Something to think about in light of the Boston bombing:
For Israelis, combating terror is not just a security question. It’s a social, cultural and psychological issue and the whole country is required to play its role. It’s often measured in small deeds, like going back to a favorite cafe after an attack.
In the deadliest year for Israelis, 2002, more than 50 suicide bombings convulsed a country that has just a few more residents than Massachusetts. It’s no stretch to say that Israel endured the equivalent of a Boston Marathon bombing every week for a year.
After most every blast, cellphone lines overloaded as Israelis called loved ones to make sure they were all right. In such a small country, Israelis knew they might be connected in some way to the victims. Yet this also seemed to breed a remarkable coping mentality.
We can learn a lot from Israelis. It turns out the director of one of the hospitals treating the victims (and the bomber) is an Israeli with plenty of experience treating terror victims.
I think it’s safe to say his expertise came in handy last week.
As a matter of fact, an Israeli is in charge of
John Kerry, in a display of jaw-dropping stupidity, yesterday compared the victims of the Boston marathon bombing with the Turkish casualties on the Mavi Marmara(!) What he conveniently overlooks is that the Boston victims were unarmed civilians minding their own business, attacked by Muslim jihadists… and that the Turks on the Mavi Marmara were armed terrorists attempting to break a legitimate naval blockade and who attacked the IDF naval forces boarding their ship.
An apology is most definitely in order… but I’m not gonna hold my breath.