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Last update - 09:43 11/03/2008 We have learned nothing By Shahar Ilan Tags: Zionism, Mercaz Harav, Terror  We have learned nothing from the rift in this nation after the murder of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin. The left has learned nothing, just as the religious sector. This is the main conclusion from the acrimonious public debate after last week's terrorist attack at the Mercaz Harav yeshiva in Jerusalem. If this attack continues to be used as a political tool, it will become a terrorist attack on religious people. That would be sad and unnecessary. Religious people repeatedly recount the severe trauma they suffered because of Rabin's assassination. They speak of the tears they shed at Rachel's Tomb, or while traveling to or from there, after they heard of the murder, which occurred on the anniversary of the death of one of Judaism's matriarchs. Advertisement The left made a grave error in laying the responsibility for the murder on the right wing, and on the religious right wing in particular. In so doing, the left besmirched the religious right and in effect denied it the right and will to participate in the general atmosphere of mourning. In this way, ridiculous conspiracy theories were born. This also spawned the statement that Rabin's murder was no different from any other murder. But beyond all that, the memorial day for Rabin's death became a secular event instead of one that unified the nation (as opposed to only the left wing), whose prime minister had been assassinated. One might have expected the religious public's leaders to learn the lesson and act very differently from the way they reacted to the attack on Mercaz Harav. It seems the deep social rupture, coupled with a strong impulse to engage in political battles, prevailed over any lesson. The religious public's spokespeople accuse the government of being responsible for the attack. Some of the students from the yeshiva complained that a terrorist attack at a university would have been regarded as more serious. Education Minister Yuli Tamir was approached by an angry mob when she visited the yeshiva. But the right wing is not the only guilty party. People on the left could have refrained from counting the settlement-related sins of the yeshiva's alumni, students, and the alumni's students. In so doing, they implied they might have had it coming. After all, the settlement project won't be going anywhere during the mourning - and apparently it won't be going anywhere for a long time after that. We need to remember that children are children, and a place of learning is still a place of learning. The attack was not aimed only at the Mercaz Harav yeshiva, but at the entire Zionist project. Anyone who thinks otherwise is indulging in self-delusion. Once again it emerged that we have lost our ability to remain united even in our grief. Again, it became apparent that even when we are suffering, we prefer to lay the blame on our political adversary rather than wipe away our tears. The position of leftists who say that the settlers are not their brothers is understandable, even if one doesn't necessarily agree. The position held by rightists that the leftists aren't Jewish is likewise understandable, even if unacceptable. What is not understandable is the myopia of each side, which refuse to acknowledge that we are one people, whether we like it or not, and that we are forced to live together whether we desire it or not. These squabbles are so ridiculous at a time when we are being butchered. We are like Siamese twins clawing at the single heart we share. On the other hand, the people who dispatched the terrorist must be pleased. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Bring down the house Knesset speaker calls for wrecking of yeshiva killer's family home. Frum and fabulous Beauty salons offer Haredi women a unique brand of modest glamour.   1.   And what did you learn 10:00  |  Zev 11/03/08   2.   What did the kids learn in this yeshiva....???? 10:04  |  Swiss (Dino) 11/03/08   3.   Different kinds of learning... 10:10  |  Esther 11/03/08   4.   YES IN FACTT YOU KILL EACH OTHER. YOU DIED WITH MR. RABIN 10:36  |  ... 11/03/08   5.   Tamir`s visit 11:56  |  ash 11/03/08   6.   grief and tamirs visit 11:59  |  ash 11/03/08   7.   TERROR IS COMMON ENEMY 12:02  |  atilla karagözoğlu 11/03/08   8.   I am sorry for the innocent 8 young people 12:16  |  ... 11/03/08   9.   don`t be alarmed 12:42  |  Edith 11/03/08   10.   The Left Has Learned Nothing from Oslo, Lebanon, & Gaza 13:05  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 11/03/08   11.   We are one community 13:28  |  Joseph 11/03/08   12.   Israel is a divided land filled with religious radicals 14:10  |  POP 11/03/08   13.   Leadership for Real Response to Challenge 14:16  |  South African Rabbi 11/03/08   14.   "Piyus"... 14:20  |  Esther 11/03/08   15.   Unity is ad hoc 14:23  |  Avi Yerushalmi 11/03/08   16.   One Dores Not Hear The Same Language 14:24  |  Yaakov Sullivan 11/03/08   17.   my I advice friendly ? 14:50  |  ... 11/03/08   18.   Re Avi #13 15:00  |  Esther 11/03/08   19.   Redefining "Zionism" 15:26  |  l 11/03/08   20.   to decide where TO STAND 15:47  |  ... 11/03/08   21.   who made The Judaism this sick ? 15:53  |  ... 11/03/08   22.   I MUST ASK A QUESTION TO THE RABBIS 16:00  |  ... 11/03/08   23.   We have learned something - no gov`t should rely on Arab MKs 16:30  |  Zebedee 11/03/08   24.   defining Zionismhttp://www.zionism-israel.com/zionism_definitions 16:32  |  Robert/Montreal 11/03/08   25.   do teachers live a good life ? 16:49  |  ... 11/03/08   26.   Beautiful article, Shachar 20:03  |  Burned Liberal 11/03/08   27.   Deligitimization of the Religious Zionists 22:36  |  Susie 11/03/08   28.   to Zev #1 02:17  |  zeev in Beer Sheva 12/03/08   29.   to Robert/Montreal #24 02:51  |  zeev in Beer Sheva 12/03/08   30.   to Shahar Ilan 09:53  |  zeev 12/03/08   31.   to Robert/Montreal #24 10:07  |  zeev in Beer Sheva 12/03/08

Today Online Hamas-Israel deal would put Abbas' men at Gaza crossings Responses: 24 Qureia to Livni: PA 'shocked' at plan to expand settlement Responses: 26 Pro-Palestinian graffiti found inside El Al plane in Italy Responses: 21 Peres sees 'unparalleled' French-Israel relationship Responses: 10 Uzi Benziman: Wishing for a leader like Ronald Reagan Responses: 3 Israel Harel: The third Intifadfa is already here Responses: 1 More Headlines 09:38 Hamas-Israel deal would put Abbas' men at Gaza crossings 10:14 Australian parliament lauds Israel as 'custodian of freedom' 08:11 Qureia to Livni: PA 'shocked' at Israeli plan to expand settlement 09:53 IDF troops kill Islamic Jihad militant in raid on Tul Karm 09:42 MK Orlev: Reports of yeshiva revenge plot 'malicious slander' 06:38 At state dinner with Sarkozy, Peres sees 'unparalleled' French-Israel relationship 09:45 U.S. Mideast army chief quits after 'opposing attack on Iran' 10:19 The Bard behind bars 09:55 Obama snags black vote in Mississippi, beating out Clinton 10:02 Pro-Palestinian graffiti found inside El Al plane in Italy 08:44 Police officers slam Jerusalem chief's ignorance about yeshiva attack 08:01 MKs launch caucus to aid immigration from the West 04:22 Shas urges PM to continue aliyah of Ethiopian Falashmura 09:16 Calls mount for N.Y. Governor Spitzer to resign over sex scandal 08:40 Andre Carson becomes second Muslim elected to U.S. Congress Previous Editions Select Day 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar 03 mar 02 mar 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb

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