By Ted Belman
Over the last few weeks, I have been dismayed over remarks made by opposition leaders, especially former Likudniks, demanding our capitulation. David Efune in Algemeiner has neatly sumarized them:
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As the political climate heats up in Israel, the oft chimed argument of choice for the withered and depleted ‘concessions camp,’ charges that various actions taken by Prime Minister Netanyahu and the current sitting government are leading to ‘international isolation’ of the Jewish state.
Last month, Tzipi Livni, leader of the newly formed ‘Hatnuah’ party opposed the announcement of new West Bank settlement building on the grounds that the move “isolates Israel [and] encourages international pressure,” according to the Guardian.
The front page of the Israel edition of the Yediot Ahronot newspaper on Tuesday carried a damning condemnation of the Prime Minister from someone whose own association with the attribute of courage, was best indicated by his decision not to disclose his name.
“If Netanyahu refuses to return to the negotiation table after the January elections, Israel will ‘lose the world,’” wrote the paper, citing the source which it described as a ‘top official.’
Also on Tuesday, former Israeli Military Intelligence chief Amos Yadlin “called for a proposal for the establishment of a Palestinian state ‘otherwise we will lose international support,’” according to Ynet.
Earlier this month, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who has been particularly vocal since recently being cleared of corruption charges, and was only found guilty of breach of trust, told Israel’s Channel 2 that “[Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is isolating the State of Israel from (the) entire world in an unprecedented way, and we are going to pay a difficult price for this in every aspect of our lives.”
There are others that have also leveled this accusation against Netanyahu.
He goes on to say “Israel’s international relationships and standing are vital to its ongoing security.” Yes and no.
You can never satisfy an extortionist:
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The big problem however, which is also the reason why no country conducts its internal affairs on the basis of world opinion, is that it carries no guarantees to represent the interests of the country’s populace, and opens the door to allowing all manner of undesirables leverage over citizens without their consent. Also, there are no limitations to how far it might go.
Today world leaders may be calling for a halt to construction in Jerusalem, tomorrow they might insist that Israel cede control of parts of Jerusalem, and soon after they could call on Israel to accede to the PA demand for an Arab ‘right of return,’ effectively bringing an end to Israel as a Jewish state.
His solution:
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For Israel, the antidote to international isolation is not to apologize on demand or cave to global arrogation, but for the country to focus on building attributes of indispensability.
The IL left appears to behave like the Pal. They want the world to dictate to the right that the left is right and the right is wrong!
The majority of Jews must decide for IL. Not the Pal, not the world and not the left.
Are the left’s concessionary politics gaining them seats or losing them?
Exactly. Only the Jews conduct their internal affairs on the basis of world opinion. Why does Israel maintain the ghetto Jew mentality? Israel was created for the express purpose of the Jewish people not having to be at the mercy of others.
You can’t lose what you didn’t already have. Schmucks.
No country can survive based on a popularity contest.
Every country has specific national interests based on its history, culture and national experience. This is true of Israel.
Israeli policies must strengthen the state and guarantee its survival. Whether or not the world approves is irrelevant.
As Israel’s first Prime Minister David Ben Gurion famously said, “what matters is not what the world says but what the Jews do.” Jewish national sovereignty is the one thing no one can take away from the Jewish people. They are the masters of their own fate.
This is what Israel should do as a country in the years ahead.