The evidence of the recent massacre of 6 hostages has led me to believe that the hostages will not be released by the current leadership of Hamas. Nor, any future alternative leadership.
So, there’s no event that will create the beginning of the end of this turmoil, other than complete and overwhelming defeat of Hamas and Hezbolah.
Unfortunately military pressure hasn't worked to get the hostages back either. I'd like to see complete defeat but I don't think that's achievable, and won't return the hostages alive. While Hamas obviously isn't a good faith negotiating partner, I think many Israelis are rightly critical of their government's handling of the process. Military successes have to be leveraged into diplomatic agreements, however imperfect.
Another thoughtful piece about an important topic. You have an incredibly ability to put my thoughts into cohesive sentences that make a solid point. Look forward to discussing some of the answers to the questions raised above. Also planning a trip to israel together soon.
Daniel, it’s wonderful that there are obviously enough sources of information written in English for the diaspora community to get a good understanding of Israel’s external and internal issues! This is clearly evident by your observations. Kol hakavod 👏
Daniel. Great piece as always. Some of my unfiltered thoughts are below. I am sure they will not be overly popular, but this is which I grapple with.
- I agree that the whole ‘Does Israel have a right to exist?’ question is a strange waste of time. Israel exists. The end. However, it seems that Israel was established against the will of many of the Palestinian people who were there. Many of them were forcibly/violently expelled. What should happen to them/their families? I just don’t think this is irrelevant, and I don’t think it can be written off. Sure, many western countries were created in a similar manner, but there is something about the passage of time that heals these wounds, and Israel’s are fresh. How will Israel acknowledge the wrongs of its past? Do we even agree that there were wrongs?
- I find the following cycle of violence sad and strange:
Israel is frequently attacked by its neighbours who seek to eliminate it. These attacks usually result in the death of a relatively small number of innocent civilians. In the case of October 7 is was obviously a larger number. In response, Israel frequently attacks its opponents, but it does so with unclear goals. In doing so, it kills thousands of innocent children. Without a plan (or even possibility) of eradicating the leadership causing these atrocities, what does Israel hope to get out of this retaliation? It seems very clear that it certainly does not make the region safer.
- How do we expect things to improve with Israel’s coalition government and the ever increasing influence of the ultra orthodox movement? They are only going to have more and more of a say, which will only push the country further towards an absolutist theocracy. There will never be peace if Israel continues its expansion of the occupied territories. It’s hard to take anything seriously as this continues.
- Israel is, at times treated unfairly by the international community, but it also seems to hold itself to a bizarrely low standard. Israel should do better than Iran. I would be embarrassed if it didn’t.
- Does Israel want to be a Jewish state or does it want to be a democracy? It is ok to be a democratically leaning, largely benevolent theocracy (ok- it's a bit of a mouthful), but just own it, no?
Thanks Dave, appreciate it. In response to your first sentence, the validity of a question/comment should have nothing to do with its popularity. If we're serious about supporting Israel from the diaspora, we need to respond to questions/observations like these, especially those that make us feel uncomfortable. Failing to grapple with these things is not really an option if you care about the country's future. I think there's historically been a hesitation to ask critical questions like these because support has been framed as an all-or-nothing, survival-first exercise, where dissent or criticism is viewed as heresy, and that needs to change. There's a lot to respond to in each point (and I agree with chunks, but not all, of them); I don't want to half-ass responses as they're each their own discussion, so let's chat live.
Thank you Daniel. Very much looking forward to our next chat.
PS Slight typo by me in the first sentence. "what" not "which". I only correct because it may be misconstrued as me caring about people disagreeing with what I have to say. It's not that I don't care, it's just that I rarely hear it because of my pathological work-life balance/lack of social interaction.
Sounds a bit like the tree falling in the forest! All good, I assumed you meant "that". And I understand how newborns and robotic vascular intervention can crowd other stuff out! Will text to chat.
David, I think you and Daniel are iterating similar concerns about the internal issues that Israel is suffering from which will ultimately affect the fabric of its society and the path it’s going to take into the future in the region. Learning from history, we should be concerned about religious zeal which led to the destruction of Israel.
The evidence of the recent massacre of 6 hostages has led me to believe that the hostages will not be released by the current leadership of Hamas. Nor, any future alternative leadership.
So, there’s no event that will create the beginning of the end of this turmoil, other than complete and overwhelming defeat of Hamas and Hezbolah.
Unfortunately military pressure hasn't worked to get the hostages back either. I'd like to see complete defeat but I don't think that's achievable, and won't return the hostages alive. While Hamas obviously isn't a good faith negotiating partner, I think many Israelis are rightly critical of their government's handling of the process. Military successes have to be leveraged into diplomatic agreements, however imperfect.
Another thoughtful piece about an important topic. You have an incredibly ability to put my thoughts into cohesive sentences that make a solid point. Look forward to discussing some of the answers to the questions raised above. Also planning a trip to israel together soon.
Thank you very much Lee. See you there.
Daniel, it’s wonderful that there are obviously enough sources of information written in English for the diaspora community to get a good understanding of Israel’s external and internal issues! This is clearly evident by your observations. Kol hakavod 👏
Lots of good sources. But nothing better than visiting and speaking to people there!
Thanks for sharing, Daniel. As always, your writing is one of the few newsletters I really look forward to receiving!
Thanks Zach, I really appreciate that. Thanks for reading and for letting me know.
Daniel. Great piece as always. Some of my unfiltered thoughts are below. I am sure they will not be overly popular, but this is which I grapple with.
- I agree that the whole ‘Does Israel have a right to exist?’ question is a strange waste of time. Israel exists. The end. However, it seems that Israel was established against the will of many of the Palestinian people who were there. Many of them were forcibly/violently expelled. What should happen to them/their families? I just don’t think this is irrelevant, and I don’t think it can be written off. Sure, many western countries were created in a similar manner, but there is something about the passage of time that heals these wounds, and Israel’s are fresh. How will Israel acknowledge the wrongs of its past? Do we even agree that there were wrongs?
- I find the following cycle of violence sad and strange:
Israel is frequently attacked by its neighbours who seek to eliminate it. These attacks usually result in the death of a relatively small number of innocent civilians. In the case of October 7 is was obviously a larger number. In response, Israel frequently attacks its opponents, but it does so with unclear goals. In doing so, it kills thousands of innocent children. Without a plan (or even possibility) of eradicating the leadership causing these atrocities, what does Israel hope to get out of this retaliation? It seems very clear that it certainly does not make the region safer.
- How do we expect things to improve with Israel’s coalition government and the ever increasing influence of the ultra orthodox movement? They are only going to have more and more of a say, which will only push the country further towards an absolutist theocracy. There will never be peace if Israel continues its expansion of the occupied territories. It’s hard to take anything seriously as this continues.
- Israel is, at times treated unfairly by the international community, but it also seems to hold itself to a bizarrely low standard. Israel should do better than Iran. I would be embarrassed if it didn’t.
- Does Israel want to be a Jewish state or does it want to be a democracy? It is ok to be a democratically leaning, largely benevolent theocracy (ok- it's a bit of a mouthful), but just own it, no?
Thanks Dave, appreciate it. In response to your first sentence, the validity of a question/comment should have nothing to do with its popularity. If we're serious about supporting Israel from the diaspora, we need to respond to questions/observations like these, especially those that make us feel uncomfortable. Failing to grapple with these things is not really an option if you care about the country's future. I think there's historically been a hesitation to ask critical questions like these because support has been framed as an all-or-nothing, survival-first exercise, where dissent or criticism is viewed as heresy, and that needs to change. There's a lot to respond to in each point (and I agree with chunks, but not all, of them); I don't want to half-ass responses as they're each their own discussion, so let's chat live.
Thank you Daniel. Very much looking forward to our next chat.
PS Slight typo by me in the first sentence. "what" not "which". I only correct because it may be misconstrued as me caring about people disagreeing with what I have to say. It's not that I don't care, it's just that I rarely hear it because of my pathological work-life balance/lack of social interaction.
Sounds a bit like the tree falling in the forest! All good, I assumed you meant "that". And I understand how newborns and robotic vascular intervention can crowd other stuff out! Will text to chat.
David, I think you and Daniel are iterating similar concerns about the internal issues that Israel is suffering from which will ultimately affect the fabric of its society and the path it’s going to take into the future in the region. Learning from history, we should be concerned about religious zeal which led to the destruction of Israel.
Thank you for another thoughtful piece my friend. Here’s to a peaceful and collaborative future for all in the region.
Thanks Jo, and well said.