> This way, Israel can plausibly claim to take every position on this issue, all at once, and thereby appease a coalition of about a zillion different views. I

> This way, Israel can plausibly claim to take every position on this issue, all at once, and thereby appease a coalition of about a zillion different views. I'd like to point out that this hasn't started with Israel per se; the roots are in Jewish tradition, Judaism, and Jewish philosophy. There's rarely a "this is right and that is wrong" situation. The whole Talmud is basically "here's the problem; here's one view; here's an opposing view; now learn both by heart" stuff. Allowing for opposing views to co-exist is rooted deeply in the society, and maybe something worth if not adopting, then at least admiring.