In Israel, Ephraim Kishon is considered one of the most humorous writers among our literati. It is a humor spiced with paprika, like that of his native Hungary.
Some time after the Six Day War, when, after our sudden victory, the bulk of sympathy for Israel was transformed into acerbic criticism, he wrote an unforgettable book intended for the Western world: “A Thousand Excuses, For Being Victorious.” In effect, once the danger had passed, the world directed its cries of indignation against Israel.
In reading the present reactions to the Hamas aggression, with the limitless criticism [of Israel] in the media and from European politicians, I have a strong urge to plagiarize our dear Kishon, and to say to Israel's numerous critics:
Sorry, a thousand apologies for having the Iron Dome to protect us!
Sorry, that there has not been a life lost from the Israeli population.
Sorry, for having prepared the population on how to conduct itself when facing rockets flung indiscriminately at Israel.
Sorry, for wanting to live a normal life amidst all of this abnormality.
Sorry, for a lack of parity in the number of victims.
Sorry, for turning aside and destroying rockets launched at us before they could reach their civilian targets.
Sorry, for destroying a commando of Hamas frogmen as they were exiting the sea, before they could kill is.
Sorry, for not being able to offer you a war with images of our defeated people.
Sorry, for not offering you a proportionate war, as you would like.
I have watched over the last few hours as you have gone about trying to achieve a truce whatever the cost. I remember one of our great Ben Gurion's jokes: “Be sure that all parties will want a truce only when the outcome of the conflict tilts toward us.”
(Daniel Gal, former Israeli Consul-General in Quebec and Montreal, lives in Jerusalem.)
