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Can you "defeat" an idea?

Reader comment on item: Should Israel Invade Gaza?

Submitted by Yoel Ben-Avraham, Sep 24, 2019 at 03:56

As someone who was 'forced' by circumstances to actively defend my country Israel, and who has four sons, all of which also have had to defend Israel actively - I would love to believe that "victory" is possible. Having lived in direct day-to-day contact with Arabs, especially Muslims, almost fifty years now, I question whether "defeat" is even possible. The root of the opposition to Israel's existence is so deeply connected to religious and cultural beliefs, to acquiesce to Israel's existence would require nothing less than a repudiation of the collective identity of the peoples who live here in the Middle East.
I know that Dr. Pipes sees some form of moderate Islam as the eventual solution. It is possible. My fear is that in a homogeneous society like the countries of the Middle East, any outward signs of moderation will quickly end in the deaths of those who espouse them.

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Reader comments (19) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
victory in gaza [8 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Jan LapterOct 9, 2019 05:44255300
Gaza border [20 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
RodOct 7, 2019 16:16255263
Love Rod's idea [65 words]PrashantOct 8, 2019 23:26255263
identifying candidates for the new regime [155 words]mythOct 3, 2019 08:24255190
Should Israel invade Gaza? [501 words]PrashantSep 30, 2019 21:52255147
Gaza cannot be excised, but it can be shrunk like a wart [88 words]DaveSep 28, 2019 06:16255100
Utopia are inherently dangerous [210 words]Vadim AnshelevichSep 27, 2019 15:16255089
Gaza invasion? [26 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Dan SchnittkerSep 25, 2019 10:43255022
1Gaza vs. Iran - for an Israeli Victory, Consider Iran First [444 words]RobertSep 24, 2019 15:21255002
2Strategic Bombing [85 words]Allen MillerSep 24, 2019 14:02254999
2if "we must uproot the terror from within Gaza", then Martin Sherman's policy is what is needed [transfer] [28 words]RonSep 24, 2019 08:56254992
2Can you "defeat" an idea? [151 words]Yoel Ben-AvrahamSep 24, 2019 03:56254983
Shaalu shalom Yerushalaim - Eventually Answered [104 words]M ToveySep 24, 2019 16:21254983
2We all know the answer [84 words]KoerbaghSep 24, 2019 03:36254982
2Total Victory is Possible. [109 words]Reynald de ChatillonSep 24, 2019 01:55254980
1Victory. [158 words]MARKSep 24, 2019 00:20254973
1Declaration of War [87 words]Thomas E. MaddocksSep 23, 2019 23:44254972
What about a few surgical strikes [50 words]BernardSep 23, 2019 23:18254971
1From the River to the Sea [40 words]Ringo PhoneboneSep 23, 2019 22:29254970

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