Vanessa, I enjoyed your article very much. To be honest, after reading about the deal yesterday, I was feeling somewhat disappointed. Your article helped put me back into a more positive frame of mind.
I agree with everything you said. Israel will adapt, Israel will adjust, and in the end this may very well make Israel stronger. One thing history has taught us is that Israelis do not sit around feeling sorry for themselves. They identify a problem, argue about it endlessly, and then find a way to overcome it.
Everything you wrote about the character of the country is true. Israel is an amazing place filled with amazing people, and if there is one nation that knows how to turn setbacks into opportunities, it is Israel. Thank you for the reminder.
Thank you for the positive view on “deal or not a deal”. It isn’t what we have done. Let’s not cry over spilled milk. We know the difference between alliance and reliance. So again it’s an opportunity to make it better or maybe the best outcome for Israel. The same applies to us in the Diaspora. It is time to drop the reliance on the Democratic party and our stale organizations supporting them. We give them our money and they keep betraying us. Let’s also invest and invent in supporting Israel more directly and not getting involved in Israeli politics.
Let's be candid, there is really no such thing as 'allies', but rather alliances of convenience continually subject to changing conditions. Look at the stalwart allies the US assumed it had among the nations we freed from Nazi Germany or Imperial Japan. Even the UK who we shared common language, culture and fought side by side with during the 20th century has opted to distance itself if not be overtly hostile to the US. Israel cannot rely on any country long term, nor should it. The same holds true with American Jewry (although we seem ignorant of history) in that groups we thought were natural allies were anything but. The tea leaves don't portend good things in terms of the US/Israel alliance or American Jews. If the left progressive wing keeps gaining traction the US will be overtly hostile to both communities. If the right isolationist elements in the Republican party gains ground (and it probably will after the smoke settles after this Iran 'agreement') you will have a party that merely shrugs its shoulders and says--not our problem. I wish we had more forward and realistic thinking American Jewish leaders who understand history and need to prepare for conditions that will make the Jewish community in the US pariahs.
Yes, but--the "isolationists" on the Right are more than just "shrugging their shoulders." They are largely composed of Jew haters who will actively seek destruction and/or elimination of Israel as a Jewish state. The "horseshoe" theory of the far-Right and far-Left is real.
Funny you mention Peres and his early work but leave out the disaster he was the great architect of, the Oslo Accords. Nothing in Israeli history has done more long term harm and led to more death and suffering than this canard. So awful was it that it destroyed the Israeli left including the Labor Party and nothing turned Israel into more of a frier than Oslo and the decision to trust the PLO by making irrevocable concessions to terrorists.
I agree. Although much of this optimistic post is true, it glosses over the many times Israel has sleep-walked in grave situations like the Oslo Accords. Turning Gaza over to the PLO was certainly a frier move. I will mention October 7 with deep grief, but certainly with the awareness that it was a frier moment. Israel must learn from these events! Also learn how to turn the tables on countries like Qatar who can overwhelm western media with cash in order to change the positive view of Israel to a negative one.
Thank you for pointing out how and why Israel continues to survive. I've been so frustrated and fatigued from the back and forth of this so-called deal. This was such an optimistic piece of writing. Israel lives a reality unlike other countries and has learned how to continue to brilliantly navigate around all the obstacles they have faced. I was furious listening to Trump say that Israel would not be alive if not for him. Most of what he said made me feel as if I was in the Twilight Zone. This was not Trump speaking. It sounded like an AI soundbite. My faith has always been with Israel, and I only wish Trump and my government would learn some lessons from it.
I wish one specific individual Netanyahu was not the biggest frier in Israel, betting on an egotistical, extremely narcissistic, erratic, lier with dangerous personality disorder tendencies. He got the hostages out, thinking people would worship and kiss his feet and help him win the Nobel Peace Prize, which is why he also claimed victory in Gaza. Netanyahu saw that Trump claimed victory in Gaza, promising Hamas would disarmed and have no place in Gaza, and yet Hamas remains in power, albeit in a smaller area, is quickly rearming, and has replaced most of the terrorists who have died. Was that not a warning to distrust Trump a second time? And yet he again bet on Trump, who cares little about Israel and Jews, except when he thinks he is going to get at Nobel Peace Prize, while at the same time getting a 400 million dollar airplane from Qatar and invest heavily there, during the war, despite Qatar being the funder of Hamas, and responsible for funding Oct. 7, His lackey negotiators, Jared and Witkoff ran frantically to Qatar to invest there hugely as well , while they were supposed to be negotiators to end the war in Gaza. Perhaps a major conflict of interest? By turning on Israel, Trump is probably hoping again this year for his prize. Israel has won its wars despite the US, not because of the US. Even in 1948, the Arabist State Dept. practically ordered Truman to vote no at the UN, and he was the only President to have strong ethics and values, and voted yes.
Vanessa, I enjoyed your article very much. To be honest, after reading about the deal yesterday, I was feeling somewhat disappointed. Your article helped put me back into a more positive frame of mind.
I agree with everything you said. Israel will adapt, Israel will adjust, and in the end this may very well make Israel stronger. One thing history has taught us is that Israelis do not sit around feeling sorry for themselves. They identify a problem, argue about it endlessly, and then find a way to overcome it.
Everything you wrote about the character of the country is true. Israel is an amazing place filled with amazing people, and if there is one nation that knows how to turn setbacks into opportunities, it is Israel. Thank you for the reminder.
Thank you for the positive view on “deal or not a deal”. It isn’t what we have done. Let’s not cry over spilled milk. We know the difference between alliance and reliance. So again it’s an opportunity to make it better or maybe the best outcome for Israel. The same applies to us in the Diaspora. It is time to drop the reliance on the Democratic party and our stale organizations supporting them. We give them our money and they keep betraying us. Let’s also invest and invent in supporting Israel more directly and not getting involved in Israeli politics.
Let's be candid, there is really no such thing as 'allies', but rather alliances of convenience continually subject to changing conditions. Look at the stalwart allies the US assumed it had among the nations we freed from Nazi Germany or Imperial Japan. Even the UK who we shared common language, culture and fought side by side with during the 20th century has opted to distance itself if not be overtly hostile to the US. Israel cannot rely on any country long term, nor should it. The same holds true with American Jewry (although we seem ignorant of history) in that groups we thought were natural allies were anything but. The tea leaves don't portend good things in terms of the US/Israel alliance or American Jews. If the left progressive wing keeps gaining traction the US will be overtly hostile to both communities. If the right isolationist elements in the Republican party gains ground (and it probably will after the smoke settles after this Iran 'agreement') you will have a party that merely shrugs its shoulders and says--not our problem. I wish we had more forward and realistic thinking American Jewish leaders who understand history and need to prepare for conditions that will make the Jewish community in the US pariahs.
Yes, but--the "isolationists" on the Right are more than just "shrugging their shoulders." They are largely composed of Jew haters who will actively seek destruction and/or elimination of Israel as a Jewish state. The "horseshoe" theory of the far-Right and far-Left is real.
Yes, that is true, and add into that these same folks will demand at best second class citizenship for Jewish Americans or worse.
YES; left, right and center-
all quite comfortable -
displaying their stupidity!
And unfortunately, Vance was put at the head of this negotiation and is not a lover of Israel.
Interesting take on the Iran situation. I hope you're right
Funny you mention Peres and his early work but leave out the disaster he was the great architect of, the Oslo Accords. Nothing in Israeli history has done more long term harm and led to more death and suffering than this canard. So awful was it that it destroyed the Israeli left including the Labor Party and nothing turned Israel into more of a frier than Oslo and the decision to trust the PLO by making irrevocable concessions to terrorists.
I agree. Although much of this optimistic post is true, it glosses over the many times Israel has sleep-walked in grave situations like the Oslo Accords. Turning Gaza over to the PLO was certainly a frier move. I will mention October 7 with deep grief, but certainly with the awareness that it was a frier moment. Israel must learn from these events! Also learn how to turn the tables on countries like Qatar who can overwhelm western media with cash in order to change the positive view of Israel to a negative one.
HAZAK💪HAZAK💪Vʻ
NITHAZEK.
Yes!
Happy to hear it! May I add to point 3? Double Iron Dome!
Well, John Galt III, why you are on this substack at all is very puzzling.
I feel sorry for you. Thankfully I am not an American.
Thank you for pointing out how and why Israel continues to survive. I've been so frustrated and fatigued from the back and forth of this so-called deal. This was such an optimistic piece of writing. Israel lives a reality unlike other countries and has learned how to continue to brilliantly navigate around all the obstacles they have faced. I was furious listening to Trump say that Israel would not be alive if not for him. Most of what he said made me feel as if I was in the Twilight Zone. This was not Trump speaking. It sounded like an AI soundbite. My faith has always been with Israel, and I only wish Trump and my government would learn some lessons from it.
A letter to Trump about the Iran deals
https://rossboulton1.substack.com/p/dear-mr-president-tally-v2?r=2leuaj&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
The regime could only be toppled from within and the Iranian people were not up to the task.
Let’s be blunt. This has bought Israel a little time but next time it will have to be using a nuclear first strike to stop the Mullahs
I wish one specific individual Netanyahu was not the biggest frier in Israel, betting on an egotistical, extremely narcissistic, erratic, lier with dangerous personality disorder tendencies. He got the hostages out, thinking people would worship and kiss his feet and help him win the Nobel Peace Prize, which is why he also claimed victory in Gaza. Netanyahu saw that Trump claimed victory in Gaza, promising Hamas would disarmed and have no place in Gaza, and yet Hamas remains in power, albeit in a smaller area, is quickly rearming, and has replaced most of the terrorists who have died. Was that not a warning to distrust Trump a second time? And yet he again bet on Trump, who cares little about Israel and Jews, except when he thinks he is going to get at Nobel Peace Prize, while at the same time getting a 400 million dollar airplane from Qatar and invest heavily there, during the war, despite Qatar being the funder of Hamas, and responsible for funding Oct. 7, His lackey negotiators, Jared and Witkoff ran frantically to Qatar to invest there hugely as well , while they were supposed to be negotiators to end the war in Gaza. Perhaps a major conflict of interest? By turning on Israel, Trump is probably hoping again this year for his prize. Israel has won its wars despite the US, not because of the US. Even in 1948, the Arabist State Dept. practically ordered Truman to vote no at the UN, and he was the only President to have strong ethics and values, and voted yes.
Oh dear, TDS.
Well I assume you are talking about yourself.
Not even close, amiga. Your TDS and lack of knowledge is breathtaking.
Amazing perspective
Thank you!