Yesterday I pushed the idea of not giving in to fear, and while I still feel that way, I nearly called this piece, “Why Walid Shoebat scare me”.  It’s not because Shoebat is a frightening or evil man.  It’s because he once was, and therefore understands the inner thoughts, motives and capabilities of those that still are.

CLICK HERE FOR WALID SHOEBAT’S WEBSITE

Walid Shoebat is one of the most remarkable and brave men on the planet. A former Palestinian terrorist, Shoebat came to his own intelligent, thoughtful and logical conclusion that the ways of his people were not only evil, but self-destructive to their goals.  I can’t even imagine the threats this man receives and the caution he needs to exercise.  Here is a man who openly denounces a group of people who claim their entire structure revolves around a perverse sense of honor.  He is not merely an outspoken critic of their ways or supporter of Israel like a Sean Hannity, Howard Stern or Jon Voight.  This man is someone who once was within their ranks and committed acts of terror along side the very men he is now trying to expose to the world.  He does it openly and without apology, and without disguise or camouflage.

Walid Shoebat reached his conclusions based on an understanding that the entire system he once believed in was orchestrated around one major concept, the hatred and destruction of the Jewish people.  Interestingly enough, and the reason I find this man most genuine and increasingly credible, is that although he does support Israel, the bulk of his dialogue does not revolve around professing his love for the Jewish people or the State of Israel.  He just no longer functions from principals of hate.   In the absence of hate you don’t always find love.  Nor do you need to.  The absence of hate is enough.  And the insight this man provides, clarifying the education and thought process of the Palestinian terrorist and the ideology being forced on the entire population is more beneficial than some sugar-coated sweet talk. This man’s perspective can help save lives.

The flip side however is that when Shoebat explains things, the reality of the dangers we, particularly those of us who are Jewish, face in the days ahead becomes even more clear.  The entire culture he was raised in indoctrinates its people to hate the Jews.  Just as the Nazis used hatred of the Jews as a means from which to rally the people around their power, so too the Palestinian leadership  uses the hatred of the Jews to rally the people to their cause.   Except this  may ultimately turn out to be worse.  Entire generations are being taught that hating Jewish people is as normal as enjoying a meal.  Let me make something very clear as I write this.  I am not writing this as opinion, even though I have little to no trouble believing it.  I am writing this as an account of what is told not only by someone who lived in it, but by someone who committed acts of terror while living it.  When you hear Shoebat speak of their desires, plans and capabilities, it is chilling, alarming and needs to be taken very seriously.

We need more people like Walid Shoebat and son of Hamas author, Mosab Hassan Yousef.  These are people I suspect are prepared to not live long lives, although I hope they do. The key to so much that we hope for in the future lies in the emergence of more significant amounts of people like Shoebat who have found the inner decency and incredible courage to speak up for what is right even in the face of the gravest dangers.  He’s someone worth listening to.  Just be prepared.  You may not like what you hear.

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