Re: Rafi"s "a public diplomacy gamble"
Reader comment on item: Avigdor Lieberman's Brilliant Debut
in response to reader comment: A public diplomacy gamble

Submitted by Wana 88 (United States), Apr 7, 2009 at 21:56

Given the situation Israel faces, how can this be called a "public diplomacy gamble"? Israel's FM understands the obvious (to those without blinders on): ultimately , NONE of its neighbors are true allies --with the possible exception of the Hashemites, the TRUE custodians of the Muslim Holy Land i.e. MECCA and MEDINA NOT Jerusalem (which has historically only been the Holy Land of the Jewish people and, much later, the Christians) --as long as their actions speak otherwise.

Two faced diplomacy is an art form in the Arab/Muslim world and they all "get it." They see a man with b---s actually willing to stand up for Israel's interests (who refuses to play the diplomatic dhimmi role that the US politicians have adopted and who blabber on about "peace" all day). They probably FEAR him (which BTW in that region = RESPECT). So they go whining to the press and their Europeans dhimmies. for "help" on such injustice! So much for their manhood.

As far as "hurting things on the diplomatic front" as Rafi mentions; frankly, there's nothing to hurt and much to gain. You see Rafi this isn't North America. Diplomacy --Middle Eastern style-- is built upon strength, violence and the willingness to use violence to gain diplomatic ends. This is the land of the BIG STICK. Read the history books replete with evidence to substantiate this. How can you really have true "diplomacy" with people who hate your very existence? That is the crux of the problem here.

If the way the Hashemites run their small kingdom is any indication, leadership that genuinely tries to seek conflict resolution rather than fan the fires of hatred and injustice is sorely needed in the ME. The current rulers and their cadre are a big part of the problem: magnify an external --ideally religious based-- issue/threat (Israel is the primary bogeyman/punching bag) to focus their citizens hate/energy on external enemies. So pretending to conduct "diplomacy" with such "leaders" is ludicrous. Israel's new leadership realizes the grave situation it faces today; and knows the gloves may have to come off. World opinion be damned.

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