Why we are optimistic about Zionism
Date
4/28/2016 11:12:22 PM
(MENAFN- Asia Times) IDF soldiers
But fears regarding Israel’s survival would be overwrought. The Israel Defense Forcesthe strongest military in the Middle East will remain battle-ready as they always have been. They will continue to set the standard morally and militarily for armies of liberal democracies to operate against sub-state enemies.
Ultimately Israel will not only survive but thrive. Since its inception the Jewish state has endured several major wars waves of suicide attacks and other traumatic events. Still Israel's birth rate is steadily climbing its economy is punching far above its weight and its diplomatic ties with Sunni Arab states are growing stronger.
In the face of protracted violence and hostility Israel’s response has historically been more prosperity and more freedom. It is a global leader in medicine technology and innovationwith the most start-ups outside Silicon Valley and among the freest and happiest countries in the world.
Zionists were not paralyzed by the extraordinary persecution of the Jewish people that marked the twentieth century. Instead they courageously enlisted in the fight of a lifetime exactly when the challenges seemed insurmountable and then proceeded to build a flourishing democratic state.
Increasingly opponents of Zionism many of whom face no similar threat to survival portray as abhorrent Israel's unique blend of national identity religion and loyalty to a land. But expect that to change before long. Americans will react strongly to what are likely to be more Islamist attacks in Europe and on American soil and the increasingly rabid anti-Western hate emanating from the Arab world. They will see an Israel that is more and more recognizable.
Western Wall in Jerusalem
Today people who have bought into multiculturalism have opted for a terrible long-term investment; it is not a social phenomenon that can be shrugged off. Indeed the policies that European governments have adopted to stave off excessive immigration are already proving ineffectual if not counterproductive. Expect to see an accelerated decline in social capital as autonomous Muslim societies within Europe form and grow throughout the continent.
The Jewish and democratic ideals inherent in Zionism will almost certainly outperform probably by a substantial degree the dogmatically secular and falsely universal values espoused by multiculturalism. Many European politicians are trying to hastily leverage power before the negative impact of their misguided policies is fully felt. But for ignoring the foreseeable dangerthat is debasing the value of their heritage rather than accepting cultural differences in a pluralistic fashionthey deserve in the words of Enoch Powell 'the curses of those who come after.'
There is no Mitzvah or religious commandment to bet on the Jewish endeavor. Much larger and more powerful civilizations have come and gone. Nevertheless we can confidently side with Winston Churchill who said: “Some people like the Jews and some do not. But no thoughtful man can deny the fact that they are beyond any question the most formidable and most remarkable race which has appeared in the world.'
In the twenty-first century expect Israel to have a continuing positive and disproportionate impact in human affairs. As for multiculturalism anticipate the further exposure of its dangerously naive assumptions.
Col. Kemp was commander of British Forces in Afghanistan in 2003 and headed the international terrorism team at the Joint Intelligence Committee of the British Cabinet Office from 2002 to 2006. Mr. Raskas is a combat veteran of the Israel Defense Forces. Dr.Rhode served for 28 years as an analyst covering Middle Eastern affairs at the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
The opinions expressed in this column are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect the view of Asia Times.