Where Is Israel Going?

[Meshuga]

These are terrible days for those of us who long to see Israel finally accepted by its neighbors. At a time when all 22 Arab states have offered Israel peace and normalization in exchange for the ‘67 territories, this war could destroy that possibility once and for all.

No, that does not mean that I question Israel’s right to respond to the rocket onslaught from Gaza. Of course, it has that right. Any country has the right, even the obligation, to respond militarily to thugs who rain down thousands of rockets on its people, leaving its children quaking in terror. The question is not whether Israel has the right, but whether exercising it this way is right.

For Israel, the only right response is the one that will bring it closer to the security it will only have when it is accepted by its neighbors. Some argue that this attack on Hamas will indeed accomplish that. Eliminate the fanatics, they say, and Israel can make peace with the moderates.

But, Israel is incapable of even dealing with its own crazies. Under conditions infinitely more comfortable than those of Gaza, Israeli lunatics—settlers who attack children and burn down olive groves—have become significant political players. In Israel, it is impossible to form a government without the crazies. How can anyone imagine it possible to bomb Hamas into moderation?

(...)

But one thing is certain—this war is unlikely to bring peace any closer. In fact, I believe that the pictures Arabs and Muslims worldwide are seeing of the attacks on Gaza may push that day so far into the future that none of us will see it.

(...)

So the questions have to be asked. Does the Gaza war improve Israel’s long-term (or even short-term) situation? Might it not have been better to induce Hamas to stop the shelling by ending the blockade Israel imposed back when Hamas won the Palestinian election?

(...)

Again, I am not questioning Israel’s right to respond. But that is the wrong question. The right question to ask is why it came to this. And to ask ourselves if supporting the continuation of this war—rather than an immediate cease-fire—will do Israel more harm than good.

LINK: http://www.ipforum.org/display.cfm?id=6&Sub=15

[The Magistrate]

1. You Seem To have Over-Looked Including The Link, Sir

Best to put it in while you can still edit.

[Meshuga]

2. Ooops...

Thanks! The link is now included. :-)

[LeftishBrit]

3. Good article!

[Meshuga]

4. M.J. Rosenberg's weekly pieces for IPF are usually really good n/t

[Sezu]

5. Why it came to this?

Lessee...Israel moved OUT of Gaza, made land concessions, held its ire for a very long time etc etc. Yet the terrorism got more continuous and severe. Nuff said.

[Name removed]

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