By Michael Kuttner…

Most of the problems we face today are as a result of them having in the past been “kicked down the road” for someone else to confront.

The explosion of jihadist terror networks and regimes is just one example of how procrastination, appeasement and a refusal to face up to facts have now resulted in the current tsunami hate threats. Fear of confronting evil head on and preferring to pretend a supine surrender will buy peace have proven recipes for disaster.

Jew and Israel hate, now one and the same, has exploded worldwide. It was always present but with a diminishing exposure to Holocaust education the general population is now easy prey to being brainwashed with all the latest conspiracies about Jews. The same brainwashing technique which produced a generation of devoted Hitler youth and provided an army of willing executioners is being replicated today.

Universities and professional associations are rapidly being subverted in the same way.

Most of the media are complicit, as their long track record demonstrates, in distorting, misreporting and accusing. The end result is a steady diet of horror stories and blatant mistruths which inevitably leave an indelible stain against Jews and Israel.

Political leaders who in the past were experts at “kicking the can down the road” are replicated these days as they once again prefer hot air rhetoric to actually tackling hate head on.

Back in the 1930’s Jews in Germany thought that they could buy safety by distancing themselves from the “ostjuden” – the Jews from Poland and the east who were more visibly Jewish. This of course did not work because to the haters all Jews were anathema.

Likewise today there are some communal leaders in Diaspora communities who think they can placate the haters if they distance themselves from their brethren in the Jewish State.

It states in Kohelet, “there is nothing new under the sun” as a closer look at some of these current threats will prove only too well.

For years and over many American Administrations the rise of Islamic terror regimes and their supporters was treated as something that could be safely ignored. Israel’s warnings were noted and then quickly buried. Only after American lives were lost or US interests threatened did the penny drop but even then half hearted responses did not solve the problem.

A standard feature of democracies’ responses is total lack of understanding as to what constitutes jihadist aims and the role religious fanaticism against infidels plays in Islam. US State Department bias and naïve beliefs that ideological hate can be transformed with dollar bounties failed to recognize the futility of such a transformation. European and UK spinelessness combined with commercial interests and inbuilt appeasement have resulted in the mess we face today.

How many people realize that France and Germany have extensive financial and commercial involvements with Iran?

After years of looking the other way and refusing to take action we are now faced with a US President who seems intent on addressing the situation.

The question of course is whether he is capable of succeeding where others have failed. Can “deals” do the trick? Israel has suffered as a result of rotten deals in the past. Israel has been deceived by so called deals. The agreement to safeguard maritime navigation for Israel ships pre 1967 turned out to be a worthless document when Nasser blockaded the Tiran straits. Likewise, Presidential pledges by previous incumbents to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear capability and the means to deliver them were nothing but window dressing and an excuse not to take practical action.

The burning question of the moment is whether Trump is able to do what no other President has been able to do previously?

His quick “in and out” bombing of nuclear sites is touted as a game changer but mystery surrounds its results. Israel did the dirty work of degrading Iran’s air defences and other facilities. Mossad’s brilliant activities on the ground contributed to an astounding success. Iran’s retaliatory missile responses caused damage and fatalities but the fact remains that 99% of drones were shot down and the majority of missiles were intercepted. Israel took action when it became apparent that the rest of the world preferred rhetoric and duplicitous diplomacy to actual preventative action.

Trump talks of deals with Iran. Iran hints it might be open to talks but that is a tactic which they have successfully employed before with disastrous results. If they can deceitfully use this strategy as a ruse to rearm, reconstruct and rebuild then nothing will be achieved. It is already reported that the Chinese are supplying replacement missiles. Without punitive sanctions and ultimate regime change the Iranian Mullah regime will redouble its efforts to reach nuclear capability. Its aims and ambitions have not changed one iota. The destruction of the “Zionist entity” remains its primary objective.

Any deal which does not ensure that this can never happen is just another worthless piece of paper.

Any deal that does not secure the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas is likewise worthless. There cannot be any talk of reconstruction until Hamas is totally removed and those who wish to leave Gaza enabled to do so. Too many innocent Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers have been killed. Leaving the perpetrators in place is unthinkable.

It is time to remember the warning issued by Golda Meir when she declared that “you cannot make peace with someone who has come to kill you.”

If Obama and Arafat could be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize the suggestion that Trump can be nominated is not so outrageous. The fact that Israel has written and nominated him is bound to doom his prospects because Israel is anathema as far as most international groups are concerned.

If one wants to witness political huffing and bluffing in action look no further than what is transpiring in many countries as mindless mobs rampage and cause mayhem.

In the United Kingdom every weekend in London is disrupted by screaming and threatening demonstrators. Hurling the vilest epithets against Israel, Zionists, Jews and anyone who supports them, without doubt generates further hate and incitement. Violence is not far behind. Police passivity in the face of these blatant expressions of pure evil has been a standard feature. In recent times however faced with rising criticism a more robust response has been forthcoming.

After a painful period of trying to avoid upsetting jihadist supporters the UIK Government finally banned “Palestine Action.” Their defiant intention to intensify anti Israel activities will prove whether the authorities are serious in arresting and prosecuting them. The next question of course will be whether the courts pass meaningful sentences or merely issue slaps on the wrist.

Left wing Labour MP’s together with knee jerk Zionist haters from other parties have already condemned the attempt to ban hate marches. Corbyn and his friends are working hard to condemn, sanction and boycott Israel. Lammy, the Foreign Secretary declares his intention to further punish Israel if it does not surrender in Gaza.

Where the UK goes so it seems does the Australian Federal Labour Government follow. Well, not quite, because it has yet to implement complete bans against inciting groups or take firm action to squash the rising tide of Jew and Israel hate.

The response has been full of righteous rhetoric and plenty of political hot air in the face of unprecedented attacks against Israeli/Jewish business premises and arson attempts against Synagogues. The promise to create yet more committees to study the problem is a classic way for politicians to kick the can down the road while actually doing nothing.

Who needs more committees when there are already sufficient tools available to tackle the problem?  If existing laws are not strong enough to deal with the epidemic of Jew hate then introduce legislation which will address the challenge. Empower the police and security services to act. Instead of hand ringing and pathetic blathering about social cohesion and Islamophobia take off the kid gloves and ban the worst offenders. Deport the worst inciters or make sure that the courts pass meaningful punishments for those making inciting sermons and advocating death. Nip assaults against communal premises in the bud by taking firm action instead of letting the offenders escape and then appealing to the public for help.

The jihadist agitators can discern weakness which is why in Australia and elsewhere they take pride in redoubling their efforts. Establishing a Holocaust museum in Canberra is all very nice but it is not going to deter the haters and all those whose minds are irredeemably poisoned by an incessant torrent of lies.

The diabolical situation which now exists in universities and beyond is a direct result of years of refusal to act.

Kicking the can is a fatal dead end.

Get serious before the situation becomes uncontrollable. Instead of futile hand ringing take off the gloves.

Michael Kuttner is a Jewish New Zealander who for many years was actively involved with various communal organisations connected to Judaism and Israel. He now lives in Israel. 

[This article was originally published on J-Wire and is reproduced here with permission from Michael Kuttner.]