israeloutlook.com

I was just reading Marallyn’s latest entry in her blog, Shalom from Jerusalem.

Everything that she writes is a slice-of-life-and-you-are-there view of Israel, and they are great posts. But, the latest one reminded me of the difference between Israel and the rest of the Middle East.

In Israel, they air their dirty laundry. They fight and argue and complain – incessantly. They splash the dirty deeds of their politicians across the front page. They argue against the war – as well as FOR the war – while the war is being faught. Nothing is sacred.

I was just reading Marallyn’s latest entry in her blog, Shalom from Jerusalem.

Everything that she writes is a slice-of-life-and-you-are-there view of Israel, and they are great posts. But, the latest one reminded me of the difference between Israel and the rest of the Middle East.

In Israel, they air their dirty laundry. They fight and argue and complain – incessantly. They splash the dirty deeds of their politicians across the front page. They argue against the war – as well as FOR the war – while the war is being faught. Nothing is sacred.

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The Arab world is on the verge of yet ANOTHER major defeat. Yet again, the Arab world is at war – and losing it. And in fact, they’ve probably already lost it.

What war am I talking about?

The hearts and minds of their people.

The Arab world is engaged in an ideological war. The weapons are words, ideas and ideals – and the cement mixer. The battlefield is the classroom, the news vendor and the mosque – and the construction site.

The Arab world is on the verge of yet ANOTHER major defeat. Yet again, the Arab world is at war – and losing it. And in fact, they’ve probably already lost it.

What war am I talking about?

The hearts and minds of their people.

The Arab world is engaged in an ideological war. The weapons are words, ideas and ideals – and the cement mixer. The battlefield is the classroom, the news vendor and the mosque – and the construction site.

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I find Bashar Assad’s crowing and chest beating amusing. It’s a lot like the posturing of his father after his disastrous attack on Israel in 1973.

I guess that we should consider it as yet another one of those incomprehensible (but quaint) family traditions.

Anyway… Bashar Assad, the leader of Syria, claims that there is now a new Middle East – that brave Nasrallah of the amazing Hezbollah has won a great victory.

Oh, how fabulous.

Hezbollah has lost between ten and a hundred fighters for every one soldier lost by Israel. Hezbollah command and control has been decimated. Fortifications along the border of Israel have been destroyed.

I find Bashar Assad’s crowing and chest beating amusing. It’s a lot like the posturing of his father after his disastrous attack on Israel in 1973.

I guess that we should consider it as yet another one of those incomprehensible (but quaint) family traditions.

Anyway… Bashar Assad, the leader of Syria, claims that there is now a new Middle East – that brave Nasrallah of the amazing Hezbollah has won a great victory.

Oh, how fabulous.

Hezbollah has lost between ten and a hundred fighters for every one soldier lost by Israel. Hezbollah command and control has been decimated. Fortifications along the border of Israel have been destroyed.

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I am not a fan of Olmert, the Prime Minister of Israel. I don’t know if he’s good or bad or something inbetween. I leave that to those who know him better than I do. But, there are a few things that I know about him that are good.

He’s trying to make peace with the neighbors. That’s good.

(I mean the part about the trying.)

He’s also trying to do as little damage as possible. That’s also good.

But, he makes a lousy general. Really lousy.

I am not a fan of Olmert, the Prime Minister of Israel. I don’t know if he’s good or bad or something inbetween. I leave that to those who know him better than I do. But, there are a few things that I know about him that are good.

He’s trying to make peace with the neighbors. That’s good.

(I mean the part about the trying.)

He’s also trying to do as little damage as possible. That’s also good.

But, he makes a lousy general. Really lousy.

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I’m starting a list.

We all have them. Shopping lists. Top Ten lists. To DO lists. To NOT do lists. New Years resolution lists. Diet lists.

And then, of course, we list – to the Left or to the Right.

So, a list. Another one.

This one is a list of Arabs and Muslims who have the courage to stand up and say, “Can we be sensible here?”

This is NOT a list of those who love Israel. In fact quite a few, I’m sure, HATE Israel. You might think of THOSE members of the list as the honorable enemy. (And you know what? I PREFER an honorable enemy to a DIS-honorable friend.)

I’m starting a list.

We all have them. Shopping lists. Top Ten lists. To DO lists. To NOT do lists. New Years resolution lists. Diet lists.

And then, of course, we list – to the Left or to the Right.

So, a list. Another one.

This one is a list of Arabs and Muslims who have the courage to stand up and say, “Can we be sensible here?”

This is NOT a list of those who love Israel. In fact quite a few, I’m sure, HATE Israel. You might think of THOSE members of the list as the honorable enemy. (And you know what? I PREFER an honorable enemy to a DIS-honorable friend.)

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