Re: OLMERT BUILDS THE FENCE


If you believe that, then what's the future for Israel in the ME as
you see it? This is something I always ask when people say that
genuine peace isn't possible ... and it's never answered.


I do not believe "contractual" peace is possible. However, that
does not mean that the only possible future is endless wars.
I believe (and I realize that you and others don't agree at the
moment) that IF Israel says clearly to the Arabs that we
have returned home, we will not relinquish our historic
homeland, we are building Jewish communities throughout
Judea/Samaria and GAZA, while at the same time we are guarateeing
their property and their autonomous culture and some sort
of political autonomy, they will EVENTUALLY give up the immediate
desire to eradicate us. This would include quiet, unofficial trade
and joint projects, without us requiring them to say that they
are "making peace" or "recognizing us" which they will never do.
I will give you an example...in much of the world, there is a
perception
that "might makes right"...at the time Japan surrendered in 1945
the government had been brainwashing their population with
the slogan "100 million die together" and it was every Japanese
citizens duty to kill at least one American "invader". When the
Emperor made the broadcast calling for surrender, there was
an attempt to make a coup by extremist elements. Yet, when
the Americans dispatched General MacArthur to implement
the occupation regime, he landed at Atsugi airfield with a
handful of soldiers, a short time after the coup attempt.
The Japanese who had just a few days before willing to die
for the Emperor, could have cut MacArthur and the soldiers
accompanying him to pieces...but they didn't because
they were in awe of the Americans who were so powerful.
After the 6-Day War, the Arabs felt the same way, but what
is the first thing the gov't does, it gives the keys to the Temple
Mount back to the Muslim Waqf leaders who offered the
keys to the conquerers. In a "cosmic" sense, it was this
act of self-humiliation that has caused all our subsequent
problems. We told the Arabs that we don't even want
our own holiest place. All the withdrawals and concessions
in the years since have only increased the Arabs contempt for
us. Note how international anti-Semitism INCREASED after
the Oslo agreements which the post-Zionist Left told us
would make everybody love us.
The fact is that many people at the very top of the establishment
including "tough warriors" like Sharon, Ehud Barak, Rabin, etc.
deep down agree with the Arabs that Zionism is an abberation,
it would have been better if the Jews had gone to America
and not come to Eretz Israel, etc (Don't forget that it was
Sharon who paraphrased the Nazis saying "NOT ONE SINGLE
JEW WILL REMAIN IN GAZA AFTER I CLEAR THEM OUT".)
I again realize you don't accept his analysis, and I realize most
Jews don't agree with it either...however, some progress has
been made. Now, unlike 10 years ago, most Israelis realize
that there isn't going to be a contractual peace. At least
we agree on that. The question now is what are we going
to do about it? Olmert and his fellow post-Zionist just want
to capitulate. I say we have to be strong and build more settlements.


The Romans put up Hadrian's wall to stop the Picts in Scotland,
so they built boats to go around it. The Germans didn't want
to confront the Maginot Line (which was very formidable) so they
went around it in the Ardennes. The Wall in Jerusalem in 1967
stopped most sniper fire, so the Jordanians fired artillery shells
into West Jerusalem.

Here I agree with you. Israelis can't and should not embrace
complaisance. Some Palestinians will find their way around the fence.
But Hadrian's Wall and the Maginot Line were built to defeat
conventional military powers, and they were in turn beaten by the
application of military and logistical resources that the Palestinians
don't have.

True, the Palestinians don't have it, but what about the combined
resources of the surrounding Arabs states? They joined together
to fight Israel in 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973. They might (G-d
forbid) again. The growth of the Islamic extremist movement
is dragging others in, for example Hizbullah in Lebanon. Don't
forget the Iranian threats.


As Eliyahu pointed out, sometimes a fortification can make a
difference by reducing an opponent's mobility and helping defenders
focus their resources.

Yuval Steinitz has pointed out that the Egyptians are continually
upgrading their conventional forces, and recent reports say
the Syrians are looking to build up their decrepit army.

Is there any point in having a military at all if you're not going to
upgrade it?

Egypt is a very poor country without any real enemies. Why are
they investing so much into their military? Maybe Mubarak doesn't
plan to go to war with Israel, but we do have to be wary of his
capabilities.

One must look ahead and not simply accept simple-minded
answers to existential problems.

I agree with this.

Andy Katz

.

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