Visions of decline are understandable
Reader comment on item: Palestinian Responses to an Israeli Withdrawal from Gaza

Submitted by Aaron (United States), Dec 22, 2005 at 18:33

Daniel Pipes wrote:

Comment: Hamas and Hizbullah are wrong, unable to comprehend a modern sophisticated society like Israel's. But likewise, Israelis do not understand the damage they do themselves by feeding this perception of their weakness. (Sep. 19, 2005)

I disagree. At this point, Hamas and Hizbullah have a much more realistic view of the situation than most Israelis. As Dr .Pipes wrote elsewhere, Israeli leaders are these days giving the impression of exhaustion and disinterest in keeping up the fight, while simultaneously displaying that they are "willing and even eager to be duped by their enemies. All they need are some overtures, however unconvincing... and they barely can restrain themselves from making concessions to mortal enemies."

In such a situation, is decline really far off?

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