As "anti-Zionists" question the legitimacy of the Jewish state, they ignore a far more compelling case study in artificial borders, sectarian division, and national failure.
B****cks to Anti-Zionism. This hate-filled hypocrisy was Debunked years ago. Just keep telling it how it is. F*** the Anti-Semites. Iran is a police state, The UAE has just killed half a million in Sudan. Egypt is an Autocracy. Afghanistan is unbearable. Iraq and Syria and Lebanon are in permanent Civil War. And Christians have no rights and are murdered regularly in all these countries. There are No marches or Hate Speech in The West about any of this, so F*** the hypocrisy. Am Israel Chai. We watch the whole of the Muslim world for The West, and we are loved mightily where it matters because of this. Israel, please stay strong, for the sake of The West.
So, the Arab population of the Palestine mandate grew from 1.2 million in 1948 to 2.8 million (Judea/Samaria aka West Bank) plus 2.2 million (Gaza) plus 2.1 million (Israeli Arab citizens), totaling 7.1 million. (WORST GENOCIDE EVER). The Jewish population is roughly the same, so not less than 50%, although the point is still valid. Note that very few Israelis have any interest in governing the Gaza hellhole, so subtracting that demographic means there is still a substantial Jewish majority even if Judea//Samaria is fully annexed, which again few support (partial annexation of Area C more viable).
Israel should annex Area C. Rather than wait for the West's permission, act like you won the war (which you did), and let the chips fall where they may. As for the PA-governed areas of Judea/Samaria, perhaps a case by case approach? Let each city vote on whether they want Israeli or PA governance. Of course the PA would do everything in its power to prevent such a vote, but at least they could then be embarrassed about it and Israel could say, "Well, we tried!"
Bennet has been calling for this for years, but I think it is too politically toxic. A combination of Area C annexation (and automatic Israeli citizenship for its 300,000 Arab residents) with local /tribal governance of the remaining areas A/B regions as per the Mordechai Kedar plan would make so much sense…. Unfortunately common sense is sorely lacking in political leadership.
An interesting argument, but the author forgets a component in his narrative. If it were necessary for a state to survive that only one ethnic group absolutely had to have the upper hand, then Switzerland would not exist, nor the European Union, and certainly not the United States. What is missing from the narrative are the facts regarding prosperity and progress. Only when these decline do the various population groups fall back into older identities. As is visible in the US nowadays: the large 'middle class' society of the 1960s and 70s has fallen apart, and polarization and fragmentation in the country have only increased since then.
Lebanon is a failed state. The existence of Hezbollah, a non-state actor that is armed, refutes any notion of sovereignty that presupposes a monopoly on the use of force. The question, however, is what to do about it. I would like to see some reasonable and viable options. Even one would do!
B****cks to Anti-Zionism. This hate-filled hypocrisy was Debunked years ago. Just keep telling it how it is. F*** the Anti-Semites. Iran is a police state, The UAE has just killed half a million in Sudan. Egypt is an Autocracy. Afghanistan is unbearable. Iraq and Syria and Lebanon are in permanent Civil War. And Christians have no rights and are murdered regularly in all these countries. There are No marches or Hate Speech in The West about any of this, so F*** the hypocrisy. Am Israel Chai. We watch the whole of the Muslim world for The West, and we are loved mightily where it matters because of this. Israel, please stay strong, for the sake of The West.
So, the Arab population of the Palestine mandate grew from 1.2 million in 1948 to 2.8 million (Judea/Samaria aka West Bank) plus 2.2 million (Gaza) plus 2.1 million (Israeli Arab citizens), totaling 7.1 million. (WORST GENOCIDE EVER). The Jewish population is roughly the same, so not less than 50%, although the point is still valid. Note that very few Israelis have any interest in governing the Gaza hellhole, so subtracting that demographic means there is still a substantial Jewish majority even if Judea//Samaria is fully annexed, which again few support (partial annexation of Area C more viable).
Israel should annex Area C. Rather than wait for the West's permission, act like you won the war (which you did), and let the chips fall where they may. As for the PA-governed areas of Judea/Samaria, perhaps a case by case approach? Let each city vote on whether they want Israeli or PA governance. Of course the PA would do everything in its power to prevent such a vote, but at least they could then be embarrassed about it and Israel could say, "Well, we tried!"
Bennet has been calling for this for years, but I think it is too politically toxic. A combination of Area C annexation (and automatic Israeli citizenship for its 300,000 Arab residents) with local /tribal governance of the remaining areas A/B regions as per the Mordechai Kedar plan would make so much sense…. Unfortunately common sense is sorely lacking in political leadership.
Sounds good to me Gary.
An interesting argument, but the author forgets a component in his narrative. If it were necessary for a state to survive that only one ethnic group absolutely had to have the upper hand, then Switzerland would not exist, nor the European Union, and certainly not the United States. What is missing from the narrative are the facts regarding prosperity and progress. Only when these decline do the various population groups fall back into older identities. As is visible in the US nowadays: the large 'middle class' society of the 1960s and 70s has fallen apart, and polarization and fragmentation in the country have only increased since then.
Lebanon is a failed state. The existence of Hezbollah, a non-state actor that is armed, refutes any notion of sovereignty that presupposes a monopoly on the use of force. The question, however, is what to do about it. I would like to see some reasonable and viable options. Even one would do!
Brilliant historical explanation. Thank you.
The biggest lesson for nation builders is that imposing democracy to suit the whims of empires doesn't work out.