He picked up the document and began reading from it.
“The president of the United States finds as follows:
“1. Military forces of the State of Israel have entered the United States illegally and without right.
“2. These forces have taken illegal and violent actions against the United States, including but not limited to killing American military personnel without cause or provocation.
“3. These forces have smuggled into the United States weapons of mass destruction, with the intention of utilizing those weapons against American citizens on American soil.
“4. An unknown but sizable number of American citizens of the Jewish faith have taken violent and illegal actions in support of these foreign military forces. Such violent actions caused the death of American military personnel.
“5. Further sympathizers of the State of Israel, also believed to be American citizens of the Jewish faith, have engaged in violent terrorist actions against innocent American citizens that led to the death of hundreds of such innocent citizens.
“6. Thousands, and as many as one million similar sympathizers, all American citizens of the Jewish faith, intend to descend on the nation’s capital for the avowed purpose of compelling the United States government and its president to take actions in support of the former State of Israel that the president has already determined are not in the best interests of the United States.
“Wherefore, the president of the United States hereby declares, pursuant to the powers invested in him by Article Two of the United States Constitution and by the Authorization for the Use of Military and Other Force enacted by Congress on this date, as follows:
“First, all citizens of the United States of Jewish faith or heritage shall report to offices of the Department of Homeland Security, when and where such offices shall be established on an emergency basis, within two weeks from the date of this Declaration.
“Second, at such time as these Jewish citizens so report, they shall surrender their duly issued United States Citizenship Identification Card, otherwise known as the Americard.
“Third, each such citizen of the Jewish faith shall be issued by the Department of Homeland Security a replacement United States Citizenship Identification Card. Such replacement cards shall be colored blue and shall prominently mark the Jewish identity of the bearer.
“Fourth, all United States citizens, including those of the Jewish faith and those not of the Jewish faith, shall henceforth carry and visibly display their United States Citizenship Identification Card. Failure to carry and display such card when in public by a citizen bearing a card other than a blue card shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed two hundred and fifty dollars. Failure to carry and display such card by a citizen who has been issued a blue card shall be punishable by immediate detention for an indeterminate period of time in facilities to be established by the Department of Homeland Security.”
The president placed the document on his desk, picked up his pen and signed it, with a flourish. The applause this time was louder and longer. President Quaid did nothing to stop it. When the applause subsided, he looked once again at the camera.
“One final word. This is a free country. We celebrate our fundamental right to freedom of speech, which, of course, includes the right to peacefully express our views on important matters.
“It has been suggested to me that I take steps to prevent the gathering of Jewish citizens who at this very moment are descending on Washington. I will not do that. These citizens retain their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and the right to petition their government, even in the midst of a national crisis. This is not a dictatorship and I will not prevent citizens from saying things with which I disagree. The march may proceed.
“But a word of warning. I would be foolish to turn a blind eye to our current state of affairs. I have requested the assistance of Virginia governor Jim Wheeler, which he graciously consented to. I have activated the 129th Light Infantry Regiment of the Virginia National Guard for deployment in the metropolitan Washington area this weekend. I will not hesitate to order these soldiers to take whatever actions are necessary to restore public peace and order should this so-called march on Washington take a threatening or violent turn.
“In closing, my fellow Americans, I ask you to join me in praying to the God who has protected this great nation from its inception that He protect us through this hour of danger from all enemies, both foreign and domestic. I am confident that with our faith in our God and the skill and bravery of our citizens, we will once again prevail.
“Good night and God bless the United States of America and all of its loyal citizens.”
Abram Goldhersh picked up the bottle of Anchor Steam ale he’d just finished drinking and threw it against the television screen, which shattered in shards on the floor.
“Nazis,” he screamed. “They’re Nazis. We won’t be intimidated by them.”
He looked at Reuben, who remained in her chair, speechless, stunned. He was pleased not to see the tears he expected. Her lover’s death had hardened her. She wiped her eyes, expecting tears herself, then she sat up straight. Abram stared at her.
“Debbie,” he said angrily, “don’t you have anything to say to that?”
Reuben looked at Goldhersh as if she had forgotten he was in the room. Her eyes locked on his. She spoke quietly, more to herself than to the huge man staring at her.
“Never again,” she said, almost in a whisper. “Never again, never again. They can’t do it again. We can’t let it happen again.”
CHAPTER 53
During their drive in the National Park Service van from New Jersey to Washington, the three men inside had argued about whether to reconsider their choice of targets. The men agreed that while the old man, Abram Goldhersh, could give them what he considered to be direct commands, this was their operation. Final decisions would be theirs alone.
“It’s our asses on the line,” Gimel said. “Abram is okay for an older guy, but this is going to be our show. We make the decisions.”
The mall bombings changed their plans. Before those bombings, they intended to break up the C4 into smaller packages and place them strategically around Washington, maybe with timers set to go off as close together as they could manage. The bombers would be safely on the road out of the city when the first explosions took place.
“Those two guys, Hassids, right, showed they had the guts to give their lives to send a message. The fucking Palestinians have been blowing themselves up for twenty years. What message do we send if we drop our packages and run away and hide to save our tails? What does that say?”
“It says we’re smart,” Gimel had answered.
“It says we’re cowards,” Aleph said quietly. “It says we’re afraid to give our lives in the struggle, that we skulk and hide and run away. Not even the Arabs did that.”
“That’s my point,” Bet said. “Our lives won’t be worth shit if we get caught after doing this anyway. We’ll wind up in some federal prison forever, or worse. Guantanamo. If you ask me, I’d rather die a hero. What do you say?”
The other two men were quiet. Finally, Aleph spoke.
“Masada,” Aleph said. “Masada in DC. That’s my vote.”
Masada, the ancient fortress on a cliff overlooking the Judean Desert. A thousand Jewish rebels held out there against the Roman Legion. When the fortress walls were breached, the Jewish defenders took their own lives rather than surrender. Israeli Armored Corps recruits scaled Masada to take their oaths. Or they used to do so.