unanswered question...

Submitted by ralph (United States), May 21, 2021 at 22:50

Forgive me for being something of a nudge, Dr. Pipes. I elliptically asked a question in a longish remark, you referred me to an incisive article you wrote on a related subject, but did not answer my question. I certainly understand if you don't wish to do so, or if you can't hazard an answer. But I wonder, with all the dangerous winds blowing from the US administration, from the Democrats in Congress, from Putin, from China, from France-- can you foresee a circumstance where Israel does not find itself forced to accept some imposed "solution" that would be tantamount to a defeat, in the next four years?

I look at the situation today and although Israel is wealthy and has an exceptional army, I see eerie parallels of 1948. You (Dr. Pipes) are noting the issue of Israeli-Muslims as critically important. I like the terminology you've chosen, I think it's a good conceptualization of an integrated identity. However, it strikes me that the way we are talking about them, is almost an anticipation of a 1947 scenario. The other day, in this vein, CBS referred to Lod as an Israeli "settlement" INFILTRATED by Jews. It is self-evident that the issue that we-- the Jewish people-- do not sufficiently defend, is the concept and justification of Zionism itself. It is because we do not defend it that we see it under attack, whether in the 1967 borders or in the 1948 armistice lines or anywhere else. Another eerie similarity is that in the midst of efforts in the US House to impose arms embargoes, we saw visits of strong allies from Czechia, Hungary, Austria, and Germany. The friendship of the first three in particular is among the strongest alliances the Jewish state can claim anywhere in the world today. We need to express all the gratitude we can for these countries and their leaders. Again, at the same time, I feel eerie echoes of the arms shipments in '48. Only one country in the world was willing to supply the Jewish state with weapons in those days when the entire survival of the country was at stake, and that country was Czechoslovakia. I know that Israel has an exceptional army today, and is in many ways an exceptionally modern and powerful country. But I cannot help but feel a sense of doom, given the level of diplomatic isolation and the widespread ignorance of our history, the basic justice of our resettlement of our homeland, and attacks on our very right of defense.

And so I ask, do you not foresee some imposed "solution" in the coming years, particularly from this administration?

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