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I agree with that. Israel developed the "we're alone in the world" mentality when it was deeply embargoed. Remember that the USA didn't send weapons to Israel u

I agree with that. Israel developed the "we're alone in the world" mentality when it was deeply embargoed. Remember that the USA didn't send weapons to Israel up to the 70s. During those years Israel developed a self reliance and distrust. It had to do business with countries that were willing to do it and did a lot of bad things including being one of the few countries that helped South Africa during the Apartheid years. E.g. at the moment Israel is still on a "neutral side" in the Russia/Ukraine conflict which is insane. I hope this is a temporary thing. I hope that Israel can leave this dark period and be more worthy.

johnnyworker 3y ago
> I hope that Israel can leave this dark period and be more worthy. It has to! Israel cannot give in to the very aspirations of antisemites, but it also must not become like its persecutors. As a German, I cannot even begin to say what I feel, but it's a lot. It's a tangent, but I have to think of the Israeli movie "Walk on Water" (which I love, as kitschy as it may be), and which kinda sums up what I'm struggling to express. I sincerely wish Israel to be safe and sound and something to be proud of (or jealous of), and that includes the "heart", not just the territory. Antisemites aren't scared of Israeli atrocities, they're smug about them, they love to be able to point to them. And I wish there was nothing to point to. That wouldn't make antisemitism go away, but it would put Israel on better footing, I genuinely believe that. There is a Chinese proverb, "he who rides a tiger is afraid to dismount". I think this applies to the jingoists of both sides (and certainly Netanyahu), they have nowhere to go to except to climb even higher. But as you said, most "normal people" dragged into any conflict are really just normal people and don't wish harm on anyone. People need to find a way to talk to each other without their "leaders". Keep your head up, and thanks for speaking out.
dragonwriter 3y ago
> I hope that Israel can leave this dark period It can't as long as support for (and opposition to) the forces that are dependent on keeping Israel in that dark period is conflated with support for (and opposition to) Israel. That's not the only barrier, but it is a sufficient one.
- invalidname 3y ago
  I think the word "support" is a tricky one. We've got a leadership vacuum. I hope that the downfall of Netanyahu will make an opening for someone decent to rise.

johnnyworker 3y ago

> I hope that Israel can leave this dark period and be more worthy. It has to! Israel cannot give in to the very aspirations of antisemites, but it also must not become like its persecutors. As a German, I cannot even begin to say what I feel, but it's a lot. It's a tangent, but I have to think of the Israeli movie "Walk on Water" (which I love, as kitschy as it may be), and which kinda sums up what I'm struggling to express. I sincerely wish Israel to be safe and sound and something to be proud of (or jealous of), and that includes the "heart", not just the territory. Antisemites aren't scared of Israeli atrocities, they're smug about them, they love to be able to point to them. And I wish there was nothing to point to. That wouldn't make antisemitism go away, but it would put Israel on better footing, I genuinely believe that. There is a Chinese proverb, "he who rides a tiger is afraid to dismount". I think this applies to the jingoists of both sides (and certainly Netanyahu), they have nowhere to go to except to climb even higher. But as you said, most "normal people" dragged into any conflict are really just normal people and don't wish harm on anyone. People need to find a way to talk to each other without their "leaders". Keep your head up, and thanks for speaking out.

dragonwriter 3y ago

> I hope that Israel can leave this dark period It can't as long as support for (and opposition to) the forces that are dependent on keeping Israel in that dark period is conflated with support for (and opposition to) Israel. That's not the only barrier, but it is a sufficient one.

invalidname 3y ago
I think the word "support" is a tricky one. We've got a leadership vacuum. I hope that the downfall of Netanyahu will make an opening for someone decent to rise.