This is part of Marc H. Ellis’s “Exile and the Prophetic” feature for Mondoweiss. To read the entire series visit the archive page.
Well the obvious is reported in today’s New York Times a– Israel has taken up a “castle” strategy. Why? Because the Middle East is “boiling.”
The Times also reports another obvious strategic consideration of the castle mentality: Israel prefers strong leaders in the Middle East, especially if they’re dictators, to the unknown possibilities of crumbling states.
The Times quotes Yaakov Amidror, who recently stepped down as Israel’s national security adviser:
What we have to understand is everything is going to be changed — to what, I don’t know. But we will have to be very, very cautious not to take part in this struggle. What we see now is a collapsing of a historical system, the idea of the national Arabic state. It means that we will be encircled by an area which will be no man’s land at the end of the day.
So goes Israel’s longstanding “bad neighborhood” argument. It’s always a desert jungle out there.
On the Palestinian issue–well, you know what to expect. In such a boiling, chaotic region, why pursue peace with Palestinians? The chaos is dangerous and ultimately in Israel’s favor. Why let Israel’s security guard down when the moats are dug, the Wall is high and the lead in military technology is secure.
What the Times doesn’t emphasize is what this means for Palestinians. Another decade of wait and see.
Like September 11th, the failed Arab Spring has fallen into Israel’s lap. Gift wrapped.
Not to leave out reports that Egypt’s mission seems to have moved from boxing Gaza’s Hamas government in to finishing it off. In this project expect a huge assist from Israel and, as important, a bright green light from the United States.
The about-to-be-convened Syrian peace talks in Geneva? The best one can hope for is stalemate. This means the tremendous suffering of the Syrian people will continue. Notwithstanding the outcry of the United Nations, no one seems to care about that suffering, at least enough to do something about it.
The image of Israel as a castle may work better than Israel’s other image – as a modern, nuclearized ghetto. Both castle and ghetto imagery, though, have negative resonance in Jewish history.
Even when empowered, castles and ghettos are on edge. They’re destined to pass into history as failed strategies. Nor do they conjure up prospects of a future of mutuality and flourishing.
But this may be the only way for Israel to see itself – as fortified, closed in and surrounded by a no man’s land. Despite the predictions by those who oppose Israel’s policies toward Palestinians, so far Israel’s strategy has worked.
So much for the debate as to whether Israel can be a Jewish and democratic state at the same time. Israel’s castle can’t afford such a luxury.
Israel has become Home of the Floundering Few.
“What we have to understand is everything is going to be changed — to what, I don’t know. But we will have to be very, very cautious not to take part in this struggle. What we see now is a collapsing of a historical system, the idea of the national Arabic state. It means that we will be encircled by an area which will be no man’s land at the end of the day.”
“… no man’s land”?
LOL that’s gotta be the most ridiculous mideast security assessment I’ve ever heard in my life.
The so-called Arab Spring will probably take another decade to even out – much, much will be changing in the meantime that will NOT help israel’s precious “security” problems in the least.
Castle? Try dungeon. Try sewer. Try dungeon sewers. The very place where isrealis will be rushing to hide when the islamic spring (not Arab spring) sh*t will be hitting the zionist fans in Jerusalem and in tel aviv.
My mind drifts to the little (I hope little) Hasidic community in New York State, Kiryas Joel, where the Jews have somehow taken over the local government, including schools — which they do not send their own kids to and whose funds they cut to reduce taxes — and where many of them live on welfare. (Or so I read somewhere. Perhaps much of this scandale is not true. No personal knowledge and no recent reading.) So, OK, call it a fantasm of mine.
But isn’t Israel like that? Butting in unwanted, claiming “Jewish” rights, depending on support from outside, doing what it wants, hurting its immediate neighbors.
RE: “Even when empowered, castles and ghettos are on edge. They’re destined to pass into history as failed strategies.” ~ Marc Ellis
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MARC ELLIS- Yaakov Amidror says: “What we see now is a collapsing of a historical system, the idea of the national Arabic state.”
A reasonably accurate assessment, however, “collapsing” would be more accurate as “being smashed to bits by outside forces.” Iraq, Libya, and Syria have all been effectively destroyed as nation states. Empire brooks no dissent and Israel has contemplated this strategy for a long time. Look for Lebanon to also come under Jihadi attack.
Marc Ellis: “What the Times doesn’t emphasize is what this means for Palestinians. Another decade of wait and see.”
I rather doubt that the Palestinians will be able to hold out that long. Their situation is sufficiently precarious that I think an imposed settlement is in the offing.
Marc Ellis: “Like September 11th, the failed Arab Spring has fallen into Israel’s lap.”
I agree. So, how did a theologian get to be such a top notch strategic analyst? I continue to be impressed.