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Israel's Leaders Should Admit Their Fears

Reader comment on item: End the False Israeli-Palestinian Parity

Submitted by Dave (United States), Jul 5, 2017 at 14:49

One big difference between Israel and her adversaries, including the PA, is that Israel's enemies deliberately try to instill fear as an instrument of policy. This is an important motivating tactic behind the attacks on Israel's civilians, and the media in the Muslims countries routinely justify the attacks and say that the Israelis had it coming. The PA has a long record of honoring the perpetrators. There is even a religious basis in Islamic scripture, which calls for fear to be instilled in the hearts of the enemies of Allah.

Fear constitutes a stumbling block to any political settlement which calls for Israeli concessions, and not only is this an issue for Israel, but also for others, like India, which has experienced the fear in trying to resolve the Kashmir dispute. Maybe that's one reason why Modi has skipped Ramallah. Maybe he empathizes with Israel? I'm sure he has a lot of pressure not to make that gesture.

Yet, the world largely blames Israel and ignores the fear. Those who point out the problem are ridiculed as phobic cranks or racists. The liberal-left is very brave when it comes to Jewish lives as they confidently urge risks for peace. After the Oslo Accords, when the vicious attacks started in Israel, President Clinton ritually denounced those cowards who opposed peace, but he never once expressed doubts as to the overall wisdom of the Accords.

I think it would be helpful if Israel's leaders admitted that they are afraid. Maybe if they think that's not macho, they could mention their concerns for their women and children. Who knows, maybe some of those brave people calling for Israel to take risks might be capable of empathy, like Modi, and not be so even-handed.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (15) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Paradigm shift in Congress has started [134 words]PezDispenserAug 27, 2017 01:52240607
The Origins of False Parity [454 words]Sigmund DermanJul 11, 2017 14:36239937
More ideas [497 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
PezDispenserJul 11, 2017 13:35239936
1enough, already [113 words]richard hirschhornJul 9, 2017 11:18239914
2Democracy in the Islamic world [212 words]PrashantJul 12, 2017 22:17239914
Dealing with a rogue interprise [86 words]KesselmanJul 5, 2017 15:51239874
Dilemma [101 words]VijayJul 5, 2017 15:02239873
Israel's Leaders Should Admit Their Fears [290 words]DaveJul 5, 2017 14:49239872
3The original terrorist [302 words]PrashantJul 5, 2017 13:51239870
The original terrorist [141 words]PrashantJul 5, 2017 13:29239866
American Jewish criticism of Middle East Decision Making - Oslo compared to Iraq [118 words]Saul SteinJul 5, 2017 13:20239865
There Will be NO PEACE without Israel's Prince of Peace on the Throne [104 words]M ToveyJul 10, 2017 12:32239865
Well said, thank you! [20 words]Rachel NeuwirthJul 5, 2017 12:39239861
1At Oslo, when Israel legitimized its genocidal enemies, Israel delegitimized itself [832 words]G MarcusJul 5, 2017 11:51239859
1PLO [21 words]Muhammad ArdeshirJul 5, 2017 10:05239856

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