We are currently living in a period of geopolitical change, especially in the Middle East. The events of the last two and a half years, October 7 and its aftermath, have shaken, shocked, and galvanized many of us into both introspection and examination of previously deeply held beliefs.

Amos Oz (1939-2018), the Israeli author and peace activist, depicted the Jewish people of 1948 as a drowning man who had found a plank, the Land of Israel, to save himself. In this scenario, the drowning man is justified in saving himself by grabbing onto the plank even if it means pushing the other person on the plank, the Palestinians, aside a little. Critics of this metaphor note that the magnitude of the Nakba was more than just pushing the other aside a little. Oz often used this metaphor to explain the tragic nature of the conflict, demanding both sides recognize the other’s existence rather than aiming for complete elimination of the other’s presence, that is pushing the other off the plank completely.

Today however, given the reality of the current situation, the polarization of extremes, and the maximal demands expressed by both sides, the conflict has become all about “Pushing the other off the plank”.

One should examine the consequences, implications, and end state that such an approach will produce. Concurrently, this is being written as we mark two years and six months since October 7, 2023 – the worst and most traumatic day in Israel’s history. It also marks a point which can be seen as the end of the war and the start of a new externally imposed peace process with the return of the last deceased hostage. The resulting two and a half years of war have seen Israel achieve unprecedented tactical military successes while still lacking, and struggling with, a strategic solution for the ongoing 100-year conflict with the Palestinians. 

Following the Gaza War, Israel and the US attacked Iran, resulting in a five-week campaign which has ended in a tenuous two-week ceasefire after extensive bombing of Iran and Iranian retaliation with missiles and drones aimed at Israel and the surrounding Gulf States. Together with the Iran War, Hezbollah attacked Israel in isupport, shooting rockets and missiles into Northern Israel sending Israelis to the shelters yet again. Israel has started yet another campaign to invade and occupy South Lebanon for an indeterminate period, repeating the exact same failed strategy of dealing with threats from Lebanon with kinetic force.

 As a result of the ongoing wars, Israelis have spent more than the last two and a half years feeling threatened, unsafe, and in and out of bomb shelters as missiles, rockets, and drones have targeted the Jewish state. One can only imagine the harm that has been inflicted on the psyches of children and adults that will reverberate for decades to come both in Israel, Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon.

The fact is that approximately 15 million people reside in the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea – the area that was the former British Mandate for Palestine. About ten million of them have Israeli citizenship, with non-Jewish Israelis enjoying more rights than non-Israeli Palestinians, while lacking full equal rights with Jewish Israelis. There are slightly more non-Jews in the area meaning that despite all efforts to the contrary, including but not limited to financial and other incentives, promotion of Jewish immigration, and legislation designed to keep non-Jews (Palestinians) out, the total area controlled by Israel is still a Jewish minority state.

Some attempts have been made to cosmetically present the appearance of a Jewish majority state by the unilateral withdrawal from Gaza, and the devolution of........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)