Newspaper headlines are relentless: Sweden recognizes the State of Palestine along 1967 lines, UK Parliament recognizes Palestinian state, Spain recognizes… Obama White House strongly opposes Jewish settlements, Jordanian parliament hails the two Arab terrorist brothers, Turkey calls Israel an apartheid state, European Union is working on recognition along the 1967 lines, EU demands Jews stop building houses in the “occupied territories” etc.
The virtues of cooperation and compromise are important, but sometimes there is a need to bring about a showdown. Now is such a time: Israel needs to learn how to bring about a showdown with its detractors.
Israeli leaders are very wary of any kind of a showdown, and they desperately seek compromise. Yet because of the kind of enemy they face, this is a losing strategy that leads to a never ending retreat. Every attempt at compromise is perceived by the Arabs as a sign of weakness which encourages them to make ever greater demands. The Europeans observe the Jewish retreat and lose respect for them. Add to this a measure of traditional European anti-Semitism, and the Jews find themselves facing Europeans that are ever more hostile towards Israel. In order to justify siding with the aggressive Arabs, Europeans invent and promote lies about Jews to clear their own conscience and cozy up to the Arabs whom they fear and respect. The end result is that Israel becomes victimized by both Europeans and the Arabs. Each tries to outdo the other in showing how far they can bully the Jewish victim. It is now abundantly clear that for Israel to continue on the current path of appeasement and compromise is a guaranteed losing proposition.
I would suggest that the only viable solution for Israel is to force a showdown with its emboldened enemies. Only a determined and aggressive showdown by Israel will restore its standing and enable it to regain respect. A showdown is the only way to break out of the vicious circle of prejudice and discrimination.
The goal of such a confrontation is all about respect, not about likeability. Since Europeans are in the forefront of the Israel bashing, Israel should force a showdown with a European nation. Israel should take advantage of the fact that Europe is a divided continent. Instead of facing down the European Union in its entirety, it would be tactically more advantageous to focus on just one country. Any protestations by the EU central authorities should be ignored. The escalation of the showdown should happen quickly to prevent the slow and bureaucratic EU from imposing EU wide BDS like boycotts. However fear of such boycotts mustn’t be overblown.
There are many countries that show deep hostility toward the Jewish state. Sweden started the latest round of attacks with recognition of Arab Palestine state in the area of Judea Samaria and E. Jerusalem. In effect Sweden usurped the right to commandeer a part of Jewish land and gave it to another people. Some other countries could even consider this an act of war. Israel responded by recalling its ambassador from Sweden thus responding in a showdown fashion. However a month later, despite the fact that Sweden didn’t recant its hostile act, Israel announced that it considers sending the ambassador back. In effect another capitulation by Israel.
Well; let us consider what a real showdown could look like. A showdown in which Israel doesn’t give in to its tormentors. A real, effective showdown in which the victim regains respect. Here is a hypothetical possible showdown with Sweden;
Israel could demand that Sweden recants its recognition of Palestine State on Jewish land. Sweden refuses and Israel brings the confrontation up a notch. Israel gives Sweden 72 hours to move its embassy to Jerusalem. Another refusal by Sweden and Israel expels the Swedish ambassador and puts limits on all Swedish corporations doing business in Israel. Another refusal and condemnation from Sweden, but now Israel is driving the process. Israel keeps on like if it were enjoying the process. Further Israeli actions could involve demand that Sweden bans the BDS organization in Sweden. Next, arrest of Swedish ISM (International Solidarity Movement) and BDS activists in Israel and file charges that carry long prison terms.