On my afternoon klong walk, I was thinking about the idea of Israel, the promise of Israel, gained in its birth pains by militant terrorists such as Haganah. Let's say, by some magic, all Palestinians suddenly disappeared from the Occupied Territories. That would include Hamas, of course. By the same magic, Hezbollah disappeared both from Lebanon and Iran. Would Israelis feel any safer? Or would they find new "enemies" among their neighbours. Would they be cooperative participants with all other countries in the Middle East. A lot of people need enemies to validate themselves. That goes for countries, too. Israel was founded in violence. In 75 years, it seems there was no year of complete peace. Israelis were still on edge fulltime and so were their neighbours. And now the fear of antisemitism, "death to Israel" has brainwashed Israelis so they know no different way of thinking. They believe in this violence so much that it's merely an inconvenience to run to the bomb shelters! When one has resorted to violence as one's only strategy, I think it would be very hard, perhaps even almost impossible, for Israel to learn to be at peace. Pre-emptive violence is particularly heinous both to perpetrator and victim. The fear that your neighbour might attack you so you'd better burn down his house before he gets the chance. ### I've also been thinking about what historical event or chain of events began Judenhaß. I don't think it was the death of Christ. Jesus had few followers in his own time. Christianity grew out of proselytisation and forced conversion. Was it the fact that Jews did not seek to proselytise and convert, let's say in competition with Christianity, why they were in perpetual despise. Jews were among the most cultured and successful group in Western Europe. Were they despised for their appreciation of civilisation. Everywhere, not just the Middle East. Pogroms in Russia and Eastern Europe, no civil or human rights aso. Hitler was merely the most extreme Judenhaß. Perhaps there is no answer. But, as one poster wrote, it has nothing to do with the behaviour of Jews. That's nonsense. As far as I can see, they kept to themselves, were law-abiding and didn't bother anybody.
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