17 Tamuz

[cellio]

On the 17th of Tamuz in the year 70 CE, the Romans, bent on destroying Israel, breeched the walls of Jerusalem. Three weeks later they destroyed the temple.

On the 17th day of Tamuz in 2006, Hezbollah, bent on destroying Israel and apparently backed by Lebanon and Syria, attacked Haifa and Carmiel.

I'm not superstitious, but the coincidence was not lost on me.

This cannot end well, so I hope it at least ends quickly.

Comments

[nobble.livejournal.com]

Somehow I dont think tht it is going to end quickly. More than likely it will continue in its current standoff and bomb from a distance manner until (a) the Palestinians coalesce and give back people and (b) until Hezbollah are found and razed from all existence. Long process ensuing either way. How can Israel actually condone terrorism against it within its borders? It cant, and if it does, then what's next? Another anihilation of Zion. Fabulous. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

And last year, the Israeli government pulled the settlers out the day after Tisha B'Av.

[sethg]

Note that Hezbollah and Hamas are difficult for Israel to fight precisely because Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority have weak central governments and can't really control the various sectarian militias operating in their territories--like the Jewish authorities in the late Second Temple era. Meanwhile, Israel has the most technologically advanced and best-trained professional army in the region, and its neighbors regard it as a foreign oppressor--like the Roman Empire in the Second Temple era.

No, this can't end well.

[cellio]

How can Israel actually condone terrorism against it within its borders? It cant, and if it does, then what's next?

Exactly. Every time there's an agreement between the Palestinians and Israel, the Palestinians agree to temporarily return to the status quo (we'll stop bombing you, we'll return the hostages, whatever), in exchange for Israel making more substantial concessions (like giving up land or even thinking about letting the terrorists come live in Israel). If this were a dispute between western nations, everyone would call that ludicrous.

Israel's choices always boil down to: roll over (and endanger its people even more), or try to stop it (and have the world condemn them). Ugly choices.