“Hasbara” has become a religion, a ritual we perform to prove to the world that we are “the good Jews.” But “good Jews” are not spared of murder. So stop explaining, stop apologising, stop pleading.
Unfortunately Hamas has accomplished its political objectives beyond its wildest dreams. Israel is essentially alone and must act accordingly. That means doing whatever it takes to annihilate its enemies, world public opinion be damned.
Israelis who disagree need to emigrate. Israel must be united against the world, which sadly hates it.
Superb piece of writing, and whilst it points out what’s gone wrong, there is one paragraph that summaries what should be done.
‘What we should be saying is, “You kidnapped our civilians. You slaughtered our children. You refused to return the living or the dead. This is war. And in war, there are consequences. You do not get to butcher thousands, hold our people underground, and then demand food. If you want to eat, surrender. If you wish to drink, release the hostages. You brought this on yourselves. And you will pay until it ends. That is justice.”
Way back in the late 60s, early 70s, (when Israel would fight back with crushing force), my father would say, "When you fight bullies, do it the ISRAELI WAY: Hit them so hard and take them down so completely that they can't even think about getting up to attack you again." Israel needs to go back to the ISRAELI WAY. It is extremely effective.
I couldn't agree more. The time for Hasbara has passed. When public opinion becomes a hateful mob of ignorance then it is time to turn our focus within.
Outstanding essay. The Israelis need to be ruthless. The Israelis are not obligated to be more humane to children in Gaza than their parents who raised them to become martyrs are. They voted for and support hamas and its genocidal aims, they chose to use their autonomy in Gaza to terrorize and slaughter the Israelis and work towards destroying the Jewish state, rather than building their own functional society. And now they are deservedly reaping the consequences of those choices. The Gazans are not innocent and not deserving of empathy.
Exactly! This must be the road map. Stop with the excuses and live up to our own heritage and history of decisiveness at pivotal times. We are getting soft, and we need to get tough. That is the only way we can fulfill עם ישראל חי in this world.
Hope this essay goes viral. Granted, we're in an echo chamber, but it's always helpful and hopeful to know there are brilliant people on our side who superbly articulate what we intuitively feel and think.
Yes, your totally nailed it and I do agree with most of what you said. But...Israel must rely on its allies for weaponry, shared intelligence, etc. That's the real world and its allies exert pressure. Totally ignoring this has consequences as well.
As Wikipedia defines it, "hasbarah" "roughly means "explaining". It is a communicative strategy that "seeks to explain actions, whether or not they are justified". Not sure that last part is accurate. Seems a bit of a covert Judeomisia might be at work here as we all know how Jews are crafty and filled with deception.
The point, well made, that Israel is apologizing for its existence like European Jews exemplifies the aphorism, "You can take the Jew out of the ghetto, but you can't take the ghetto out of the Jew." Two thousand years of bowing and scraping to the oppressor will do that to you.
Thanks for sharing this! I also have a follow up essay that dives deeper into some of the valid criticisms against some of my points:
https://www.philosophyineedit.com/p/israel-doesnt-owe-you-an-explanation
Unfortunately Hamas has accomplished its political objectives beyond its wildest dreams. Israel is essentially alone and must act accordingly. That means doing whatever it takes to annihilate its enemies, world public opinion be damned.
Israelis who disagree need to emigrate. Israel must be united against the world, which sadly hates it.
Nah. Hamas pissed off the oil money, which outside Iran is its only source of funding.
Yes, some recent reports I’ve read confirm that, which is very positive
Superb piece of writing, and whilst it points out what’s gone wrong, there is one paragraph that summaries what should be done.
‘What we should be saying is, “You kidnapped our civilians. You slaughtered our children. You refused to return the living or the dead. This is war. And in war, there are consequences. You do not get to butcher thousands, hold our people underground, and then demand food. If you want to eat, surrender. If you wish to drink, release the hostages. You brought this on yourselves. And you will pay until it ends. That is justice.”
This was a brilliant essay! Never explain! Move forward to victory!!
Way back in the late 60s, early 70s, (when Israel would fight back with crushing force), my father would say, "When you fight bullies, do it the ISRAELI WAY: Hit them so hard and take them down so completely that they can't even think about getting up to attack you again." Israel needs to go back to the ISRAELI WAY. It is extremely effective.
I couldn't agree more. The time for Hasbara has passed. When public opinion becomes a hateful mob of ignorance then it is time to turn our focus within.
So true
Outstanding essay. The Israelis need to be ruthless. The Israelis are not obligated to be more humane to children in Gaza than their parents who raised them to become martyrs are. They voted for and support hamas and its genocidal aims, they chose to use their autonomy in Gaza to terrorize and slaughter the Israelis and work towards destroying the Jewish state, rather than building their own functional society. And now they are deservedly reaping the consequences of those choices. The Gazans are not innocent and not deserving of empathy.
Well said.
THIS essay--YES! YES YES YES YES YES! A must-read!
Excellent essay, and so true.
Amen!
Thank you for your assertive, rational and sorely needed essay!
Exactly! This must be the road map. Stop with the excuses and live up to our own heritage and history of decisiveness at pivotal times. We are getting soft, and we need to get tough. That is the only way we can fulfill עם ישראל חי in this world.
Hope this essay goes viral. Granted, we're in an echo chamber, but it's always helpful and hopeful to know there are brilliant people on our side who superbly articulate what we intuitively feel and think.
Perfect essay! The scepter belongs to Judah…Genesis 49. It’s about time.
Yes, your totally nailed it and I do agree with most of what you said. But...Israel must rely on its allies for weaponry, shared intelligence, etc. That's the real world and its allies exert pressure. Totally ignoring this has consequences as well.
Thank you for your comment, please do check out my follow up piece that touched that issue:
https://www.philosophyineedit.com/p/israel-doesnt-owe-you-an-explanation
Israel has to start with building its own weapons manufacturing. (Then I will watch the US military industrial complex whine in its soup; fun).
Yes!!! Israel cannot continue to be caught in the whims of US politics. It must be able to truly be able to do whatever it needs to do to survive.
Brilliant essay!
As Wikipedia defines it, "hasbarah" "roughly means "explaining". It is a communicative strategy that "seeks to explain actions, whether or not they are justified". Not sure that last part is accurate. Seems a bit of a covert Judeomisia might be at work here as we all know how Jews are crafty and filled with deception.
The point, well made, that Israel is apologizing for its existence like European Jews exemplifies the aphorism, "You can take the Jew out of the ghetto, but you can't take the ghetto out of the Jew." Two thousand years of bowing and scraping to the oppressor will do that to you.