Islamic State sours the sweetness of diplomats’ Rosh Hashana toast

President Reuven Rivlin hosts Rosh Hashana toast for visiting Diplomats.

By GREER FAY CASHMAN
Updated: SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 01:44
Yesha Council members meet with President Rivlin (photo credit: screenshot)
Yesha Council members meet with President Rivlin
(photo credit: screenshot)
Scores of foreign and Israeli diplomats gathered at the President’s Residence on Monday for the traditional Rosh Hashana toast. Although the event in itself was one of joy and celebration, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Cameroon Henri Etoundi Essomba injected a somber note when he said that the moment of celebration could not erase the reality that the just-ending Jewish year 5775 has been a challenging one for the entire world – with security, economic, humanitarian and ecological crises.
Islamic State continues to spread its ideology all over the world, said Essomba. Originally considered an epi-phenomenon, Islamic State has proved to be a structured and well organized movement, Essomba noted, adding that its strategy is based on the elimination of all those who resist its totalitarian ideology.
Since its inception, Islamic State has continued to challenge the international community on its own grounds, said Essomba, citing the recruitment of mainly young people, including those from countries in the West, and deploying them in their theaters of operations. Some of these recruits have been turned against their countries of origin and have committed deadly attacks, he said.
Referring to the situation in African countries that have been penetrated by this scourge, Essomba underscored “the blatant disparity of means to fight against radical Islam” and said that circumstances “do not guarantee a victory over the local branches of this growing phenomenon.” In the face of the unpreparedness of African states to stand a long war of attrition, Essomba called for international solidarity.
Coming closer to home, Essomba commented that the freezing of the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations has led to unilateralism. He forecasts that the status quo will persist unless the parties conclude that something bold must be done to change the stalemate.
As someone who has lived in Israel for the past 17 years, Essomba is in a position to assess Israel’s spontaneous assistance to other countries affected by national disasters. “Israel can be proud to belong to the coalition of those countries who are always prepared to assist people in deep humanitarian crises around the world, as was the case in Nepal after the violent earthquake that shook the country,” he said. Essomba was also appreciative of Israel’s willingness to share its technological knowhow with the rest of the world.
President Reuven Rivlin likewise referred to Islamic State, declaring that its thugs in no way represent Islam as they murder and rape their way across the Middle East. He lamented that they are not alone in their ideology of oppression and destruction. Iran continues to threaten stability in the region and around the world, he said. “Their backing of terror in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq makes Iran’s nuclear ambitions truly terrifying – not just for Israel, but for all.”
Without specifically criticizing the countries that reached a deal with Iran, Rivlin declared “It cannot be that with one flick of a pen, Iran becomes a member of the club, and instead the world turns to single out the victim of Iran’s aggression. It cannot be that in one moment of diplomacy reality has changed so completely.”