Too many Israelis, to say nothing of Jews around the world, are uncomfortable quoting the exalted words of our Declaration of Independence – “Eretz Yisrael was the birthplace of the Jewish people. Here their spiritual, religious and political identity was shaped. Here they first attained to statehood, created cultural values of national and universal significance and gave to the world the eternal Book of Books.” Too many Jews wilt when confronted with a fictional Arab narrative that accuses Jews of “stealing” a land to which Jews have no true connection. Because there were Arabs living in the Land of Israel during the 19th century, they believe the Zionist project was born in sin.
Ultimately, then, Haber is right: There is no such thing as a “z’bang and done” approach to war and peace. Israel must demand unconditional surrender from – all Palestinian groups, Fatah and Hamas alike- before agreeing to stopping Operation Protective Edge. But that must only be a first stage. Israelis want victory, but even more Israel must define what “victory” looks like. We must remove, once-and-for-all, Hamas’ ability to attack our civilians, but what then? The victory must be accompanied by a long-term plan to prevent future flare ups of the sort we are experiencing once again.
But that requires solid belief in the justice of our existence here. We must remember and internalise the message of the late Menachem Begin: “Our lives in Israel are not dependent on the principle of ‘might makes right.’ Our lives here because of the moral power of the justice of our cause.”