I appreciate the response, and I essentially agree with your assessment that this has become the prevailing feeling in Israel. With that being said: surely Israelis understand that the current direction of travel leads to a dark place, not least for Israel itself? I can't imagine a reality where the crisis in Gaza continues and Israel continues to be supported by the West. And then what happens? Surely at some point peace and reconciliation prevails?
I wish that was the natural path, that seeing the damage would turn people back toward reconciliation. But for now, most Israelis don’t see a viable partner on the other side to reconcile with.
This is a very dire situation. We’ve come to realize there are millions, perhaps tens of millions, across the region whose worldview includes the elimination of the Jewish state, and they are very committed to it. We can’t and won’t wage war on whole populations as that is not in our blood. Nor can we realistically change their beliefs in the foreseeable future or find something to offer that would produce lasting peace.
So today our choices feel grim and limited. That is why many Israelis believe we must:
1. Be excellent at predicting attacks and when necessary, strike first to disrupt them
2. Impose a very heavy cost on anyone who contemplates attacking us, so others think twice
3. Remain stronger and more capable than everyone around us
It’s a terrible place to be, and it’s not the future anyone hoped for. But until there’s a credible, sustained shift in the region, a process that would likely take generations of committed leadership, many here see little alternative.
