Two states is simply not viable until there is some reasonable chance one of those states is not destined to be a terror state. There is no such chance until there is a Palestinian leader who has enough support to go into Jenin and Jabalia (as well as “camps” in Lebanon and Syria) and tell the people there they are not refugees from some some ancestor’s home in what is now Israel but citizens of Palestine and residents of whatever place they currently live and survive. The war will continue as long as the people in those places believe they have a future in what is now Israel.
I've wondered why Israel's plight is not taken more seriously in the world. No doubt there are many reasons, but one may be that people go more by actions than words.
Israel may exempt the Ultra-Orthodox from the draft, or Israel may--accurately--claim that this is a war for Israel's very existence, but it cannot do both with credibility.
Indeed, Israel is doing a number of things which are contra-indicated if this is really an all out emergency.
Of course, Israel is hardly unique in this. I'm a Vietnam veteran: the issues the US was fighting for were serious enough for over 58k of us to die, but not quite serious enough for the US to go on a war footing and cut domestic spending--rather it increased. Likewise, the global war on terror was serious enough for massive spending and massive deaths...but again, not serious enough to cut domestic spending. I THINK it's true that the last time the US really took war seriously was WW II: my parents talked of rationing and direct actions by the civilian population to advance the war effort.
Two states is simply not viable until there is some reasonable chance one of those states is not destined to be a terror state. There is no such chance until there is a Palestinian leader who has enough support to go into Jenin and Jabalia (as well as “camps” in Lebanon and Syria) and tell the people there they are not refugees from some some ancestor’s home in what is now Israel but citizens of Palestine and residents of whatever place they currently live and survive. The war will continue as long as the people in those places believe they have a future in what is now Israel.
Good news about the ultra-Orthodox draft issue.
I've wondered why Israel's plight is not taken more seriously in the world. No doubt there are many reasons, but one may be that people go more by actions than words.
Israel may exempt the Ultra-Orthodox from the draft, or Israel may--accurately--claim that this is a war for Israel's very existence, but it cannot do both with credibility.
Indeed, Israel is doing a number of things which are contra-indicated if this is really an all out emergency.
Of course, Israel is hardly unique in this. I'm a Vietnam veteran: the issues the US was fighting for were serious enough for over 58k of us to die, but not quite serious enough for the US to go on a war footing and cut domestic spending--rather it increased. Likewise, the global war on terror was serious enough for massive spending and massive deaths...but again, not serious enough to cut domestic spending. I THINK it's true that the last time the US really took war seriously was WW II: my parents talked of rationing and direct actions by the civilian population to advance the war effort.