PrintMay 22, 2011
Why Israel Has Become A Not-Quite Tragic Hero
"The executioner's face," sang Bob Dylan, "is always well-hidden." In the particular case of Israel, the sources of existential danger have instead always been obvious. Nonetheless, from 1948 until the present, virtually all of the nation's prime ministers, facing periodic wars for survival, have steadfastly preferred assorted forms of collective denial. In consequence, rather than accept the plainly exterminatory intent of determined enemy states and terrorist organizations, these leaders have opted for territorial dismemberment, and incremental surrender to openly-barbarous "partners for peace."To be sure, this is not the whole story. During its very short contemporary life, the state of Israel has accomplished extraordinary feats in science, medicine, agriculture, education, and industry. Its military institutions, far exceeding all reasonable expectations, have fought, endlessly and heroically, to avoid any new forms of...(Read Full Article)
