In the arena of public opinion, Israel loses out in a significant other way. Sharon's dictatorial maneuverings and those of the police and politicians against the protestors, the insanity of rounding up anyone wearing an orange vestement, those who protested peacefully against this tragedy...in my mind, this demonstrates exactly what Israel's enemies say about Israel, that the State is a cruel taskmaster, has abused the Palestinians...look at how they treat their own! When we have Jews calling other Jews "Nazi-like" in their behavior...this is what we want to show the world? This is where our pride has sunk after '67?
It is a matter of appearances. They may or may not mean anything, but I suspect these images harm Israel. They encourage the enemies of Israel and doesn't help win any friends, especially those who do not understand or know the truth behind the conflict, including many Jews. Watching the stupidity and horrible actions of the police against the protestors, listening or reading about how Sharon is acting like a Chairman Mao and listening to no dissent...it is hurtful.
No matter the end result, in the short run, I believe these two problems are enough to damn the disengagement. I go to news about Israel, and I begin to cringe before the Web pages open up...either it will be about a terrorist murder of Israelis, ignored by virtually the entire world, America rapidly starting to sell Israel down the river, Israel's politicians and leftists trying to seal Israel's doom or the Palestinians getting the party ready for when they successfully show they can withstand and defeat Israel...it is all so demoralizing and hurtful. This, to me, is the true consequence of the RETREAT...for this is how it will look....the retreat of Israel under fire while simultaneously showing how UNDEMOCRATIC Israel is. It is a lose-lose situation, regardless of some deeper plan that Sharon might have.
It is hard to believe that Sharon has so lost his mind, or that he has been so corrupted with power. Or maybe it is not so hard to believe. But for one who spent his life fighting for the security of Israel...well, I can only believe he is overwhelmed because of his son's dilemma and/or senility has hit. How else to understand this craziness? Some end-game? A tactical stroke-of-genius?
Appearances would suggest the contrary. Maybe Arik HAS had a small stroke...not of genius, but a small clot to his brain, infarct dementia, that hasn't been diagnosed and throws his judgement off. I pray that I AM WRONG, that the wily old man has thought this through...but on the surface, it appears to be an irrevocable error.
Appearances
I have been thinking about the effect of the Disengagement, of the ramifications discussed here on Israpundit and other places, and I have come to a conclusion: No matter if Sharon would be playing some deep, strategic game, it is automatically a losing one.
Israel will be seen to be weak against world opinion and worst, of course, againt Arab terror, giving up land in exchange for...nothing obvious at all. In fact, al-Haaretz reported today that Palestinian terror was not only not slowing, but was instead, rising (Shin Bet: Despite truce, Palestinian terror hits 18-month high)
The irony of that story is in the title: "Despite truce"....WHAT TRUCE? Did anyone see a truce anywhere? Was it left out in the sun to rot, to fester like all the rest of the useless or murderous, lying treaties foisted on Israel by the Palestinians, and accepted as real by the wishful thinkers and dreamers of Israel and the West? Truce my hind section.
So we have the weakness of Israel, running from terror, a clear strategic victory for Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Whether Israel has been otherwise successful in interdicting hundreds of other potential attacks out of Gaza and the West Bank or not, it will not matter. The Arabs will parade and posture and dance and celebrate the fleeing Jews, as they did when we left Lebanon.
In the arena of public opinion, Israel loses out in a significant other way. Sharon's dictatorial maneuverings and those of the police and politicians against the protestors, the insanity of rounding up anyone wearing an orange vestement, those who protested peacefully against this tragedy...in my mind, this demonstrates exactly what Israel's enemies say about Israel, that the State is a cruel taskmaster, has abused the Palestinians...look at how they treat their own! When we have Jews calling other Jews "Nazi-like" in their behavior...this is what we want to show the world? This is where our pride has sunk after '67?
It is a matter of appearances. They may or may not mean anything, but I suspect these images harm Israel. They encourage the enemies of Israel and doesn't help win any friends, especially those who do not understand or know the truth behind the conflict, including many Jews. Watching the stupidity and horrible actions of the police against the protestors, listening or reading about how Sharon is acting like a Chairman Mao and listening to no dissent...it is hurtful.
No matter the end result, in the short run, I believe these two problems are enough to damn the disengagement. I go to news about Israel, and I begin to cringe before the Web pages open up...either it will be about a terrorist murder of Israelis, ignored by virtually the entire world, America rapidly starting to sell Israel down the river, Israel's politicians and leftists trying to seal Israel's doom or the Palestinians getting the party ready for when they successfully show they can withstand and defeat Israel...it is all so demoralizing and hurtful. This, to me, is the true consequence of the RETREAT...for this is how it will look....the retreat of Israel under fire while simultaneously showing how UNDEMOCRATIC Israel is. It is a lose-lose situation, regardless of some deeper plan that Sharon might have.
It is hard to believe that Sharon has so lost his mind, or that he has been so corrupted with power. Or maybe it is not so hard to believe. But for one who spent his life fighting for the security of Israel...well, I can only believe he is overwhelmed because of his son's dilemma and/or senility has hit. How else to understand this craziness? Some end-game? A tactical stroke-of-genius?
Appearances would suggest the contrary. Maybe Arik HAS had a small stroke...not of genius, but a small clot to his brain, infarct dementia, that hasn't been diagnosed and throws his judgement off. I pray that I AM WRONG, that the wily old man has thought this through...but on the surface, it appears to be an irrevocable error.
Posted by Maurice Sonnenwirth at August 1, 2005 11:16 PM