The recent tragic death of Princess Diana evoked an unprecedented worldwide outcry of shock, grief and anguish. Four days later we were again shaken when we heard of the deadly terrorist attack by Hamas in Jerusalem, which killed five and injured 190 persons.
The names of the dead are Smadar Elhanan, 16 years young; Sivan Zarka, 14 years young; Yael Botwin, 12 years young; Rami Kozashvili, 20 years young; and Eliahu Markowitz, only 40. I believe that Smadar and Sivan and Yael and Rami and Eliahu each deserve at least the same worldwide expression of mourning and sorrow as Princess Diana.
Five innocent, precious lives cut off by cruel terrorists. Five bereaved families who are mourning the loss of a child and a brother or sister or husband. But I suppose I can understand that it is impractical and unrealistic for me to expect the world to mourn or even to care about Smadar and Sivan and Yael and Rami and Eliahu. But I am deeply disturbed by another aspect of the situation which I feel should trouble the world. Let me explain.
Together with the extraordinary outpouring of grief, there was also a tremendous outcry of rage and anger at the paparazzi who pursued Diana’s car. The outcry of anger hardly abated even after it was learned that Diana’s driver was intoxicated. Let’s compare the paparazzi to the Hamas terrorists. The paparazzi are no more — or less — than a bunch of mercenaries motivated only by greed and the desire to make a fast million or so dollars. They have no open intention or desire to kill anyone. They did not carry bombs or machine guns.
The paparazzi sell their pictures of the rich and famous to the tabloids, which print millions of extra papers to satisfy the millions of people whose great pleasure and excitement in life comes from seeing a picture of their idol holding hands with a man — or woman. Everybody is happy as long as the public gets its pictures, and the papers and the paparazzi make plenty of money, and the rich and famous get the publicity they crave. Then the paparazzi are a vital link in the chain.
Compare that to the Hamas who are outright murderers of innocent men, women, children and babies. They want to see Jews either dead or bleeding to death. They do not pretend to want or care for anything else. I don’t expect the world to grieve for the death of Smadar and Sivan and Yael and Rami and Eliahu, but why is there no collective cry of outrage at the wanton murder of children? Why is there no collective cry of outrage from our own people at the sham and shame of the “peace process”?
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the New York Times photo of Arafat embracing Hamas leaders tells it all. Arafat uses the Hamas as his instrument to further his own goals, which are not peace, or even coexistence.
Perhaps we should stop what we are doing and take a few minutes to grieve for the loss of Smadar and Sivan and Yael and Rami and Eliahu. Then perhaps we will take a few extra moments to somehow express our anger at these atrocities and pray for the day when God will bring peace on earth and a full measure of comfort to all of us together.