Friday Extra: A Little Less Bombast, Both of You
"The leaders of both countries are guilty of airing their grievances in the press. A bit of calm, private discourse might be more appropriate. Israel has more to lose than America."
By Rick Borenstein, Tel Aviv
Day #161: It’s Not Over Yet
The Israel-Palestine conflict has gone on for 75 years and Israelis are more fearful of a Two-State Solution today than we were on October 6.
It’s not only the barbaric behavior that concerns us, but also the fact that most Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza support Hamas and their invasion. If “Palestine” was capable of a fair and free election, Hamas would win. Palestinians still believe that Israel was stolen from them and that they have a right, as descendants, to resettle Israel. That’s why they are “refugees” waiting to be rescued by the United Nations. UNRWA, by its very name, prolongs the refugee myth and robs the populace of initiative to improve their lives. Hamas is just the more radical version of this claimed right of return. They want to kill all jews and destroy Israel. End of story. It isn’t complicated.
My wife Doritte’s grandfather, Eliyahu Sasson, was a member of the Israeli Knesset in 1967. After the war, he argued repeatedly to relinquish the captured territory and avoid occupation. In the end he reluctantly agreed to the “security arrangement” in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Golan. I bring this up because I wonder what would have happened if Israel had separated from Palestine back then. Recent history suggests it would be disastrous. Israel withdrew from Lebanon in 2000 and from Gaza in 2005. In both cases we now find our lethal enemies on our doorstep. Two non-state actors attacking our citizens and causing the displacement of 200,000 people from our borders.
Would the West Bank be any different? I fear not. When I lived in the US, I didn’t “buy” this argument. I perceived the West Bank differently from Gaza. I believe it today. It would be another disaster.
Surveys abound predicting the demise of Netanyahu and his coalition. No wonder, really. Before the war, the country was needlessly tearing itself apart due to the attempted non-democratic “judicial reform.” Then came October 7, where our military intelligence failed miserably to acknowledge the warning signs. Was our leadership too concerned with a political power grab? Probably. Was our intelligence and military complacent? More than likely. The scar on every Israeli’s psyche will not go away with time. The sacrifices of war, the ongoing dysfunction of the government, the failure to address the Haredim (ultra-orthodox Jews) army enlistment exemption scandal, the increasing dead and wounded Israeli soldiers, the clock ticking on the hostages all contribute to an unhappy electorate. Anti-government demonstrations will grow to the millions leading to the government falling or resigning. It can’t happen soon enough — but not before the war is over.
In the meantime, what’s with all the public back and forth between Biden and Netanyahu?? It is not helpful. In fact, it is insane and dangerous. We are in the middle of a war that we must win. We must destroy Hamas to restore our sense of security. We must get our hostages back to feel normal again. We need the United States, if for no other reason than to use its veto in the United Nations (and sell us arms).
We can’t allow our prime minister to play tough-guy politics to boost his standing with his extremist right wing coalition. I think the Israeli mainstream agrees with him on the war, but a bit of calm, private discourse might be more appropriate. Both parties are guilty of airing their grievances in the press. Israel has more to lose than America.
Shabbat Shalom.
Rick Borenstein is a “Silicon Valley escapee” who now lives with his family in Israel. He a coach, investor, NGO adviser — and Tel Aviv-booster.
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