

Gilad Sharon is the youngest of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s three sons and was a confidant to his father. Sharon holds a master’s degree in economics and writes a frequent column for a major Israeli newspaper. A major in the Israel Defense Force reserves, Sharon currently manages his family’s farm in Israel. His book about his father, Sharon: The Life of A Leader will be published by HarperCollins on October 25, 2011.

The word “spring” is a symbol of blossoming and renewal. But right now the Arab world is filled with demonstrations, shootings, and the replacement of one dictatorship for another. (Except for Saudi Arabia which has announced it will allow women to “vote” and drive by the year 2015!) And, most significantly for Israel, there is a PLO petition for statehood at the United Nations.

The Egyptian opposition newspaper Sawt al-Umma has just been shut down and the issues already distributed on the streets of Cairo containing criticism of Omar Suleiman, former Vice President of Egypt, confiscated. Exit Mubarak, enter the military junta, with democracy nowhere in sight. In Syria, the rising toll of the regime’s murder victims speaks more loudly than words about the concept of freedom. Nations in the world issue warnings to Assad, enact sanctions, and a few leaders call for his resignation but do little else with no sign of NATO coming to the rescue. In Libya, however, because of its oil reserves and proximity to Europe, the world has been quick to intervene. Indeed, we live in a cynical world.

And where are America and Israel in all this? The United States has always been Israel’s most important and significant ally. The two countries’ mutual values of democracy, freedom, and the determined stand against radical Islamic terrorism bind us together in a common fate and close relationship. The 9/11 terror attacks further reinforced the relationship and sense of identification. This alliance does not depend on specific leaders. Of course, it is better to have good personal relations of mutual appreciation and trust, similar to the one between my father, Ariel Sharon, and President George W. Bush, but nonetheless the alliance goes well beyond the personal.

It seems to me that the Obama administration has erred in its attitude toward Israel and perhaps now is reaping the results…