For the past 30 years the Israeli political establishment has been prisoner to the “Then Maybe They Will” doctrine. Every major policy decision made by the government has reflected the power of wishful thinking and faith in the make-pretend.
If Israel gives Sinai back to the Egyptians, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL stop the Nazi-like anti-Semitic propaganda in their state-run media.
If Israel agrees to limited autonomy for Palestinians, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL stop seeking Israel’s destruction and the world will not try to set up an independent Palestinian Arab terror state.
If Israel provides the Palestinian Authority with arms and funds, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL not be used for terrorist atrocities against Israel.
If Israel grants its Arab citizens affirmative action preferences, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL stop cheering terrorists and seeking the annihilation of Israel and its Jewish population.
If Israel frees thousands of jailed Palestinian terrorists, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL renounce violence and not murder any more Jews.
If Israel officially agrees to let the Palestinians have a state, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL abandon their agenda of annihilating Israel.
If Israel agrees to hold talks with representatives of the PLO, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL put a stop to Palestinian terrorism.
If Israel allows the Palestinians to hold elections, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL not elect Hamas.
If the Palestinians elect Hamas, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL not pursue a program of aggression and terrorism against Israel.
If Israel holds talks with terrorists, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL renounce their genocidal ambitions and seek peace.
If Israel allows dozens of foreign “solidarity” protesters to enter Israel for purposes of helping terrorists, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL not attack Israeli soldiers and police or collaborate with the terrorists they’re helping.
If Israel conducts a unilateral withdrawal from all of southern Lebanon and allows Hizbullah terrorists to station rockets on the border, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL not launch any of them.
If Israel sits back while the Syrians exert their hegemony over Lebanon, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL rein in Hizbullah and stop border attacks on Israel.
If Israel refrains from retaliating against Hizbullah terrorists after they murder captive Israeli soldiers in cold blood, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL not seek to kidnap any more soldiers.
If Israel agrees to one cease-fire after another with the Arabs, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL eventually comply with one.
If Israel allows Arabs in Israel to build illegally, including on public lands, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL become pro-Israel.
If Israel agrees to the stationing of UN troops in Lebanon, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL actually do something to stop terror attacks on Israel.
If Israel ignores Hizbullah border violations, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL come to an end.
If Israel lets the Muslims control the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL respond with friendship and moderation.
If Israel expels all Jews from Gaza as a gesture of friendship to the Palestinians, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL reciprocate with friendship toward the Jews.
If Israel turns the Gaza Strip over to the Palestinians, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL not use it as a base for terror attacks against Israel.
If Israel turns the other cheek after Kassam rocket attacks from Gaza, THEN MAYBE THEY WILL stop being fired.
If Israel allows the Palestinian Authority to control parts of the West Bank, THEN MAYBE THE PALESTINIANS WILL not fire rockets at Jews the way they do from Gaza.
If Israel returns the Golan Heights to Syria THEN MAYBE THE SYRIANS WILL seek peace and reject the idea of using the Heights to again attack Israel.
If Israel agrees to place its neck in the Oslo/Road Map/Saudi Plan noose, THEN MAYBE THE ARABS WILL not pull the rope.
Steven Plaut, a frequent contributor to The Jewish Press and The Jewish Press Blog (www.thejewishpress.blogspot.com), is a professor at Haifa University. His book “The Scout” is available at Amazon.com. He can be contacted at [email protected].
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