And yup, the British have a horrid legacy, Europeans have a horrid legacy, Americans have a horrid legacy, everyone does (even, shock horror, Israel). Our leaders give us a torrid present too. Hence, I have no faith in the decisions they take, and they do not act in my name. So don’t taint me with their legacy. Our acts in the present and future, on the ground, are what defines us.

I’m signing off here on this debate. Not because this isn’t fascinating, but because we’re talking across each other and that can;t go on forever. I hope I’ll meet you all some day, and perhaps you’ll give more credence to the surety of my feelings having spent 5 minutes with me eye to eye.

So long….

PS: I also just heard the f#ckers release the hostage Jill Carol.

I mean, what is this business with biting the hand that feeds? what will the Europeans do, exactly? Will they claim that Israel is a shitty little country? Will they organize boycotts and have foreign ministers from Scandinavian countries extoll the benefits of such boycotts? Will they create media outlets with a significant anti-Israeli bias? Will they engender politicians such as the mayor of a certain town, or an asshole who tells a Jewish politician to go count shekels? Will they provide funds that they know go, in part, to terror activities but turn a blind eye? Or perhaps they will simply vote against Israel at the UN every chance they get?

Europe does not feed Israel. The trade imbalance between Europe and Israel is in Europe’s favor, actually. Other than Germany, which has become a solid supporter of Israel over the past decades, Europe acts towards Israel in a manner that is self-serving, just like any region or country. If anti-Israel Islamic voters in a European country have an impact on a political race, the politicians may respond to their interests. If the sense that oil supply or avoiding terror attacks can be ensured by dissing Israel, then that is what European nations do. Nobody is being charitable or kind to Israel. It is all about self-serving needs. In fact, considering that Israel is a true Western democracy and has been embattled by this war for 60 years, it is an amazing truth to behold that the Europeans mostly tend to prefer siding with dictatorial regimes with values very different from theirs.

Oh, and please, until the EU actually cuts funds to the Palestinians, don’t talk to me about Hamas. So far, over the last two months since the Palestinian election, PA expenses have been covered by the EU, Switzerland appears to have accepted Hamas as a political partner and we already know that Russia has. The jury is still out on how the Europeans will treat Hamas.

It is that passion that kept Israel alive up to now. But pick your fights. You do not bite the hand that feeds. Ask Hamas.

Beautiful.

You know what made Israel happen? It was sheer tenacity, life-risking courage, hand-bleeding hard work, overcoming of obstacles created by the British, money donated by other Jews, the establishment of strong community infrastructure including a shadow government, the establishment of militias to protect vulnerable Jewish citizens, experience gained by Jewish soldiers in two world wars, a strong ideological foundation…and eventually a Holocaust that brought additional refugees. Israel was created in a war that was won by Jews against Arab nations WHO WERE NOT IN ANY WAY STOPPED OR CONTROLLED BY THOSE MUNIFICENT EUROPEANS WHO SO LOVE THE JEWISH PEOPLE, DESPITE THESE ARAB GOVERNMENTS’ STATED ILL INTENTIONS AGAINST THE JEWS, that established the state. Nobody thought the Jews would win that fight, so one has to wonder what the Europeans were thinking would happen. After all, they didn’t want the Jews to be “Gypsies.”

Israel is a Jewish state created by Jews to allow for Jewish self-determination. If the Europeans taught the Jews anything, by 1948 it was that the original Zionist vision of escaping Europe to live in a country where Jews would determine their own fate and could avoid the harsh reality of their lives and deaths in Europe, was valid. This was what made Israel happen.

England may have put the Balfour Declaration out there, but as of 1920 and subsequently, they caused far more harm than good to the Yishuv (the Jewish community in mandatory Palestine) and to their shame, continued to disrespect the mandate they were given by the international community to ensure that a Jewish homeland would be established.

And Ofri,
It’s not silly at all to mention British colonialism. We’re still less than a century removed from its conclusion and the world is still feeling the impact. Bringing it up in this context is a worthwhile reminder that A) Britain is very much at fault for many of the problems in the modern Middle East; B) when some guy prances around criticizing the present government and entity of Israel, he should remember how his country treated millions of people whom they subjugated over hundreds of years, including the Jewish community of Mandatory Palestine who were supposedly in their care; and, C) They are partially responsible for the present mess in Iraq.

Uh oh, there goes that Bad Jewish Guy again pissing all over those nice Europeans. They do so love peace and harmony, unlike those nasty Israeli Jews who are just such nasty meanies.