Let’s get real and act as if we own the place !

The government’s mantra is that peace is only possible if our Arab neighbours recognize Israel as a Jewish state.

But why should they if even we don’t?

I’m not talking about nutjobs like Neturei Karta or the vile merchants of sedition at Ha'aretz.

I’m talking about Prime Minister Netanyahu and his security cabinet. I’m talking about Jerusalem Mayor Barkat and his municipal officers. I’m also talking about the justices of the local and superior courts. Why do they not recognise the sovereignty of their own state?

How can we expect others to take us seriously as a sovereign nation if we do not ourselves?

It’s no exaggeration to say that almost every decision made at all levels of officialdom where it concerns Arabs is not determined by the interests of Israelis and their security, but by how foreign leaders, NGOs and media may judge us. This is totally unsustainable.

Look at poor Europe as it struggles with its migrant crisis and the failure of its single currency. These problems were not caused by Syria’s civil war or incompetent central bankers. They are rooted in the erosion of ‘nation statehood’ within what was supposed to be a European free trade area. Once proud and independent countries like Britain ceded their national identity in a European melting pot and lost control of their laws, currency and borders. As we see the demise in what European states have so suddenly lost, we must jealously guard and empower our own nation statehood and sovereignty.

It is therefore absurd that, whilst we still have our independence, we look to failing European states for approval of our own sovereign actions. We need to stop beseeching Arab states to recognize our right to exist. That would be like the oldest founding member of a golf club having to show ID at the door. We exist, we have repossessed our biblical homeland and we should be seen to be exercising all the powers of our sovereignty to maintain security, law and order and our national ethos and values. Truly a light unto the flickering European ex-nations.

This means, Mr Minister of Security Gilad Erdan, that we will not ‘grin and bear it’ whilst young children of freshly slain Jews are still sitting shiva. This means, Mr Netanyahu, that ‘zero-tolerance’ is about breaking bones not walking on eggshells. And this, Mayor Barkat, means that by failing for years to protect the peace of the dead on the Mount of Olives you’ve empowered the cemetery vandals to go butchering live Jews in Har Nof, stabbing families in the Old City and stoning your new light railway on a nightly basis.

So, let’s get real and act as if we own the place.