I have heard a debate recently concerning Israel. It involved three of my favorite people: me, myself, and I--me, the once liberal, naive, and idealistic dreamer; myself, the right wing supporter of Israel's military accomplishment; and I, where I think I am now.
Me: The solution is very simple. Withdraw from the West Bank. Open Gaza to humanitarian aid. Once the Palestinians truly see that Israel respects their national aspirations and is willing to assist in their economic development, then peace will be right around the corner.
Myself: There will never be peace between Israel and the Arabs. Islamic ideology will not tolerate a Jewish presence on what is Islamic land (dar al-Islam). Military might is the only language that Arabs understand. Many left in 1948. More will leave when they realize that there will never be a Palestinian state and that their economic interests lie elsewhere.
Me: Are you crazy? How can Israel survive as an occupying power? The world has begun the process of turning its back on her. The longer Israel occupies Palestinian land, the easier it will be for anti-Semites to be proven correct. How can Israel endure when Bob Dylan's unofficial website for the tabs of his songs denies access to Israelis? Without Israelis learning how to play Bob Dylan songs, there is no hope for survival.
Myself: The only thing that is keeping a civil war from breaking out in Israel between the religious and the secular is an external enemy. We need them for unity, as they need us. What would happen to all those dictatorships in the Middle East if they can no longer blame Israel for all the problems in the Middle East. Peace would be the worst thing to ever happen.
Me: Without peace, Israelis with any intelligence will move away. How many thousands have done so already? A brain drain will leave the country with people like Netanyahu to run it
Myself: Netanyahu and people like him are the only hope for Israel. Judea and Samaria are as important to a Jewish state as Tel Aviv and Haifa. The land of Israel, the entire land of Israel, belongs to the people of Israel. All it will take is another depression and the world will turn against the Jews. Where will they go if not Israel?
I: Gentleman, I would like to continue this debate, but the bell just rang, and I must get to my last class of the year. I'm sure we will continue.
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