The Way to say Sorry

I only go to the Haaretz website infrequently these days, especially since the reports that they purposely bias their news (never mind the editorials) to villify certain parts of the Israeli public they disagree with while glossing over the sins of their allies. But I couldn't help but notice this article and felt a need to comment on it.

Recently, the Austrialian prime minister took time out to apologize to the aboriginal population for the sins committed against them by the white newcomers. Naturally this was well received by the liberal left all around the world. This particular piece decided to go one step further. We Jews could learn something from this apology:

Rudd's apology acknowledged the "profound grief, suffering and loss" inflicted on the Aboriginal people but no Jewish leaders seem capable of considering similar sentiments towards the Palestinians. They blame somebody else for the fact that the number of settlers rose by five percent in the West Bank in 2007. They remain mute when Israel's Interior Minister Meir Sheerit suggests destroying a Gaza neighbourhood. They look away when Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger urges Israel to move Gazans to the Sinai Peninsula.

How much longer must we wait for the worldwide Jewish community to understand the dispossession and dislocation of 1948 and 1967? And when will the global Zionist leadership realise that Israeli policies in the occupied territories is leading to the country's destruction?

The writer at least reveals his self-delusions:

Israel has become an object of uncritical adulation.

Right. That explains all the universities lining up to host "Israel Apartheid Week" and other hate-fests. That explains the British boycotts of all things Israeli too.

As I read this, I thought that there was a way to apologize to the Arabs. Here's how I would say it:

On behalf of my fellow Jews, both Israeli and not, I would like to apologize to the Arabs of Israel for the following:

For surviving 5 attempts between 1929 and 1973 to wipe out any Jewish society living in Israel.

For refusing to forget that we were occupants of this land long before the Arab tribes had erupted out of their base in their Pennisula. To paraphrase Benjamin Disraeli, our ancestors had built up a kingdom in Israel when yours were pagan barbarians running around slaughtering each other in the desert wastes. Sorry about that.

For building a country that, despite all the external pressure, boycotts and constantly military expenditures, has craeted an economy larger than all 22 of your countries put together. We're more literate than you, more productive than you, and we're only pulling further ahead. Sorry about that too.

For refusing to accept your twisted version of history. It was Yitzchak that Avraham offered up on the altar, not Yishmael. Moshe, Dovid, Shlomo, and the rest were B'nei Yisrael, not proto-Muslims. Yerushalayim was the home to two Temples and never any important Muslim shrines until the events of 1948-49 caused you to exagerate Al-Aksa's importance. Really sorry about that, old boy.

For constantly offering you opportunities to undo the big mistake your leadership made in 1947 when they refused to accept a "Palestinian" state on OUR land because they hoped a quick war would wipe us out. Despite this we gave you 'Aza and much of Yehudah and Shomron. We disenfranchised and impoverished thousands of our most patriotic and productive people. And in return you destroyed anything of value we gave you and reduced yourselves to abject poverty, all the while blaming us for your stupid leaders. Sorry there too.

In short, we're sorry you haven't been able to understand that Israel is Jewish land, that we are not a passing phase or another transient foreign invaders but the rightful occupants of this home called Israel. We are not going anywhere and we have no intention of letting you challenged our legitimacy.

And for that WE ARE NOT SORRY!