RSS Feed MenuMy latest column for CNN.com argues that the peace process itself may be prolonging the Arab-Israeli conflict by shielding the Arab world from accepting the consequences of defeat.
By my count, there have been at least 10 major outbursts of violence between Jews and Arabs in the Middle East since 1936.
Every one of these conflicts ended in a similar way. Either outside powers imposed a ceasefire — or else Israel halted military operations just before a ceasefire could be imposed.
Every one of these conflicts began in a similar way, too: with a renewed attack by the Arab side, or else (as in 1956 or 1967) by Arab violations of the terms of the previous armistice or ceasefire.
Think for a minute how unusual this is. Wars usually end when one side or the other decides it cannot continue fighting. The losing side accepts terms it had formerly deemed unacceptable because the alternative — continued fighting — seems even worse. …
Exactly the opposite has occurred in the Arab-Israeli dispute.
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blowtorch_bob // Mar 15, 2010 at 8:51 pm
You better get a second opinion on this David before you go “marching off to war,” as if that’s going to solve all your problems.
To begin, the “wars” in 48 and 67 were romps, “4 game sweeps” if you will. The 73 war was a squeaker, Egypt after salvaging its pride on the battlefield, signed a peace treaty and quit the scene. (I heard the 73 war was so close that Israel had passenger jets on the runway, fueled and fitted with nuclear bombs and ready to fly off to New York, Moscow and London and whereever to drop them -something to do with bringing the rest of the world down in the event victorious Arab hordes were running through the streets of Tel Aviv)
The 06 war in Lebanon, well that was a debacle.
right_on // Mar 16, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Frum’s column seems to endorse ethnic cleansing. Every time I think he cannot sink any lower, he manages to.