February 11, 2011, - 3:36 pm
Israeli Ghosts of Sharm El-Sheikh Cry Out Over Egyptian “Revolution,” Mubarak Exit
Yesterday, I told you about the worries at the Israeli borders with Egypt and Gaza over what’s to come in terms of Egyptian aliens, both those fleeing the coming Islamic regime and those who are terrorists with evil plans for Israel. But there’s also the issue of Sharam El-Sheikh a/k/a Sharm A Sheikh and various other spellings (“Bay of the Sheikh”), which you’ve likely heard about in the wake of the Mubarak resignation, since that’s his new temporary residence. But let me tell you a little bit more about Sharam El-Sheikh, its significance and why it’s duly tragic that Mubarak not only resigned, but that his point of escape is this city that marked incredible Israeli and Jewish heroism.
Mubarak’s Last Stand at Sharam El-Sheikh, Egypt, Formerly Sharma Sheikh, Israel
One of the worst parts of the Sinai giveaway to Egypt, as part of the Camp David Peace Accord, was the relinquishment of Sharm El-Sheikh. It is ironic that, with Hosni Mubarak’s resignation, his family was apparently whisked away to Sharm El-Sheikh. The area was part of Israel from 1967 until 1982. Israeli soldiers, in one of the bloodiest battles of the Six-Day Way in 1967, were ambushed, mutilated, and otherwise barbarically savaged by Egyptian soldiers and other supporting Arab fighters. They held strong, and despite the murder of many of them, the Israeli soldiers showed incredible courage, and they were victorious. After they died in the name of protecting the area, then-General Yitzchak Rabin visited to plot the course of the rest of the war. (As you can see from the picture, below, it was desolate desert land on the ocean, but Israel built it into an international resort destination, before giving it to Egypt in ’82.)
Yitzchak Rabin at Sharm a Sheikh, 1967 – Six Day War
Sharm El-Sheikh and the Israeli soldiers who gave their lives there are the subject of a well-known Hebrew song by Amos Ettinger, which my late father occasionally sang to us as kids. I can hear my father singing it now to me from his grave, while he turns over in it. He was very sad on that day that Sharm El-Sheikh was turned over to Egypt, but he hoped it would result in lasting peace for Israel and the Jewish people. I’m glad he’s not here to see this.
When Sharm El-Sheikh was given up to Egypt, it was the subject of great sadness and regret by the many israelis who know what happened there, some of them related to the brave men who died there. It was also a source of much tourism money for Israel, since Ofira–the city Israel built–became a well-known resort destination. Sharm El-Sheikh was also a strategic location in Israel because the IDF used it as a take-off and landing point for its aircraft.
But everyone was told that the men didn’t die in vain because, now, the land would be given in return for a lasting piece. Lasting? Well, 32.5 years ain’t exactly a lifetime. That’s how long the Camp David Peace Accord lasted, to date. But it’s basically off now. Null and void because the other side, the cold side of “peace,” won’t be keeping it, now that the Muslim Brotherhood and its many radical Egyptian compatriots have taken over and deposed the only guy who maintained order for the last several decades there.
Say good-bye to Sharm El-Sheikh as we know it. Good-bye to the resorts and vacations. Good-bye to the cold, but steady “peace.” Israelis were told they could go to Sharm El-Sheikh any time they wanted, but soon Sharm El-Sheikh will be part of the caliphate, a war zone, off limits forever.
The brave Israelis who died at Sharm El-Sheikh are crying out. They did not die in vain. But the hallowed ground on which they died was given to Egypt in vain.
Egyptian Gun w/ Israeli Soldiers Graffiti From Six Day War, Straits of Tiran, Sharm A Sheikh
Were their lives worth a mere 32.5 years . . . and now this? Like I said, I’m glad my father didn’t see this. Sadly, the many relatives of the Israeli soldiers who died there in 1967 are here to cry the tears of futile peace agreement giveaways signed in the blood of ambushed soldiers.
***
Sharam Al-Sheikh by Amos Ettinger
Great is the night and it smiles at you
We returned in the morning to Sharam Al Sheikh
We passed in the night, the sea and the mountain
Arriving in the morning at the straitsCHORUS :
You’re Sharam Al Sheikh,
we’ve returned to you once again
You are in our hearts,
always in our heartsThe sea and the salt will view the song
We’ve returned to you Tiran and Snapir
The same skies above your heart
Strait, sea and water- you are Sharam Al SheikhCHORUS :
You’re Sharam Al Sheikh,
we’ve returned to you once again
You are in our hearts,
always in our heartsThe morning rises in the coral beach
Fishing boats pass through the water again
The evening sets, bringing another dream
Brings on the water a hope for peaceCHORUS :
You’re Sharam Al Sheikh,
we’ve returned to you once again
You are in our hearts,
always in our heartsHoy, Sharam Al Sheikh
Tags: 1967, Amos Ettinger, Hosni Mubarak, Israel, Israeli soldiers, Mubarak, resignation, Sharam a Sheikh, Sharam Al-Sheikh, Sharam El-Sheikh, Sharm Al-Sheikh, Sharm El-Sheikh, Sharma Sheikh, Six-Day War, Yitzchak Rabin
We have a bizarre leader who thinks that Islamists are closet liberal democrats.
Worry01 on February 11, 2011 at 3:55 pm