A recent complaint against the only civilized country in the Middle East is the charge of “Greater Israel.”
The widespread criticism is not, yet, that the Hebrew State wants to take over the entire planet (well, a few do say exactly that). For now, it is just that this country not only desires to spread out in its little corner of the world, but is actually in the process of doing precisely that.
Military
Right now, the call of the critics is for the IDF to leave Gaza, forthwith. Also, the Israeli military is now ensconced in Lebanon, south of the Litani River, and this is adamantly opposed, amongst the woke.
Is it that Israel, with less than 1% of the territory held by the Arabs in that area of the world, has an avaricious appetite for the sovereign territory of its neighbors? Nothing could be further from the truth.
Israel occupies Southern Lebanon because Hezbollah, with at least acquiescence from the government of that country, if not active help, has been shooting drones, rockets and other military hardware into Northern Israel. Had this terrorist organization not engaged in it bombardment of Jewish civilians, Israel would have minded its own business and steered clear of the country to the north of it, apart from peaceful commercial relations.
The cry of the antisemites is “Palestine shall be free from the river to the sea.” They demand that the IDF be expelled from Gaza. We say no more than give a certain date, October 7, 2023, as to why this simply will not occur.
Why is Israel now in control of Gaza, Judea, Samaria, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights? They won these territories, fair and square, in the Six Day War. Several of its neighbors were in the process of attacking it, preeminently Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. In the aftermath of its preemptive strike, the IDF captured and remains in control of the Sinai Peninsula, Judea, Samaria, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights. The Sinai Peninsula would also be a Jewish possession, were it not for the pernicious act of US President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who forced them to return this acreage to Egypt. The Golan Heights was particularly problematic, in that terrorists were using this strategic location to rain death down upon the Israelis.
But none of this can properly be attributed to Israeli acquisitiveness. The Jewish State won these territories in a purely defensive war. Had its neighbors not threatened it with invasion, they would most likely have retained control over them.
Territorial greatness is only a part of the story. There are other ways to make Israel great, not so much “again,” as MIGA would signify, based after the US MAGA movement. Rather, the world should welcome the Make Israel Great For The First Time (MIGFTFT).
At its inception in 1948, Israel was indeed, “great,” but only militarily; otherwise its army would not have been able to conquer its five invading armes, which included Egypt, Transjordan, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, with a Saudi contingent thrown in under Egyptian command for good measure.
Economics
However, it was not at all “great” economically. It is said that an “army travels on its stomach.” Well, in like manner, a country travels on its economy, in terms of military prowess. If it cannot produce goods and services, including military hardware, it will not be able defend itself, other things equal.
However, in the aftermath of 1948, the Israeli economy was a shambles. The Histadrut, a gigantic labor union, spread its tentacles over the entire economy, stifling commercial progress. Socialism, oppressive economic regulations, were the order of the day.
Isael has come a long way out of this stultified mess thanks to free market-oriented Benjamin Netanyahu. But, if it is to become “great” for the first time, more in this direction needs to be done. More free enterprise. More respect for private property rights. Less regulation. Less socialism. Less welfare for favored groups, such as the Chassidim.
Let Israel become great in territorial expansionism, if its neighbors continue to harass it. Let this be a warning to them not to do so. Let this country also become great for the first time, economically. If Argentina can pull off this miracle under the leadership of its heroic President, Javier Mileo, Israel can do no less with Prime Minister Netanyahu at the economic helm.