In a recent speech, Lars Faaborg-Andersen, the EU’s outgoing ambassador to the Jewish state, commented that “Israel has much to learn from [Europe] in the war on terror.” Fiamma Nirenstein explains why she finds this assertion “totally absurd”:
Israel is better than any other country at fighting terrorism. Otherwise, it simply would not have survived the wave of attacks that Europe now suffers. Israel suffers attacks on every possible front: from the air, in public squares, airports, streets, by fanatics of every kind—suicide bombers, Islamic organizations, lone wolves. This is why so many people, from the European government to security services, come to learn from Israel daily, on a regular and intense basis, about how to cope with terror.
I met Mr. Andersen at the King David Hotel [at a recent diplomatic gathering on this very] subject: how Israel’s endures.
One of the ambassadors attending said, “Europe could never behave like Israel because the Israelis are ready to send their children to fight and even die, which the Europeans would never do.” A very harsh assessment. Even so, I can appreciate this point of view; it is ultimately human. Nevertheless, I responded with the unfortunate truth facing Europe, “You don’t send your children to die, but they are being murdered anyway.” What choice does that leave the young people in Europe, who will find themselves in the middle of an attack without feeling like their Israeli counterparts—strong, prepared, and dedicated to their country?
Read more on Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs: http://jcpa.org/absurd-assertion-israel-must-learn-europe-deal-terror/