Israel's Existence Is in Danger: What to Do?

Israel is in danger of being wiped off the map. If not now, then eventually. It cannot continue fighting the Palestinians indefinitely. The Palestinians can lose many wars. Israel can lose only one, and it will be its last.

The Israelis have no “inventory” of manpower to fight ongoing wars. It has a limited population. Not so with the Palestinians. Every fifth person on this planet is a Muslim, and Europe, just across the Mediterranean Sea, is becoming increasingly Muslim. When Bosnia was at war, Chechnya sent Muslim volunteers to fight with them. So did Afghanistan. This will happen with the Palestinians too.

This danger to Israel's survival remains valid even if Iran loses its capability to develop nuclear weapons and adopts a Western orientation, removing the Ayatollahs from power. The seven million Palestinians, who have no place to go and must fight to secure a future in their own country, still pose a threat to Israel.

What to Do?

There are six alternative solutions. No more.

First Alternative: For the Jews to vacate the land and return to the diaspora. This is what Hamas wants. It will not happen. Seven million Jews will not pack their belongings and leave.

Second Alternative: For the seven million Palestinians to emigrate to Europe or Africa, thereby solving the problem. This is what messianic Jews and the current right-wing political leadership in Israel wish form. However, this will not happen either. None of these countries would allow it. The common denominator of these illusory alternatives, on both sides, is clinging to dogmas and religious convictions while ignoring reality.

Third Alternative: One country for both nations. Israel would fight against this solution because it would equate to the destruction of a Jewish state, which has been the two-thousand-year-old dream of the Jewish people to return to their homeland. Moreover, Israeli policy and strategy are driven by fear, not faith. The Jewish nation is traumatized by two thousand years of persecution: pogroms, the Inquisition, the Holocaust, and now the October 7 massacre. This fear prevents them from cohabiting with the Palestinians. The Palestinians themselves live in fear because they have been pushed out of their land and homes—a displacement that continues due to messianic settlers. Furthermore, it is part of their culture not to trust, as intra-tribal violent conflicts persist.

Fourth Alternative:  Do nothing and maintain the status quo, which is the approach of the current government. However, this alternative does not work, as argued at the beginning of this blog. Nothing alive remains stagnant. When alive, there is change, and the rule is: it either gets better or worse. To get better, action is required; otherwise, by default, it worsens. This is exactly what is happening, and it is detrimental to both sides. Both parties are sacrificing their children in these wars.

Fifth Alternative: Two states. Neither party wants it. The Israelis fear it will turn out like Gaza where Hamas came to power. The Palestinians wish not either because by default it means they give away their right of return.

Sixth and Final Alternative: Leave the problem to God. Some religious Jews take this approach, believing God will save them as He did from Pharaoh, the Inquisition, pogroms, and the Holocaust. However, this resignation to a higher power is not a solution to be relied on—it is the same mindset that led many to walk silently to the gas chambers.

Conclusion:

The end result is that there is no good solution for the Jewish people of Israel, which explains the despair felt by many.

What to Do?

The only way out I see is to change the mindset of the Israeli population from fear to faith.

With faith, Israel can establish a second state for the Palestinians without simply abandoning it. A huge loan should be given to the Palestinians, placed in a trust, while Israel invests the same amount to become partners in building the Palestinian state. Gaza could be transformed into a first-class tourist destination with its pristine Mediterranean beaches, and the West Bank into a prime destination for religious tourism. The Palestinian state could flourish in partnership with Israel, fostering common interests that could breed mutual trust.

Furthermore, both sides should establish a shared Ministry of Education. Palestinians could teach Jewish philosophy, the history of the Jewish people, and the Hebrew language, while Israelis could learn Islamic philosophy, the history of Arab nations, and the Arabic language. This could nurture mutual respect.

There will be no peace in the Middle East without mutual trust and respect. Both parties must change their mindset from fear to hope and faith. All other choices point to potential disaster for both—sooner or later.

‍