Who will we be — Israelis and Palestinians — when this lengthy, merciless warfare involves an finish? Not solely will the reminiscence of the atrocities inflicted on one another stand between us for a few years, but additionally, as is evident to us all, as quickly as Hamas will get the prospect, it would swiftly implement the objective clearly acknowledged in its authentic constitution: particularly, the spiritual responsibility to destroy Israel.
How, then, can we signal a peace treaty with such an enemy?
And but what selection do we’ve?
The Palestinians will maintain their very own reckoning. I as an Israeli ask what kind of folks we will likely be when the warfare ends. The place will we direct our guilt — if we’re brave sufficient to really feel it — for what we’ve inflicted upon harmless Palestinians? For the 1000’s of kids we’ve killed. For the households we’ve destroyed.
And the way will we be taught, in order that we’re by no means once more shocked, to dwell a full life on the knife’s edge? However what number of need to dwell their lives and lift their kids on this knife’s edge? And what worth will we pay for residing in fixed watchfulness and suspicion, in perpetual concern? Who amongst us will resolve that he doesn’t need to — or can’t — dwell the lifetime of an everlasting soldier, a Spartan?
Who will keep right here in Israel, and can those that stay be probably the most excessive, probably the most fanatically spiritual, nationalistic, racist? Are we doomed to observe, paralyzed, because the daring, inventive, distinctive Israeliness is steadily absorbed into the tragic wound of Judaism?
These questions will seemingly accompany Israel for years. There may be, nevertheless, the chance {that a} radically totally different actuality will rise as much as deal with them. Maybe the popularity that this warfare can’t be gained and, moreover, that we can’t maintain the occupation indefinitely, will pressure either side to simply accept a two-state resolution, which, regardless of its drawbacks and dangers (at the beginning, that Hamas will take over Palestine in a democratic election), continues to be the one possible one?
