The term Judenrein means an area cleansed of Jews. In the past, this German concept was applied throughout
Europe. Now we hear American and other liberals saying that Jewish communities on the biblical land of Judea
and Samaria, the cradle of the Jewish nation, must be emptied of all their inhabitants, so that even in a
Jewish homeland there can be Judenrein areas. The expulsion of the Jews from Europe, which reached its
height during World War II, was a manifestly barbaric and inhumane act. But there, at least, the Jews were
unwelcome guests, having lived in that area for merely a thousand years or so. However, to drive out the
Jewish community of Hebron, where the matriarchs and patriarchs of the Jewish people are buried and King
David first ruled 3,000 years ago, is unthinkable.

The United States is dotted with towns named for biblical cities in Israel: Hebron, Shilo, Bethlehem.
But according to the terminology of many in the U.S. press, the Israeli Shilo, the original one, is a
"settlement," and consequently must be cleansed of Jews.

If someone decided to expel Jews from Shiloh, Ohio, or Hebron, Neb., USA TODAY might be among the first to
come out against what it would likely term racism. Why then does it support the expulsion of Jews from the
original Shilo - the Jewish one? Why are Jews living in their own homeland considered "an obstacle to
peace"?

Why is the only place in the world where Jews cannot live - according to liberals - the very place where
the Jewish faith was born, where it developed monotheism, where the Judeo-Christian civilization
took shape - and where the Jewish people returned after 2,000 years of exile?

It is not the presence of Jews in the settlements that is a provocation to Palestinians; it is the presence
of Jews anywhere in Israel on either side of the Green Line, the 1949 armistice line.

So, if you support the expulsion of Jews from Europe, America or anywhere else, you're a racist. But if you
advocate the expulsion of Jews from the heart of their homeland, you're a liberal.

Liberals' demand to drive Jews off their own land to create a Judenrein area, in the land of the Jews, of
all places, is the height of hypocrisy by those who claim to be fair-minded advocates of justice in the
world.

* * *

Indeed, Israel has become a virtual Banana Republic of the United States. I do blame the Bush Administration
for its heavy handed interference in Israeli affairs. But I do put even more blame on the Sharon Government.
It is the responsibility of any government, above all, to protect the lives of its own citizens and its own
national interest. The Sharon Government has failed miserably on both counts.

The key question, unfortunately, that guides the Sharon Government, is not whether the benefit of any
particular action -- be it protecting its citizensfrom terror or holding on to its own Biblical
Homeland, Judea and Samaria -- is worth the price of annoying or distancing the United States. In truth,
Israel has become America's Banana Republic.

Is this relationship with Israel beneficial for the United States? Absolutely not, neither diplomatically,
nor in terms of America's war against terrorism. The United States has declared a global war against
terrorism, but like it or not, Israel is on the same globe as America, and thus cannot be made an exception
in the fight against terror.

Why are there daily murders of American soldiers in Iraq? Where did all the foreign terrorist fighters
against American soldiers in Iraq come from? The United States has admitted that many are Palestinian
Arabs, making their way to Iraq through surrounding Arab countries. Where did all these suicide bombers in
Iraq come from? They took their lead from Palestinian terrorism - the main source of inspiration for
terrorism around the world. The Palestinian Arabs boast already well over 100 suicide attacks - and what
did the United States do? It granted them the largest possible prize - a State! Unfortunately, to their own
detriment, the Americans are proving that terrorism pays off!

Dear friends: If we close our eyes to this dangerous situation, we share in the guilt of not preventing a
future holocaust. Get in touch with your Congressman and your Senators and most importantly, with President
Bush, and express your strong feelings against:

* Using American tax payer's money to support Arafat's terrorist organizations, including Fatah, Al Aqsa
Martyrs, Islamic Jihad and Hamas.

* Interfering in Israeli Government decisions intended to protect its citizens from terror.

* Collaborating in making the Jewish Homeland Judenrein.

The present relationship between the United States and Israel may well turn out to be tragic, not only for Israel, but for the United States as well.

By Israel Harel