It seems like the bottom line is the Jewish people cannot cross the line that been crossed against them in thousands of pogroms and atrocities culminating in the Holocaust.. which means truly destroying the enemy physically and spiritually. It’s an extremely difficult thing to do but if Israel can’t will itself to destroy the Palestinians mindset Israel will ultimately be destroyed.
It’s a brutally powerful essay (as well as your previous ones), and I certainly agree with your analysis of the Palestinian culture. However, there’s one recurring topic that seems to be a little bit out of place: the concept of western values, Israel being a western country and the idea that Gazans need to embrace western values. For instance, you say:
“What began with our retreat must end with their defeat—not just militarily, but morally. They must surrender not only their weapons but their worldview. The death cult must be broken. Their only path forward is to renounce their hate, and embrace the only true alternative: Western values—freedom, reason, individual rights.”
They will not do it and will fight to death to never do it. It is exactly what they are most afraid of - embracing “Western” values. They hate the West much more than they hate the Jews. All of the Arab world is so pissed off with Israel, because Israel claim to be a western country, and they see “Western values” as nothing else but a perversion, the path to sin etc. Even assuming that Palestinian will embrace western values, what do you think will be the reaction of other Arab nations? Are they going to he happy about it? I doubt it. They will see it as an even more serious existential threat to their collective identity: a whole country which has been the symbol of Islamic resistance to Western expansion, has lost and not just physically, but spiritually too: sold their souls to Dajal or whatever they call it.
I think there needs to be clarity of whether we see it as a Jewish-Arab conflict or a Western-Arab conflict, where Israel merely represents the West. It will take me a long time to clarify it, but shortly speaking, we are NOT part of the West, and we shouldn’t pretend to be. As long as we (Jews, whether Russian, American or Israeli) identify with the West, we cannot win this war, which you correctly identify as a civilizational war.
Thank you for your comment, Kirill. I think that there is a war between the West and Islam; it's relatively quiet now, but it will erupt at some point in the near future. Israel's war is only the prelude. I want to see Israel as part of the West; it is certainly not the closest one to the "ideal" western country, but it certainly holds the fundamental principles of a rule of law, individual rights, free market, and western culture. Of course, the issue of what is Western civilization is an important and complicated question that is worthy of it's own essay, if not it's own book, and it's far beyond the scope of this essay, but yes I do see it as the forefront of this battle.
Interestingly the west with it's anti-Israel mentality and it's slow Islamisation is slowly becoming more anti-western that I wouldn't be surprised if Israel would be more Western than lets say France, who is soon to be taken over by the Islamists as we can see.
But yes, it's a nuanced issue that needs further elbaoration, I might touch on it in a futrure article.
I agree that there’s a conflict between Islam and the West, and I agree that Israel is on the side of the West (although maybe the West itself doesn’t understand it). I’m very much in favor of strategic alliances. However, strategic alliances doesn’t mean that Jewish civilization is part of the Western Civilization. Our civilizations are really different, and I think we should be proud of that. We’ll win when we remain true to ourselves. And ironically, that clarity will make it easier to find where we do align with the West - and that’s where real strategic partnership will ensue. Basically, I don’t completely disagree with you saying “I want Israel to be part of the West”, rather, I formulate it differently “I want us to be in partnership for joint purpose”.
My reasons are philosophical. The things you mentioned: individual rights, free market and the rule of law, are indeed often associated with the West, but I would argue that they universal values, and I find it questionable whether the West ever integrated these values fully. In particular, I don’t think we need to always nod to the West when we mention them. And either way, I don’t disagree with you, because you correctly identified the fact: the West abandoned these universal values, but I’d add more: the West never properly understood these values in the first place, hence collapse was inevitable.
It's an interesting point. I'd love to see you expand on it more, maybe write a piece about what you mean by Jewish civilisation and how it differes from western and what it's relationahship to it should be?
It appears even with the new offensive in Gaza and the justification of it in terms of the international diplomatic posturing and the need for US support, the mindset has not really changed in Israel. The polls run by different pollsters do not indicate a shift in the Israeli public either, even allowing for the biases of the pollsters and how they frame the questions.
Excellent analysis. I’ve always thought that separating Hamas from the Palestinians was artificial and false. After all, who are Hamas? They didn’t arrive in spaceships from Mars, but arose from the people whom they represent and govern with the majority’s agreement and support.
Hamas=Palestinians and Palestinians=Hamas. All are equally responsible for October 7 and all should bear the consequences equally.
It has been obvious to me for decades—at least since the Second Intifada—that the so-called “cycle of violence” would continue to spin its grisly wheels until one side was defeated and knew itself to be so. As long as the world continues to indulge Palestinian self-pity and excuse their death-worshipping psychopathy, and as long as Israel continues to pull its punches, this pointless tragedy will drag on.
I had for a long time thought that it was the world that was holding Israel back with endless talk of proportionality and incessant demands for ceasefires, that Israel was not being allowed to win. Now, thanks to your brilliant article, I realize that Israel itself is complicit and has allowed itself to be held hostage to a vision of tolerance and coexistence that could ultimately lead to its own destruction.
I’ve been expressing this sentiment for years to my Israeli friends. All I’ve received in response is how as an American I don’t understand. I understand the mass delusion of a people who refuse to accept reality and cling to a belief about the nature of their enemy that their enemy rejects. I’ve repeatedly expressed to them two points: 1- That there is no distinction to be drawn between Hamas and the Gazan (as well as Judea and Samaria) Arabs; and 2-that for the IDF to be successful they have to take pages out of the U.S. General William Tecumseh Sherman’s playbook:
“This war differs from other wars, in this particular. We are not fighting armies but a hostile people, and must make old and young, rich and poor, feel the hard hand of war.”
- and -
“My aim, then, was to whip the rebels, to humble their pride, to follow them to their inmost recesses, and make them fear and dread us. Fear is the beginning of wisdom.”
- and -
“I would make this war as severe as possible, and show no symptoms of tiring till the South begs for mercy.”
- and -
“Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result will result in humiliation and disaster.”
U.S. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman.
Had the IDF adopted those principles they would be victorious rather than their usual of fighting to a draw. Shamefully, they haven’t and equally shamefully Israeli society hasn’t demanded it of their political and military leadership either. And sadly the cycle will continue…and that cycle will include more dead Jews both now and in the future being killed and their children dying in battle because their society will not allow them to finish the job.
I’ve been expressing this sentiment for years to my Israeli friends. All I’ve received in response is how as an American I don’t understand. I understand the mass delusion of a people who refuse to accept reality and cling to a belief about the nature of their enemy that their enemy rejects. I’ve repeatedly expressed to them two points: 1- That there is no distinction to be drawn between Hamas and the Gazan (as well as Judea and Samaria) Arabs; and 2-that for the IDF to be successful they have to take pages out of the U.S. General William Tecumseh Sherman’s playbook:
“This war differs from other wars, in this particular. We are not fighting armies but a hostile people, and must make old and young, rich and poor, feel the hard hand of war.”
- and -
“My aim, then, was to whip the rebels, to humble their pride, to follow them to their inmost recesses, and make them fear and dread us. Fear is the beginning of wisdom.”
- and -
“I would make this war as severe as possible, and show no symptoms of tiring till the South begs for mercy.”
- and -
“Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result will result in humiliation and disaster.”
U.S. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman.
Had the IDF adopted those principles they would be victorious rather than their usual of fighting to a draw. Shamefully, they haven’t and equally shamefully Israeli society hasn’t demanded it of their political and military leadership either. And sadly the cycle will continue…and that cycle will include more dead Jews both now and in the future being killed and their children dying in battle because their society will not allow them to finish the job.
Well said. and also very transferable to the West in general.
It seems like the bottom line is the Jewish people cannot cross the line that been crossed against them in thousands of pogroms and atrocities culminating in the Holocaust.. which means truly destroying the enemy physically and spiritually. It’s an extremely difficult thing to do but if Israel can’t will itself to destroy the Palestinians mindset Israel will ultimately be destroyed.
I believe more and more Israelis come to realise that.
It’s a brutally powerful essay (as well as your previous ones), and I certainly agree with your analysis of the Palestinian culture. However, there’s one recurring topic that seems to be a little bit out of place: the concept of western values, Israel being a western country and the idea that Gazans need to embrace western values. For instance, you say:
“What began with our retreat must end with their defeat—not just militarily, but morally. They must surrender not only their weapons but their worldview. The death cult must be broken. Their only path forward is to renounce their hate, and embrace the only true alternative: Western values—freedom, reason, individual rights.”
They will not do it and will fight to death to never do it. It is exactly what they are most afraid of - embracing “Western” values. They hate the West much more than they hate the Jews. All of the Arab world is so pissed off with Israel, because Israel claim to be a western country, and they see “Western values” as nothing else but a perversion, the path to sin etc. Even assuming that Palestinian will embrace western values, what do you think will be the reaction of other Arab nations? Are they going to he happy about it? I doubt it. They will see it as an even more serious existential threat to their collective identity: a whole country which has been the symbol of Islamic resistance to Western expansion, has lost and not just physically, but spiritually too: sold their souls to Dajal or whatever they call it.
I think there needs to be clarity of whether we see it as a Jewish-Arab conflict or a Western-Arab conflict, where Israel merely represents the West. It will take me a long time to clarify it, but shortly speaking, we are NOT part of the West, and we shouldn’t pretend to be. As long as we (Jews, whether Russian, American or Israeli) identify with the West, we cannot win this war, which you correctly identify as a civilizational war.
Thank you for your comment, Kirill. I think that there is a war between the West and Islam; it's relatively quiet now, but it will erupt at some point in the near future. Israel's war is only the prelude. I want to see Israel as part of the West; it is certainly not the closest one to the "ideal" western country, but it certainly holds the fundamental principles of a rule of law, individual rights, free market, and western culture. Of course, the issue of what is Western civilization is an important and complicated question that is worthy of it's own essay, if not it's own book, and it's far beyond the scope of this essay, but yes I do see it as the forefront of this battle.
Interestingly the west with it's anti-Israel mentality and it's slow Islamisation is slowly becoming more anti-western that I wouldn't be surprised if Israel would be more Western than lets say France, who is soon to be taken over by the Islamists as we can see.
But yes, it's a nuanced issue that needs further elbaoration, I might touch on it in a futrure article.
I agree that there’s a conflict between Islam and the West, and I agree that Israel is on the side of the West (although maybe the West itself doesn’t understand it). I’m very much in favor of strategic alliances. However, strategic alliances doesn’t mean that Jewish civilization is part of the Western Civilization. Our civilizations are really different, and I think we should be proud of that. We’ll win when we remain true to ourselves. And ironically, that clarity will make it easier to find where we do align with the West - and that’s where real strategic partnership will ensue. Basically, I don’t completely disagree with you saying “I want Israel to be part of the West”, rather, I formulate it differently “I want us to be in partnership for joint purpose”.
My reasons are philosophical. The things you mentioned: individual rights, free market and the rule of law, are indeed often associated with the West, but I would argue that they universal values, and I find it questionable whether the West ever integrated these values fully. In particular, I don’t think we need to always nod to the West when we mention them. And either way, I don’t disagree with you, because you correctly identified the fact: the West abandoned these universal values, but I’d add more: the West never properly understood these values in the first place, hence collapse was inevitable.
It's an interesting point. I'd love to see you expand on it more, maybe write a piece about what you mean by Jewish civilisation and how it differes from western and what it's relationahship to it should be?
Totally agree. I made the same point over a year ago in a substack piece I wrote called There are no innocent Palestinians. Here is the link: https://open.substack.com/pub/schecter/p/there-are-no-innocent-palestinians?r=1wpgf7&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
It appears even with the new offensive in Gaza and the justification of it in terms of the international diplomatic posturing and the need for US support, the mindset has not really changed in Israel. The polls run by different pollsters do not indicate a shift in the Israeli public either, even allowing for the biases of the pollsters and how they frame the questions.
Good for you for making that point so early into the war!
Excellent analysis. I’ve always thought that separating Hamas from the Palestinians was artificial and false. After all, who are Hamas? They didn’t arrive in spaceships from Mars, but arose from the people whom they represent and govern with the majority’s agreement and support.
Hamas=Palestinians and Palestinians=Hamas. All are equally responsible for October 7 and all should bear the consequences equally.
It has been obvious to me for decades—at least since the Second Intifada—that the so-called “cycle of violence” would continue to spin its grisly wheels until one side was defeated and knew itself to be so. As long as the world continues to indulge Palestinian self-pity and excuse their death-worshipping psychopathy, and as long as Israel continues to pull its punches, this pointless tragedy will drag on.
I had for a long time thought that it was the world that was holding Israel back with endless talk of proportionality and incessant demands for ceasefires, that Israel was not being allowed to win. Now, thanks to your brilliant article, I realize that Israel itself is complicit and has allowed itself to be held hostage to a vision of tolerance and coexistence that could ultimately lead to its own destruction.
I’ve been expressing this sentiment for years to my Israeli friends. All I’ve received in response is how as an American I don’t understand. I understand the mass delusion of a people who refuse to accept reality and cling to a belief about the nature of their enemy that their enemy rejects. I’ve repeatedly expressed to them two points: 1- That there is no distinction to be drawn between Hamas and the Gazan (as well as Judea and Samaria) Arabs; and 2-that for the IDF to be successful they have to take pages out of the U.S. General William Tecumseh Sherman’s playbook:
“This war differs from other wars, in this particular. We are not fighting armies but a hostile people, and must make old and young, rich and poor, feel the hard hand of war.”
- and -
“My aim, then, was to whip the rebels, to humble their pride, to follow them to their inmost recesses, and make them fear and dread us. Fear is the beginning of wisdom.”
- and -
“I would make this war as severe as possible, and show no symptoms of tiring till the South begs for mercy.”
- and -
“Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result will result in humiliation and disaster.”
U.S. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman.
Had the IDF adopted those principles they would be victorious rather than their usual of fighting to a draw. Shamefully, they haven’t and equally shamefully Israeli society hasn’t demanded it of their political and military leadership either. And sadly the cycle will continue…and that cycle will include more dead Jews both now and in the future being killed and their children dying in battle because their society will not allow them to finish the job.
Thank you for your comment! I command your moral clarity.
Every word you wrote it exact.
You are a vermin.
I’ve been expressing this sentiment for years to my Israeli friends. All I’ve received in response is how as an American I don’t understand. I understand the mass delusion of a people who refuse to accept reality and cling to a belief about the nature of their enemy that their enemy rejects. I’ve repeatedly expressed to them two points: 1- That there is no distinction to be drawn between Hamas and the Gazan (as well as Judea and Samaria) Arabs; and 2-that for the IDF to be successful they have to take pages out of the U.S. General William Tecumseh Sherman’s playbook:
“This war differs from other wars, in this particular. We are not fighting armies but a hostile people, and must make old and young, rich and poor, feel the hard hand of war.”
- and -
“My aim, then, was to whip the rebels, to humble their pride, to follow them to their inmost recesses, and make them fear and dread us. Fear is the beginning of wisdom.”
- and -
“I would make this war as severe as possible, and show no symptoms of tiring till the South begs for mercy.”
- and -
“Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result will result in humiliation and disaster.”
U.S. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman.
Had the IDF adopted those principles they would be victorious rather than their usual of fighting to a draw. Shamefully, they haven’t and equally shamefully Israeli society hasn’t demanded it of their political and military leadership either. And sadly the cycle will continue…and that cycle will include more dead Jews both now and in the future being killed and their children dying in battle because their society will not allow them to finish the job.
As if that was the only point I made. I suggest reading the essay before making dishonest comments.
You are disgusting. You should be ashamed of making this comment,