Ten years ago this week, the Wall Street Journal’s Daniel Pearl was kidnapped by al-Qaeda operatives in Pakistan. Nine days later he was murdered–beheaded by Khalid Sheikh Mohammad. Before being killed, he was forced to make a statement on a video that the terrorists subsequently distributed to the press. Though he was forced to make criticisms of the United States, he died expressing pride in his identity. “My father is Jewish. My mother is Jewish. I am Jewish,” he said.
Pearl’s abduction and murder was a heinous crime that came to symbolize the barbarity at the heart of the Islamist movement. But Pearl’s final words, though spoken under duress and with the shadow of death hanging over him, are also a symbol of the spirit of a people that hate cannot extinguish.
Ten years after Pearl’s death, there are many in this country who believe the “war on terror” is something for the history books, put on a shelf and forgotten. Al-Qaeda has received severe blows. Mohammad was subsequently arrested and after much legal wrangling, will eventually face trial before a military commission at Guantanamo Bay for his role in Pearl’s death as well as the 9/11 attacks. But the terrorists are still out there and, with their allies the Taliban still holding their own in Afghanistan, hold out hope for a revival of their cause.
Even more to the point, Islamists who sympathize with Pearl’s killers and share much of their ideology–such as the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and the Palestinian group Hamas–are on the upswing. The Brotherhood controls Egypt’s new parliament with other Islamists while Hamas appears poised to expand its sway over Palestinian society from Gaza to the West Bank via a unity pact with Fatah.
The anniversary of Pearl’s abduction should remind us that those who spread hatred of the West and of the Jews are generally not satisfied with merely talking about killing Jews. These groups pose a direct threat to world peace, and the United States must not be gulled into seeing them as people with whom we can do business. For them, Daniel Pearl’s admission of his Jewish identity and his ties with the people and the land of Israel justified his death. For us, they are an expression of pride.
Daniel Pearl was an open, inquisitive and honest journalist who bore no grudges against those of other nationalities and faiths. For this as well as for his American and Jewish identities, those for whom such qualities are anathema marked him for death. But though this anniversary is a sad one, his last words must also serve as a reassurance the Islamists who murdered him will not prevail. Though an Islamist winter has followed the Arab spring, the words “I am Jewish” resonate today as the cry of a Jewish people who will not perish. May Pearl’s memory be for a blessing.
Jonathan, thanks for this post, but as far as the larger non Jewish world is concerned, it will largely fall on deaf ears or disinterested ears (with a few notable exceptions – mostly in this wonderful land that is the USA). n nIn the final analysis, we are on our own, however, and must hope and pray that Israel, the last best hope of the Jewish people, succeeds in surviving its enemies and thrives. n nThose among us who delight or feel 'obligated', by virtue of the liberalism that has replaced their ethnic and/or religious Jewish feeling, to take digs at Israel, should use this time to reflect on how the world is, not how they would imagine or want it to be.
Jonathan Tobin: "The anniversary of Pearl’s abduction should remind us that those who spread hatred of the West and of the Jews are generally not satisfied with merely talking about killing Jews. These groups pose a direct threat to world peace, and the United States must not be gulled into seeing them as people with whom we can do business." n nOnly those who "spread hatred of the West and Jews"? How about those who spread hatred, period? n nHillel the Elder: "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? If not now, when?"
Kathy: Don't break your arm patting yourself on the back. In your smug self-righteousness, you appear to miss the point of the post.
what's your point, Kathy? that there are other people who hate besides people who hate Jews? we know that. but that's not what this post was about. n nif you're implying that there are equal amounts of haters on the pro- and anti-Israel sides, or that Israel is "just as guilty" as the Palestinians, however, I'm going to have to disagree with you.
Good words, Jonathan. n nHow clever, "Rabbi Kathy," to forbid the specifics, appropriate and universalize the victim, and hide the murderes with…a quote from the Jewish sages, no less! Dat'll learn dem Joos, right? Utterly disgusting.
Kathy's comment, whether she is actually Jewish or not, perfectly displays the pathological nature of liberal guilt that afflicts so many American Jews. In the eyes of these people, recognizing the murder of Daniel Pearl is only legitimate if it is merged into the suffering of the whole world. But his murderers made it crystal clear that he died for one reason and one reason only: He was a Jew. Too unpleasant a detail for Kathy and her ilk to look squarely in the face, but nevertheless true. Unfortunately for Mr. Pearl, he too failed to accurately gauge the depth of their hatred until his final moments.
Far out Kathy.You sound really cool;let's go to a Grateful Dead concert,chant Hare Krishna &sing IImagine.
As a Catholic, I honor the memory of the courageous Daniel Pearl. Daniel was killed by evil Islamists, and the United States must redouble our efforts to "drain the swamps" (as Dubya so famously said) of this horrible ideology. That means getting even more involved internationally, and not bedding down with the Taliban. Thank you, Jonathan, for a beautiful post.
You can include this Catholic American with those who honor the memory of Daniel Pearl and who stands with Israel against our enemies. nDaniel Pearl's death was that of a true martyr, true to his identity as a Jew to the last. nI use the words "true martyr" to distinguish him from the Islamic fanatics. Those individuals are actually suicidal murderers who choose to kill themselves and others, as if it were possible to "martyr" oneself. They pervert the language just as they pervert their own religion. They should be called on it every time they use the term.
I`m ashamed as always of the comments of leftist Jewish scum who have no moral,no courage and who hate anybody who remind them about such things like Kathy. nOur Jewish problems (as all the problems in the Uniwerse) we must solve between ourselves for the beginning.