Richard Kemp speaks to UN Commission on Human Rights and to soldiers on southern border
In the latter stages of that absolutely horrendous Saturday, 11 days ago, Richard called to say he was in London and looking for an Israeli-bound flight. He told me to fill up on gas, since we've got work to do.
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Two days and three connecting flights later, and he's here, wearing his everlasting Colombia shirt, tucked neatly into his pants. I told him I'm arranging a vest and helmet and we'll get down there, but he said all he needs is a long gun.
Richard Kemp with minister Eli Cohen
Whenever things heat up and Hamas pops its head up to stir up trouble, here comes Richard. He wants to look people in the eye, speak to them, describe to the world what exactly is transpiring while global news editions are building their own narratives.
With British pigheadedness, dry wit (oh, so British) and untold amounts of experience, Col. Richard Kemp is one of Israel's most cogent and effective spokespersons.
Let's backtrack just a bit. Richard Kemp, a British Army veteran, served in active duty from 1977 to 2006, during which time he held the position of an infantry battalion commanding officer. His tenure included leading Operation Fingal in Afghanistan from July 2003 to November 2003.
Following his retirement, Kemp, in collaboration with Chris Hughes, authored "Attack State Red," a book detailing the 2007 Afghanistan campaign carried out by the Royal Anglian Regiment, including their initial deployment. He also wrote the British forces doctrine on dealing with suicide bombings.
It was right after Operation Cast Lead in 2009 that I first met this exceptional man. At the time, Richard Goldstone, a Jew whose honor rests on shaky grounds, submitted a biased and highly prejudiced report to the United Nations about how the IDF conducted itself during that operation. He basically labeled them as war criminals. Unfortunately, global media adopted his perverse standpoint.
And that's where Kemp comes in. In front of the UN Commission on Human Rights he said: "I have first-hand knowledge of what Hamas and the IDF have done and I gave evidence to the Commission of Inquiry. I told them from my professional experience the reality on the border, and they did not listen to one word that I said. This report is a tissue of lies, abuse, prejudice and distortion and is not worth the paper it is printed on."
"I told the UNHRC that Hamas’ objective is to slaughter and kidnap Israeli civilians on the border. Hamas is the only army in history deliberately inciting its enemy to kill its own people. The United Nations has played straight into the hands of Hamas," Kemp also said.
"The UNHRC has failed to condemn the oppressor of the Palestinian people – Hamas. Those are the people getting the pass by the UNHRC. The UN has played directly into the hands of Hamas and the UNHRC has become an instrument of Hamas terrorism."
Interview with the former commander of British forces in Afghanistan
(צילום: ירון ברנר)
He's been on a roll ever since. Kemp is a frequent visitor to the Holy Land, and makes it a point to give interviews to media outlets that tend to adopt a hostile approach to Israel. The way he sees it, Israel isn't just defending itself, but the free world as a whole.
We've been visiting different fronts for days. Kemp wants to take it all in. He wants to meet the fighters, soak in the atmosphere instead of watching it on TV. As we were touring Israel's northern front, with Lebanese eyes watching us, we would stop every hour, he would hand me his phone and I'd put the camera on video mode and let him speak candidly to British media.
One of those interviews would turn particularly testy, as the interviewer challenged Kemp about how Israel's response is "disproportionate," which really pissed Kemp off. He questioned the entire approach, rhetorically asking the interviewer if he expects Israel to start chopping off babies' heads and committing war crimes while sadistically smiling to the cameras, as that would likely be "proportional."
Was it for naught? Perhaps. Kemp told me he can't even be certain this will air on BBC, as they're pathologically anti-Israel. He tells me their idea of a debate is bringing in two experts. One who is anti-Israel, and the other is very anti-Israel.
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Black smoke rises from the demolished headquarters of Hezbollah in the suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, following Israeli air strikes, July 16, 2006
(Photo: AP / Kevork Djansezian, File)
Israelis ask him why he's doing all this. He says it's because whether Israel understands it or not, they've saved thousands of British lives by the mere fact that Israeli Special Forces have pioneered fresh approaches on how to contend with suicide terrorists. IDF, Shin Bet, Mossad. All of them crystalized innovative techniques Western armies still utilize. Therefore, he feels it's his duty to give something back.
No matter where we stop, he always makes it a point to connect with whatever IDF troops cross his path. Wherever soldiers take a momentary respite on their way to whatever lies ahead of them, he wants to talk to them.
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IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy speaks to the troops
(Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
In Kiryat Shemona, on Israel's northern tip, we meet the mayor. Though a military man at heart, Kemp still talks to him about civilian needs, especially those who are disadvantaged and thus unable to take care of themselves when sirens howl. He mentions their plight on every interview he takes part in.
We reach the border in the Western Galilee and meet reserve troops, with clear signs of fatigue from all the training, anxiety and fearing for the families they were forced to leave behind. Kemp talks to their CO, rounding them all up. He tells them of Zionism, telling them again and again how it's not just Israel they're defending, but the freedom-loving Western world.
From his vast experience fighting in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan, Kemp assures the soldiers they're not going to disappoint anyone, that they'll do just fine. He tells them he'd love to pick up a weapon and join them but, at 64, he's no spring chicken. All he can tell them is that he's with them in spirit, and has every faith they'll come out on top.