Speech Ruben Vis at International Justide Court

Op de manifestatie voor het Internationaal gerechtshof te Den Haag, waar op dat moment de hoorzitting diende tegen de bouw van het Israelische veiligheidshek, verwelkomde CJO-lid Ruben Vis de aanwezigen met de volgende (Engelstalige) speech.

It is not to our pleasure welcoming all foreign Jews and friends of Israel. We, the Jews in the Netherlands, would have rather seen that this event was not scheduled. Not here in The Hague nor anywhere else. But that a statement of recognition would be sent out by the community of nations to that tiny state defending its citizens in any way and in regard to any matter to prevent terrorism which is controlling its daily life. Here in Holland, the low country at the sea, we know what it means to defend our citizens; and don't we take every measure that seems fitted to achieve that goal.

Now we are here. As Jews came to Durban and Jewish presence is continuously in Geneva where UN Watch does its work under anti Israel circumstances, to make clear how much we abhore the kidnapping of human rights and international cooperation, under the leadership of countries where human rights and the freedom of speech or thought is unheared of. See yourself demonstrating in front of a court in Khartoum, Damascus or Teheran.

We stood HERE in front of the Palace of Peace in The Hague to demonstrate against the trial of Jewish religious teachers in Iran. Today again we stand here when a Jewish cause is at stake, when the Jewish state is under fire and when Jews are prevented from defending themselves from terrorist activities and criminal acts.
The fence-hearings in the Palace of Peace concerns us all, Jews in the State of Israel, Jews around the world from wherever you came and us, the Jews from the Netherlands. The world has to know that the right to live and not be blown up is more important than the quality of life of people whose lives will be disrupted as a result of our protection through the fence and other means.

The city of The Hague calls itself the Capital of Justice. In general a nice description for the fact that several international courts are located here. These days though the city must accept that The Hague is the place of the CAPITAL MISTAKES.
It is hosting a trial; as we Jews underwent so many times during history. For example the showtrials in Iran and earlier in history against Dreyfuss and against RamBan Nachmanides who was forced to defend the Talmud.

To take the last example, nobody knows the prosecutor of that trial in Medieval Spain. But thousands are those who still study the writings of Nachmanides ever since the thirteenth century till the present time! We will continue to do so taking the wisdom of Jewish thought like Nachmanides through the ages of our history. A history filled with blossoming wisdom, science, art and craftsmanship, but filled too with attacks on our belief, on our initiatives and developing skills and even on our being.

The community of nations has accepted a Jewish statehood in 1947.
The foremost task of the Jewish state, of any government ever since is to secure ones citizens. Such as the Dutch administration secures its inhabitants from the sea.

Countries have under international law a right to protect their borders, even more so - a plight - to assure the safety of its inhabitants. Here is were the Israeli government, any one of them since May 1948, has been striving for but were the Palestinian Authority has failed ever since area's A en B were shaped. Instead Jewish places of worship are vandalised, Christians fear the situation and flee the PA-controlled area, freedom of the press is curtailed step by step.

We did not hear the applause when Israel bombed down the Osirak nuclear plant and saved the world from a tremendous threat. Today again we don't hear the world when Israel isolates an area where both terror and crime are the main dishes available on the menu. It was not erected primarily for that sake, but the fence constructed now stops the 60 percent that makes up criminal deeds undertaken from the West bank.

Korea, Syria, Iraq, ... another rough state is created, under the eyes of the worldcommunity that seems fit to pay so much attention to a handfull of miles or kilometres instead of putting their eyes in the direction of Tibet, Sudan, Morocco or Saudi Arabia. The world did not accept to have Kosovo reach independence. The Palestinian Authority does not show capacity to prevent terror taking place or even rule to stop regular criminal activities. Not the PA but Hamas and Islamic Jihad plan to take over when Israel pulls out of Gaza. An area with a fence for some time already.

Those who call for the fall of the fence are right. In that respect that hope for a better future where Arabs and Jews can live together, is praiseworthy.
It is painful though to see that the facts on the ground point in another direction.

Let us hope and pray that although it is unpredictable under which terms and under which time-schedule, peace and co-operation for all will come speedily in our times.