tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873837983794172904.post7293260996113145948..comments2023-10-15T07:25:13.077-07:00Comments on BRUMSPEAK: YK Halevi on Why Settler Issue is More Complicated than it Appears & Oren & Shavit on Recognition of Israel's Jewishness as Existential IssueDavid Brumerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04290621672310065155noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873837983794172904.post-31821941805935305852010-10-16T06:13:12.830-07:002010-10-16T06:13:12.830-07:00Given the fact that any land from which Israel has...Given the fact that any land from which Israel has withdrawn (except Sinai, but given Al Qaida's presence there, stay tuned) has become a launching pad for rockets and missiles, Israel would be foolish to leave other areas, which would in short order host missiles aimed at Israels population centers. And any talk of UN or US guarantees is idiotic -- just look at the pathetic UN record in policing Hezbollastan.Uzi Silberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10237605497125038306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2873837983794172904.post-2142632915987900692010-10-15T18:41:58.975-07:002010-10-15T18:41:58.975-07:00Israel's withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 was cert...Israel's withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 was certainly controversial, but most Israelis felt that it was a good idea to cede territory and displace settlers for the sake of peace. Gaza became an independent mini-state, a fact that neither Gazans or anybody else seems to understand. If Gaza had shown indications of wanting to live in peace with Israel, most of the West Bank would have been given up by now.<br />Instead Gaza chose to elect Hamas and to launch rockets--rockets that served no military and no strategic purpose. Their reason was to kill random Israelis, an end in itself.<br />It would cost West Bank nothing to recognize the Jewish nature of Israel. It would gain them independence. Unfortunately for them and for everyone, independence is a secondary goal. Delegitimizing (and eventually destroying) Israel remains the primary objective.<br />As long as Israel remains the most hated country on earth, it has few, if any, options open. Israel's past concessions have not helped it to gain legitimacy. Israel today is more hated than it ever has been, despite its withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000 and its granting of independence to Gaza and autonomy to the West Bank.<br />Ahmadinejad is free to travel to Lebanon's border with Israel and call for Israel's destruction. Nobody cares. The Hamas Charter excludes the possibility of peace with Israel. Nobody knows. If they knew, they wouldn't care.George Jochnowitzhttp://www.jochnowitz.netnoreply@blogger.com