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Israeli strategy

Reader comment on item: Pipes criticises Middle East leaders

Submitted by Bob Copps (Canada), Feb 13, 2005 at 15:29

The Israeli government is forced to make the best of a bad deal, to accept a hypocritical truce, essentially a strategic withdrawal, by an implacable enemy. Militarily, the best option would be turn this retreat into a rout, destroy the enemy's infrastructure and punish its recalcitrance.

But this would be a diplomatic error and would only increase the resolve of the country's enemies. The key to success is the development among the Palestinians of a free and growing bourgeoisie which is capable of benefitting from the peace more than the various, and competing, autocrats are capable of benefitting from the terror.

The elements of this bourgeois tendency, including both the merchants, manufacturers, and financiers, on one side, and their employees and the families of their employees on the other, will not necessarily be subjectively disposed toward peace with the Jews, but their prosperity will tend to condition their political decisions.

In each of the truces that have briefly held in the past, the Palestinians have seen their standard of living improve, only to be seriously compromised by the terrorists. Sooner or late the lessons must sink in, that Israel is not going away, and that prosperity depends on peace.

The lesson seems clear: The Israeli government must use all diplomatic and military decisions to encourage policies among the Palestinians which will enable their citizens to use their natural economic talents to thrive. First among these policies is financial freedom, second political freedom. In a free economy, individuals will learn that their best hopes for personal success is in their own efforts, not in sharing in the collective plunder of their enemies.

In time, if the people who hold the trump cards are patient enough, there will be arise the Palestinians a class of people with the resources and authority to create a lasting peace with Israel in order to bolster their own personal prosperity, and the benefits from this will be shared by all.

The current truce, with all its warts, is a step or two along a path with many detours. Success might require centuries, but I believe it is the only way to achieve peace without slaughter.
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Reader comments (42) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Staying power? [12 words]CassandraDec 4, 2006 11:0268225
1Do Jews have basic Human rights in Middle East today? [177 words]IsraelJun 11, 2005 22:3822643
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Bush Administration [190 words]Larry A. MillerJun 14, 2006 15:5120430
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Who are the Palestinians [987 words]Natalia WoodJul 17, 2006 18:5720414
refugees... [603 words]Nathan BenAvrahamJul 26, 2006 17:2520414
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Brilliant [29 words]WillardJun 5, 2007 18:1020414
Mithal al-Alusi - an Iraqi Hero? [268 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Dorothy KushnerFeb 17, 2005 13:3020412
mr.alusi [65 words]robert arochoAug 27, 2006 13:4320412
mr.alusi [58 words]robert arochoOct 5, 2006 21:4520412
An iraqi traitor more likely and a coward . [101 words]Gisele from BeirutSep 22, 2008 15:2520412
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Hero [19 words]AriOct 3, 2008 06:1820412
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Daniel P. in the den with Tony J. [44 words]Nina E. N.Feb 15, 2005 07:3020335
Grand Design [95 words]NEIL ABRAMSONFeb 14, 2005 18:3020332
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Realistic Comments. [101 words]A. PlonyFeb 14, 2005 17:3720330
100% [15 words]Walter D'UllFeb 14, 2005 11:3420322
The ever missing factor. [287 words]IamJosephFeb 14, 2005 07:3920318
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Absolutely right [25 words]Neila Charchour HachichaFeb 13, 2005 18:5920312
Middle East leaders never tell the Truth [170 words]Octavio JohansonFeb 13, 2005 16:5520309
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Intentions vs. Results [157 words]ChericeFeb 13, 2005 11:3820302
Mostly a great interview [240 words]Mike L.Feb 13, 2005 11:1820300
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Abbas' strategy [76 words]Bob FinkFeb 13, 2005 10:3720297
Deja vu [102 words]Jaime EisenFeb 13, 2005 10:1820296
Mr Eisen, repeat history, Shoebat is a hero. [65 words]W. June PedigoMar 26, 2006 01:1020296
Very interested in this interview... [27 words]Cynthia VargasAug 21, 2006 01:4320296
Jones Interview [80 words]Lee CaryFeb 13, 2005 09:1920295

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