We just have to persevere

We just have to persevere.  What is the alternative?

For Jews, I do not think that weakening the country of Israel makes sense.  Why even bring up the topic?  Because for Israel, as for most other countries in the world, there are always people and forces calling for a country to do this or that which probably weakens that country.  NATO pushes East and wants the Russians to accept it without a comment.  Iran wants to expand its influence in the world and its government screams at anyone who pushes back.  China extends its territorial claims and plays games with Japan and Korea and Taiwan and so on and does not want anyone to push back.  Ethnic groups in country after country want to remake their countries and country after country wants a little bit of land from this other country and that other country and so on.  So it is for Jews and Israel.  Jews want to do things to strengthen their country or to repel the aggressions of other countries.  Jews just have to take their best shot at doing what's good for Israel and working through things with the rest of the world and everything will just go from there.  Getting it right sometimes, screwing it up sometimes.  Bearing the burden of distortions and reaping the benefits of accuracies. 

I do not think it ever gets easier.

The Scots have had to put up with England for about 700 years and now things are loosening up.  But they are still going to have to put up with England and the rest of their neighbors.

It's a pain to be alive a lot of the time, but the alternative ain't exactly better.

The Inevitable Solution to the Arab War Against Israel

That inevitable solution is the single nation of Israel that we have now, with its present borders. For what is a solution to the Arab war against Israel? A strong, vibrant nation. A nation with defensible borders, a strong economy, and a relatively harmonious social structure. The relatively harmonious social structure allows for growth from within rather than pathological destruction. A strong economy gives the citizens a productive and satisfying life along with the resources to repel the violence of the Arab neighbors and their supporters, and the defensible borders bring that defense potential into reality.

There are other benefits to a strong, sovereign Israel: a better life for the Arabs who live in the nations who have to put up with the corruption of their leaders and the grandiose plans of one Arab nation or another. Currently, a weak Israel equals a strong Iran and the Arabs do not want that, as the WikiLeaks leaks demonstrate clearly. Arabs know that a strong Israel leads to a stable region. It is only the corrupt, greedy Arab leaders who want to play political games with their crushed citizens who yell and scream and seek some grandiose name. An economically strong Israel will pull along the Arabs, as well, as any Arab partner of an Israeli knows. While the Arab leaders want to crush economic vibrancy with narcisistic policies, a nation that offers investment and technological leadership such as Israel can lead the citizens of the Middle East out of poverty and subservience.

The alternative is a weak Israel and a chaotic Middle East run by those narcisistic leaders mentioned above. The current rocket attacks on Israel from the Arabs is nothing compared to what is coming with a two-state war, a land for paper deal, a vibrancy for nothing deal. The two-state supporters are conservative, reactionaries who live in a past that no longer exists.

1948 was the time for an Arab country to be formed from the British colonies. 1967 was the time for the Arabs to work with their people in order to begin building a harmonious, productive region. 1973 was the time for the Arabs to choose a new path, a path of peace and productivity. Instead, they made war, made war, made war.

Everyone knows that Iran seeks regional domination. Anyone they support helps them to terrorize their Arab neighbors as well as the rest of the world. Who stands in Irans way of terrorizing and weakening the Middle East and the world: Israel. Therefore, Iran supports the institutions of Hamas and Hezbollah in their daily attacks on Israel. Hamas and Hezbollah are pawns and partners to the grandiose oppression that is Iran's desire. A two-state war supports Iran. A land for paper supports Iran.

A strong Israel equals a prosperous Middle East and a weakening of the Arab dictatorships.

Rocket Attacks (Just) On Sderot, Israel 2002-2008

Living in southern Israel is living in a war zone. Note the numbers of attacks on the town of Sderot.

There have been about 226 attacks since the end of the fighting over the Winter of 2008-2009. The battle/campaign into Gaza did reduce the attacks.

It is clear, and it has been clear for over 60 years, maybe for 2000 years, the for the Jews to live in Israel we will have to fight. But, this is true for all countries. The United States was conquered by the Europeans against the Indians and the Spanish and the French, and the US is still fighting. The Europeans have had constant war among one another and against the whole world. The Africans constantly war against one another. The Tibetans are fighting the Chinese, who are also fighting the Taiwan Chinese. The Russians wage war consistently. And, so on.

Countries constantly fight and the battles for our place in our Land are similar.

There Are Two Understandings Regarding Israel

There are two understandings to be addressed regarding the Land of Israel. One understanding is for Jews and the other is for non-Jews.

History demonstrates that Jews have no home in this world other than the Land of Israel, called Palestine after the Romans conquered the Jews, called Judea, Shomron, and by the names of the twelve tribes after Israel conquered the Land under Yehoshua (Joshua) according to the Torah, the Five Books of Moses. Since the Jews were exiled from the land by the Romans, we have been invited into and forced out of numerous countries. Unlike other peoples, we have maintained our identity for thousands of years, and we have therefore experienced as a nation the wandering of the world. It is clear, both from the Torah and from the events of history, that Jews belong nowhere but in the Land of Israel.

There has never been a time since our exile that some Jews have not lived in the Land. Our people have returned to the Land throughout our exile in larger and smaller numbers. No other place has been considered the place to return to. The 1700s saw the beginning of organized return to the Land and the 1800s saw a more massive return that grew stronger and stronger like the powerful springs that feed rivers.

Our prayers and holy books mention the Land of Israel and our return hundreds and hundreds of times. The Land of Israel occupies a central place in our understanding of our place in the Universe.

No explanation needs to be given for our settlement of the Land. No apologies. No excuses. Russians do not explain to anyone why they live in their country. Kenyans do not apologize for living in Kenya. Europeans do not apologize for living in Europe (though they should apologize for destroying much of the world with their brutalities and for now trying to play world diplomat and policeman.)

The Land of Israel is the Land of the Jews, Israel is the Jewish country. It is our land and our country. Welcome.