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Israelis have never aimed at victory.

Reader comment on item: Interview: ‘I watch with frustration as the Israelis don't get the point'

Submitted by Allen Weingarten (United States), Jun 11, 2006 at 16:34

I appreciate Mr. Pipes's view that "Very few Israelis are aware of the need to win". Yet I would aver that they never have. Neither Begin nor Shamir, ever thought in terms of victory, nor did their predecessor Jabotinski. Uppermost in their collective minds has been how to obtain peace, and get along with their enemies. Unfortunately, this is not a new phenomenon in Jewish history. As far back as the 7th century (according to Baer) "The Jews left the ranks of the warring nations, and put their faith altogether in the hands of God..." We do not have to rely upon abstruse historical fact, to fathom the Jewish mentality. Who among us has questioned the reverence afforded Abraham, for arguing to save Sodom & Gomorrah? Who does not know that our patriarch was prepared to sacrifice Isaac? Is it any surprise that we too, are willing to save our Arab & Muslim murderers, while sacrificing the destiny of the Jewish people? The sacrificial notions of ‘turn the other cheek', and ‘love thine enemy' were well established in Judaism, prior to their actualization in Christianity.

Perhaps it took a goyisha kopf to think that rewarding aggression was virtuous, but only a Jewish heart could actually live that way. This is not to deny the existence of militant teachings, such as "When someone comes to slay you, slay him first", or "Kill the Amalekites". Rather, what Jews have chosen as their vision of justice, is that which rewards the enemy, while sacrificing themselves.

This explains why Israel is not committed to victory--Jews believe it is the right way to be. Their hearts bleed for the Arab who is the victim of his own aggression, while caring not a wit, for his Jewish victims. It is true as Pipes points out, that matters have gotten worse in recent decades, for this sickness spreads. Yet it is not the fault of an America that preys on it, nor of politicians who pretend not to notice. Rather it is the choice of self-sacrifice that is playing itself out. Surely, it is our beliefs, and not DNA, that explains the unwillingness to fight for victory, let alone plans to achieve it. Similarly, it is Arab & Muslim beliefs, and not their DNA, that explains their imperative to conquer and subjugate their adversaries, with clear strategies for succeeding.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (53) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
HaShem bless you, Dr. Pipes [69 words]Iris FinklerAug 8, 2006 01:5151917
Israel's Victory [121 words]Pastor Daniel StelmackerJun 26, 2006 17:5648201
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR ALL [897 words]Blazer HartmanAug 17, 2009 07:1248201
Other considerations ignored or unaware by comment authors [516 words]yzoleowlJun 16, 2006 17:4847795
Frustration and then some... [158 words]SHmuel HaLeviJun 15, 2006 06:1547703
Congrats Sir [89 words]YovenJun 14, 2006 14:2847677
Dr Pipes deserves a 2nd prize..continued. [60 words]HarrakJun 14, 2006 10:1947658
Dr Pipes deserve an other prize [61 words]HarrakJun 14, 2006 10:1447654
Words of an erudite man [139 words]InfidelAug 4, 2006 14:5747654
You think YOU'RE frustrated? [381 words]Dave FishbeinJun 14, 2006 02:1147626
Do I know you? [35 words]Amy BeckmanAug 10, 2006 08:5647626
Yes it's me... [16 words]David FishbeinAug 13, 2006 01:4747626
Amy, Please contact [8 words]David FishbeinAug 27, 2006 02:5047626
Imperical Historical Understanding... [147 words]Lee StanfordJun 13, 2006 15:5747595
Great insights [10 words]nathanJun 13, 2006 07:4847571
Optimistic About Pessimism [225 words]Susan H. SomervilleJun 13, 2006 04:5947555
Cold War Containment [159 words]elaineJun 12, 2006 19:5747531
Self-induced pernicious amnesia [2406 words]YyzoleowlJun 12, 2006 15:5847520
White House pressure: battered wife syndrome? [553 words]Steve KleinJun 12, 2006 14:4247515
The basic problem?? [184 words]Carl GoldbergJun 11, 2006 20:2147481
The basic point [73 words]kadar haybeJul 24, 2011 01:2947481
Lambasting Israel [159 words]Nenette GrunbergJun 11, 2006 19:4947479
Wishful thinking [8 words]Leonid Gaft, MontrealJun 12, 2006 15:4947479
Israelis don't get the point [225 words]Nenette GrunbergJun 13, 2006 16:4047479
points are well taken [152 words]syeven LJun 11, 2006 19:2747476
the negative tendencies of world media [111 words]Anubhav SinghJun 13, 2006 02:3847476
Mr. Pipes Sends An Important Message [57 words]AnneMJun 11, 2006 18:2947473
1Loud and Clear! [35 words]Al RothJun 11, 2006 17:4247470
World Should Heed Pipe's Words of Wisdom [96 words]Mike RamirezJun 11, 2006 16:3747464
Israelis have never aimed at victory. [392 words]Allen WeingartenJun 11, 2006 16:3447463
1suggestions from Daniel Papes what Israel can do. [64 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Melvin LavinJun 11, 2006 16:2647462
This is a very realistic and important interview [126 words]Dr Yoram ShifftanJun 11, 2006 14:3947460
1How to impose victory? [149 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Mentat_99Jun 11, 2006 14:2747459
1Israel as a winner. [49 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
James O'HaraJun 11, 2006 14:1347458
Israel and the Arabs [124 words]Donald W. BalesJun 11, 2006 13:4247457
hypothesis as to if and when a shift to, "victory-driven warfare" from, "conflict management", will be made [152 words]ira berkowitzJun 11, 2006 12:1447453
Congratulations Dr. Pipes for a well-deserved and long overdue award [136 words]Carmen Waggoner, Ph.D.Jun 11, 2006 11:3847450
Excellent job! [46 words]concernedJun 11, 2006 11:3347449
Who now has the right to this land? [27 words]alex laughlinJun 11, 2006 11:2847447
Turkey and EU [41 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Topi HeiskanenJun 11, 2006 11:0647444
imposing victory [347 words]joeJun 11, 2006 10:2447442
JPost Interview with Daniel Pipes [247 words]Maurice PicowJun 11, 2006 09:0747437
What is "winning"? [63 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Stephen RichmanJun 11, 2006 08:3947434
voice of sanity [31 words]brona RosenJun 11, 2006 08:3747433
What is Winning [95 words]Yuval Brandstetter MDJun 11, 2006 08:3547432
Getting The Point [80 words]PhillipJun 11, 2006 08:0747430
Israeli withdrawal as "conflict management" [74 words]J. SheffJun 11, 2006 07:2047428
Some people do not want to see peace in Israel and Palestine! [146 words]Muhammad_Jesus_Moses_AdamJun 11, 2006 07:1247427
Our shortcomings catching up to us [131 words]David W. LincolnJun 11, 2006 06:5847426
Another "4 Bean" article! [47 words]Herb StoneJun 11, 2006 06:3947422
An excellent interview, but... [286 words]Kenneth S. BesigJun 11, 2006 06:3847421
One Track Mind [104 words]BlackspeareJun 11, 2006 20:4147421
If Israelis believe they have been defeated... [58 words]Kenneth S. BesigJun 13, 2006 09:2247421

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