March 23, 2004
Giving up on peace
With the death of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, that poor wheelchair-bound 'spiritual leader' of Hamas, comes the usual handwringing from the European press. The Guardian has a nice summing up of the mostly uniform opinions on the terrorist's death. The Israelis are bringing more attacks on themselves, they gave him the martyrdom he craved, blah blah blah. I don't get how these writers suspend reality and believe that there is anything that Israel can do to defend itself against a group that wants its demise and only its demise.
David Bernstein over at Volokh Conspiracy links to a piece by a writer in Israel who identifies herself as 'center-left'. He quotes her:
"They see that when we try to make nice and compromise we get terror attacks. And when we're tough and aggressive we get terror attacks. Nothing we do seems to lower the motivation to slaughter Israeli civilians -- men, women, or children -- and in the case of Hamas, to see the state of Israel destroyed."
And further:
"Clearly, the Israeli public seems to have all but given up on figuring out how to make the right moves in order to nudge the Palestinians towards wanting a peaceful two-state solution. They've given up. That's why there's generally support for Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan -- otherwise known as the "We're So Disgusted with the Palestinians, We're Getting the Hell Away From Them and Building a Big Wall" plan. And if they try to wage war from the other side of the wall, they'll get the same treatment as Yassin."
And who can blame them?
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So what should American policy be ?
Posted by: Von Bek at March 23, 2004 01:56 PMI don't see why the US should have a policy. Israel is a democracy with a terrorist problem, just like us. How do we feel about other countries having policies on our terrorist fighting? BTW, I support ending US aid to Israel (as well as most places). I think it would free Israel up to act as it pleases, and should, and would disentangle us from any pretending that a 'peace process' can work.
Posted by: Karol at March 23, 2004 02:26 PM"How do we feel about other countries having policies on our terrorist fighting?"
Well that depends on the definition of who and what terrorists we fight. But getting to the subject at hand, I am with you that there should be no immediate US policy but there should be a contigency one-if Israel's actions lead to massive violence across the region or an oil shortage; of if the terrorists destroy Jaffe. I'm also in favor of slashing most foreign aid and closing down the bases in Okinowa, Germany and other powers that can supply their own troops and pay for their own defense (SKorea would be untouched).
Posted by: Von Bek at March 23, 2004 02:34 PMConditions for Israel cannot get worse than they have been. But conditions may improve with one less insane terrorist leader in the world.
Posted by: Jake at March 23, 2004 03:03 PMWho can blame them, you ask? Uhm... Dan? lol
Posted by: Ari at March 23, 2004 05:14 PMK,
Not sure Israel can fund its defense budget without US aid.
Well said Jake and SMFA it'd be rather hypocritical of the US not to back Israel. After all, we are doing the same thing and the Israelis pretty much taught us how.
Posted by: Ari at March 23, 2004 05:31 PMHypocricsy is not the issue. Nations contradcit themselves all the time if it serves the national interest. Karol is pretty much spot on. There is no national interest being served in aiding Israel or in aiding the Palastenians.
And then there is another factor in letting Israel and the Palastenians handle their own scrap. Do I object to having my hard earned tax dollars going to support another country's military ? Yes. Do I object to supporting a religious based country with my dinero when the government of my country refuses to allow displays of my-and the overwhelming majority of this nation-faith on public grounds ? Yes.
But Israel's military relies on American dollars. They should not. Israel has its own economy, its own tax base, its own tax payers. If the Israelis want security they should pay for it themselves.
Posted by: Von Bek at March 23, 2004 06:08 PMYou say, "I don't get how these writers suspend reality and believe that there is anything that Israel can do to defend itself against a group that wants its demise and only its demise." If there's nothing Israel can do to defend itself, then why kill terrorist leaders? This is basically the European position--Israel cannot defend itself because killing terrorists only makes more terrorists.
Surely you think something CAN be done--eliminate all those who want to eliminate Israel. Am I wrong in seeing this as your position?
As for Von Bek, there is definitely a national interest in helping Israel or the Palestinians. Helping Israel means having an ally in the region with whom we can share intelligence and strategy. Helping the Palestinians means creating goodwill in the region and preventing a large-scale, potentially nuclear war. We sorta kinda do both, which means we accomplish very little.
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