But what does an Israeli "Victory" mean in terms of Strategy, Tactics, and Policy?

Submitted by Ludvikus (United States), Mar 24, 2018 at 11:36

Victory, generally, is a term of art in warfare, or military science. When used in other contexts, however, it can at best be described as a metaphor. Clearly, Israel is recognized as an overwhelmingly strong military for regionally, and in the world at large, and it has never lost any war against its neighbors, though its non-Christian or Muslim enemies would argue otherwise.

Military conquests are usually followed by imposing one's will on the defeated, as you ably recognize and argue. But the problem with what you write here is that you aren't explicit as to what you intend by a "victorious" Israel. And that problem is compounded by the fact that the Palestinians are, obviously, most Arabs, with a vastly larger "other" Arabs who support them. Furthermore, the Palestinians are also a part of the even larger Muslim community, both Sunnis and Shia who also support them. And on top of that are the Christians and Liberals who also support the Palestinians – the former for anti-Semitic motives, and the latter as "bleeding hearts" for the underdog.

Take, for specificity, the most recent vote at the UN Human Rights Council. The news reports this week have published the overwhelming majority tally against Israel (unfortunately, reports generally do not present the exact specific break down of the votes by the states/countries – which are effectively the "enemies" of Israel. The "preoccupation" with Israel by the international "community" shows that Israel is an exceptional case – it is the only country or state in which purely ethnic or religious identity matters, not material interests, namely, that fact that Israel is a Jewish state, and therefore not a Christian or Muslim state.

In this context, I think, your strategy for an Israeli "Victory" requires more specificity at how Israel is to defeat its non-Palestinian, Christian, Muslim, and "Liberal" (and/or Leftist) adversaries at large. Clearly neither China, India, Japan, or South Korea, for example, are "enemies" of Israel because their Identity Politics do not conflict with the Jewishness of Israel; in fact, there is an admiration and respect for Israel as that innovation start-up nation and a hub for technological innovation.

I hope that this writing inspires you to be much more specific as to how Israel's "Victory" can be accomplished by focusing your thinking on all the non-Palestinian "players" in the "war-game" against Israel. Perhaps with the appointment of John Bolton by President Donald Trump, to take effect next Month, on April 9th, your task may prove easier; for example, he is known to support your particular policy of reverting Gaza to Egypt and the West Bank to Jordan.

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