At the height of the epic Battle of Britain in 1940, when British airmen were killed at an appalling rate (“never was so much owed by so many to so few”), an official in charge of propaganda had a bright idea to raise morale. On the walls at the Royal Air Force bases a poster … Continue reading “Who’s Afraid of
an Iranian Bomb?”
Uri Avnery
Uri Avnery is a longtime Israeli peace activist. Since 1948 he has advocated the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. In 1974, Uri Avnery was the first Israeli to establish contact with the PLO leadership. In 1982 he was the first Israeli ever to meet Yasser Arafat, after crossing the lines in besieged Beirut. He served three terms in the Israeli Knesset and is the founder of Gush Shalom (Peace Bloc). Visit his Web site.
Who’s Afraid of
Lunch in Damascus
Once while traveling in a taxi, I had an argument with the driver – a profession associated in Israel with extreme right-wing views. I tried in vain to convince him of the desirability of peace with the Arabs. In our country, which has never seen a single day of peace in the last hundred years, … Continue reading “Lunch in Damascus”
When Napoleon Won at Waterloo
Napoleon won the battle of Waterloo. The German Wehrmacht won World War II. The United States won in Vietnam, and the Soviets in Afghanistan. The Zealots won against the Romans, and Ehud Olmert won the Second Lebanon War. You didn’t know that? Well, during the last few days the Israeli media has paraded a long … Continue reading “When Napoleon Won at Waterloo”
From Mania to Depression
Thirty-three days of war. The longest of our wars since 1949. On the Israeli side: 154 dead – 117 of them soldiers. 3,970 rockets launched against us, 37 civilians dead, more than 422 civilians wounded. On the Lebanese side: about a thousand dead civilians, thousands wounded. An unknown number of Hezbollah fighters dead and wounded. … Continue reading “From Mania to Depression”
What Has Happened to the Israeli Army?
So what has happened to the Israeli army? This question is now being raised not only around the world, but also in Israel itself. Clearly, there is a huge gap between the army’s boastful arrogance, on which generations of Israelis have grown up, and the picture presented by this war. Before the choir of generals … Continue reading “What Has Happened to the Israeli Army?”
The Buck Stops Where?
Today the war entered its fifth week. Hard to believe: our mighty army has now been fighting for 29 days against a "gang" and "terrorist organization," as the military commanders like to describe them, and the battle has still not been decided. Yesterday, military sources in Israel announced that 400 of the 1,200 Hezbollah"terrorists" have … Continue reading “The Buck Stops Where?”
The Day After the War
The day after the war will be the Day of the Long Knives. Everybody will blame everybody else. The politicians will blame each other. The generals will blame each other. The politicians will blame the generals. And, most of all, the generals will blame the politicians. Always, in every country and after every war, when … Continue reading “The Day After the War”
A Nice Little War Gets Out of Hand
It is the old story about the losing gambler: he cannot stop. He continues to play, in order to win his losses back. He continues to lose and continues to gamble, until he has lost everything: his ranch, his wife, his shirt. The same thing happens in the biggest gamble of all: war. The leaders … Continue reading “A Nice Little War Gets Out of Hand”
Stop That Shit, Indeed
A woman, an immigrant from Russia, throws herself on the ground in total despair in front of her home that has been hit by a missile, crying in broken Hebrew: “My son! My son!” believing him dead. In fact he was only wounded and sent to the hospital. Lebanese children, covered with wounds, in Beirut … Continue reading “Stop That Shit, Indeed”
Missed Opportunities
(Partial List)
“The Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity!” – this phrase, coined by Abba Eban, has become a byword. It also illustrates a wise Talmudic saying: “He who finds fault in others (really) finds his own faults.” No doubt, from the beginning of the conflict, the Palestinians have missed opportunities. But these are … Continue reading “Missed Opportunities
(Partial List)”
(Partial List)”