A Watershed Israeli Election

(The Hill) Jon B. Alterman - Netanyahu's approach is partially based on the idea that trading land for peace is a chimera, tempting Israelis to surrender something tangible in exchange for an ephemeral feeling of satisfaction. According to a recent poll by the Israel Democracy Institute, 65% of Israeli Jews 18-24 favored Netanyahu, and only 17% favored Benny Gantz, who led the opposition bloc. In fact, Netanyahu led strongly among all younger Jews, tied with Gantz in the 45-54 demographic, and then trailed with older Israelis. The Israel to which many Americans have grown accustomed is definitively aging. It is being replaced by a young and dynamic Israel premised on the idea that many problems are insoluble, that Israel must reconcile itself to periodic wars and military strikes, and that Israel will always be surrounded by enemies. Israel should neither be riddled by guilt nor be consumed with second thoughts. Israel needs no validation, and its robust economic, technological and military strength will sustain the nation well into the future. Surely part of that equation is a confidence that Israel will not face pressure from the Trump administration. Israel's calculus embraces the here and now rather than a gauzy aspirational future. The writer is a senior vice president and director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.


2019-04-12 00:00:00

Full Article

BACK

Visit the Daily Alert Archive