If we look at the doom and gloom that is produced in the Israeli war, one thing is the ability to win the war, another thing is the possibility of loosing Israel as a safe haven for Jews.
Which one is the most important?
The true difference between loosing the war and keeping Israel alive lies in the amount of honor that is in the war.
We will have more wars in the Middle East, that is how things are in the Middle East and has always been.
Yet this war if we loose, will mean loss of honor. For Israel and for Mr. Netanyahu.
If we loose the conservative government will be mentioned as a complete failure.
So that will tarnish the legacy of Mr. Netanyahu.
But as Cicero says, who cares about honor in two generations.
Nobody will care.
What often seem as very important right now, is soon forgotten.
That is just how humans work, we are fickle in remembering honor.
What does have more implications that the honor in a few generations is the ability for Israel to survive.
We may have to wait another three thousand years for another shot at that.
So to me, there is really no question. Israel has to survive that is, by all means, the only true goal of the war right now.
Getting the hostages home is almost as important. But surviving as a state is more important.
G-d bless the will for Israel to survive, and may we bless the will to find peace in the end.
