LOOKING AROUND: Tourism now!

By Barbara Sofer
Oct. 10, 2002

When 80 percent of Palestinians continue to support the ongoing violence despite their 1,800 deaths, 60% unemployment, the need for food charity in 70% of Gaza , the presence of Israeli tanks in their cities and checkposts on the way to school, you have to ask yourself why.
It's counterintuitive to think that Palestinian mothers and fathers or even most young people would want to continue a losing battle which wrecks their daily lives, compromises their future and seems likely to offer little more than they could have obtained through negotiations.

The only explanation is that most Palestinians believe they are winning.

They have become heroes in the Arab world. Just listen to Saddam Hussein talking about the success of the "brave" suicide bombers who have wreaked more havoc on the Zionist entity than any other force since 1948.

Examined carefully, that sense of achievement is puzzling. Those of us who live here have demonstrated our ability to stand up to the murderous aggression, and to use effective military force when necessary. We have pursued our daily lives in the face of terror, invested in guarding, and sent our children to school every day. Despite predictions that reservists would reject service, volunteers far outnumber objectors. We have even achieved an elusive and much-vaunted national unity.

From where comes this sense of Palestinian victory? According to newspaper reports last week, it comes primarily from their joy over the damage done to the Israeli economy: losses in investments, construction and agriculture, as well as the conspicuous drop in tourism. The Palestinians gloat at their success at keeping tourists away.

Even Jewish tourists. Especially Jewish tourists.

Imagine how our enemy revels when Jews cancel trips to Israel, or seek out kosher alternatives in South America and Europe while restaurants and hotels close in Jerusalem. One group from England recently opted for distant Australia rather than risk our streets and holy sites.

Such explanations of Palestinian optimism were particularly bitter this week, as we mourned the death of Sgt. Ari Weiss, 21.

Consider the contrast. Out of commitment to the Jewish people, Susan and Rabbi Stuart Weiss moved their family to Israel from Texas. Anyone who has met this family will realize that they'd be successful and popular anywhere in the western world. At a time of demographic concern in Israel, they picked themselves up and immigrated.

At a time when there's worry about the Jewish character of the state, they established a non-coercive outreach network. Not only do these good citizens live Judaism with joy, but they make it attractive to anyone around them. Infrastructure Minister Effi Eitam this week spoke of the importance of strengthening the family. In that too they are a model for Israeli society. Their precious son Ari absorbed and perpetuated their Jewish values. He served his country out of choice, just as they chose this country... and tragically paid the greatest price.

Diaspora Jews must send out an unequivocal message: we're coming to Israel no matter what. This is no longer a question of debate, but of life and death. If you haven't been to Israel in the past two painful years, order your ticket this week.

Imagine what a comfort it would be for the Weiss family if thousands - tens of thousands - of Jews and Israel supporters decided to visit Israel in Ari's memory.

You don't have to stop by the Weiss home in Ra'anana, although I'm sure you would be welcome. You don't have to go to Sbarro or Moment or Rimon or the Dolphinarium, or the Park Hotel, or the Sea-Food Market, or David's Palace in Hadera or the Hebrew University cafeteria, French Hill, Patt Junction, Gilo, the Afula bus station, the park in Rishon Lezion, the billiards club. You don't have to fact-find or even express sorrow to the thousands of terror victims struggling to rebuild their lives. Make it a fun trip - a week at a spa, dinners in our kosher restaurants, swimming with the dolphins in Eilat, wandering the mystical byways of Safed. Planning a Hanukkah vacation? How much more meaningful it would be to sing praises of the valiant Maccabbees on a daytrip to Modi'in and Massada!

There are many countries that don't deserve your tourist dollars this year. They don't like Israel and they don't like Jews. Cancel your trips there. Come to Israel instead, even though it might mean taking a risk. Buying jewelry at an Israel fair in the US is worthy, but it's no replacement for shopping on Ben Yehudah Street.

Left, right, center - whatever your political views, if you want to be relevant, the time to put your feet down on Israeli soil is now.

Think for a moment of the change in mood among our enemies if hundreds of tourist buses lined up again in front of our worthy tourist sites, if new restaurants (guards in place) opened in every Israeli city.

And where are our talented brethren who usually come to relieve the stress here? What a morale boost it would be to have every international Jewish singer and actor appearing in our national theaters and open stages.

What are the goals of the Palestinians? According to the Jerusalem Media Center, headed by Rassan al-Hatib that conducted a survey of 1,199 Palestinians over 18 in Gaza and the West Bank, 45.6% want to end the Israeli "occupation" and another 42.2% want to end the Jewish state.

At Rabbi Weiss's request, Ari's friends danced to Am Yisrael Chai in his memory the night after his death. That's not a wish, it's a command.

Tourism now! Come here now for Ari.

Come here for yourself.