Israeli Policies Could Tear Jews Apart

Many Jews will tell you that Israel’s violence against the Palestinians is unfortunately necessary to safeguard the existence of the Jewish state. But the real threat to the Jewish people, in Israel and around the world, may come not from Palestinian bombs, but from Israel’s own policies. A backlash is brewing that could tear Jewish society apart.
For months now, left-wing Israeli commentators have been warning that their nation faces its own Vietnam syndrome. Many Israeli Jews will soon reach their limit, both as victims and as perpetrators of violence. These commentators point back to Israel’s war against Lebanon in 1982, which gave birth to the first Israeli peace movement. Eventually, public disenchantment forced Israel’s government to withdraw all its troops from Lebanon.

There are signs that the same disenchantment may be setting in against the Sharon government’s hard-line policies in the West Bank and Gaza. After more than a year of tiny peace demonstrations, huge crowds have now gathered in Tel Aviv to say “no to occupation” and “yes to peace.” Several hundred officers and soldiers have publicly pledged not to serve in the army of occupation.