[Ha'aretz] Yair Sheleg - Objectively speaking, the present situation is much better than the difficulties with which our fathers and grandfathers had to deal: the economy is booming. The country's military might is greater than ever before. Even Israel's famous isolation is not what it was. Alongside Israel, against the Iranian threat, there is a covert alliance of most of the moderate Arab states which do not even have the capability of presenting Iran with a "balance of terror." If during the 1980s and 1990s there was a feeling that if we merely make the necessary concessions, we could ensure our future in the region, the past few years have severely damaged that security. The strongest threat today comes from a side that does not lay down any conditions for an agreement - it simply wants to annihilate the State of Israel. The Palestinians, too, since the failure of Camp David in 2000, broadcast the message that they prefer to harm Israel rather than build their future. There is a constant pall of danger over life. But this is the situation of mankind in general. The vast majority of people do not allow this fact to hamper their joy of life or their ability to stick by the missions they have undertaken. Human decisions are made not only according to the risk involved but also with a life that is worth living, that has significance. Alongside the recognition that Israel has not managed to turn into the safest place for the Jewish individual, the Zionist choice is still the most correct choice for someone who wants to live a Jewish life that is worth living - life in the only place where Jews are not a minority fighting for the very survival of their identity.
2007-03-07 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive