Sunday 9 June 2024

Hey world, I know you think Israel's the bully

Hey world, I know you think we're the bully, but you should know that those of us who live here feel, maybe reasonably or maybe not, that the existence of the state of Israel--the only homeland of the Jewish people, is on the line in this moment. 

We were brutalized by Hamas on October 7th and since then, Hezbollah has pounded us from the north. And along the way, Iran sent 350 missiles our way. 

You might think because only a thousand or so people have died in those attacks that we need to show restraint. But this is not a territorial dispute over some islands like the Falklands. 

This is the only place we have. 

And it feels like it could all disappear. Over 100,000 of our citizens have evacuated their homes near Gaza and in the north. That land is essentially under the de facto control of our enemies. We don't know how many of our people are being held in Gaza or if they're alive. We can't live like this. No nation can.

If you hate Jews or the idea of a Jewish state, just enjoy the drama. But if you care about either, you might want to remember that we are surrounded by people who want us destroyed on religious grounds. We are in a very tough situation. Most of the world does not seem to understand this. This is a moment of great peril for the world and for Israel. 

If you care about us and if you care about the world, you might want to start pressuring Iran and its proxies. We are in great danger and do not see this conflict the way you do. We have way too much skin in the game. If you do not appreciate that, you will make the wrong policy choices. 

Don't wait until it's too late.

== Russ Roberts, President, Shalem College, Jerusalem
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What will be an immediate “Palestinian”objection to the above?  

It’ll be: “What about us? What about our land? From the River to the Sea, we must be free!”. 

An answer to that: You Palestinians have the other 99.83% of the immediately surrounding Arab lands to settle in. Including in the Palestinian state of Jordan. We, Israel will just keep this 0.17%. 

And we’re done. We’re done. We’re done. We Are Done.

While we’re about it, let’s also be done with UNRWA. Which has only perpetuated the problem of “refugees”.
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And in the meantime all parties bar Hamas have bought the most recent Ceasefire proposal from the United States. Which is an abomination; but still Israel has accepted and Hamas is still hemming and hawing.

I don’t know why. After all, this is all “Ceasefire" means to Hamas:

Maybe Bibi trying to win over some of that world-wide “political opinion”. While Alan Dershowitz tells us that he had a phone call with Bibi today, who said that the ground operation in Rafah was going well.