There are, of course, experts and learned men among us, who will explain to the public that Sharon’s comparison is not really accurate; Israel is not Czechoslovakia and George W. Bush is not Neville Chamberlain. Sharon was clearly aware of that when he said, "I call on the Western democracies and primarily the leader of the free world, the United States: Do not repeat the dreadful mistake of 1938 when enlightened European democracies decided to sacrifice Czechoslovakia for a convenient, temporary solution. Do not try to appease the Arabs at our expense. This is unacceptable to us. Israel will not be Czechoslovakia.”
Historical knowledge is not enough; thinking and comprehension are also required. The comparison is obviously not exact, but some aspects of Israel’s current situation are certainly reminiscent of the Western countries’ behavior towards Czechoslovakia before WWII.
There was a terrible terrorist attack on the US. What happened afterwards? US President Bush began to assemble an anti-terror coalition. Whom did he leave out? Israel. Who did he include? Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, as well as Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the rest of the Arab countries that have always been known for their uncompromising and energetic opposition to terror of any kind.
Suddenly Bush announces his support for a Palestinian state. It is not that there is any practical importance to his statement; almost no one disputes the need for such a state. But why did he make the statement after a terrorist attack, and when the Palestinians are continuing the Intifada? There have also been suggestions that Israel’s occupation is the cause of the US’s problems. What is all this, if not an attempt to appease the Arabs at Israel’s expense?
What should a responsible prime minister do? Wait until the comparison becomes exact? Until we are exactly like Czechoslovakia and Bush is exactly like Chamberlain? Until it is too late? Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was not trying to be completely accurate from a historic standpoint when he made his remarks about Czechoslovakia. He wanted to cause a stir, shake things up, and make the US stop and consider its actions – and he achieved just that.
After the speech, Bush issued an angry announcement, Sharon made pacifying comments, and everyone said the issue was behind them. Life doesn't work that way, however; the words Czechoslovakia and Chamberlain have already been said. From now on, these expressions will loom over Washington and the White House, and will serve as a backdrop to all the US’s actions. From now on, the burden of proof will be on the US to prove it is not appeasing the Arabs at our expense. Sharon performed an incomparably essential action. From a historical perspective, his short speech will be regarded as a political milestone.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on October 7, 2001