Bollocks yourself, Steven. Yes, the situation was very complicated and the Zionists weren't innocent lambs. But European anti-Semitism is not an invention of the Israelis, now or then, and neither is the absolute double standard with which the world judges the situation -- pointing fingers at the plight of the poor poor Palestinian refugees whom their brother Arabs have kept in squalid camps for over fifty years, while conveniently forgetting that there were any Jewish refugees, just to take one example.
Any other part of the world, there would have been a war, there would have been cease-fire negotiations, and there would have been a negotiated peace. Instead, the Arabs decided to hold their breath until they turned blue rather than recognize Israel. Fifty years on, they are mostly very blue indeed, and Europe says, tsk, tsk, you Israelis are such hard asses, why can't you be more conciliatory, it's all your fault.
As Tom Friedman likes to say, fifty years ago, the Asian countries said to their people, give up democracy and we'll give you prosperity. Now they are prosperous and starting to democratize. The Arab countries said to their people, give up democracy and we'll give the Arab/Israeli conflict. Fifty years on, they are poorer than ever but they still have the Arab/Israeli conflict. |
