Settler Pressure: Is Israel Choosing to Be Right or to Win

In 1839, as he sought the presidential nomination, the venerable US politician and Senator from Kentucky Henry Clay famously declared that he would rather be right than President.  He never became President.  

Similarly today there is no shortage of people who suffer from this dire need to be right at the expense of achieving their desired goals.

So when it comes to the State of Israel, would we rather be right than win.  Perhaps firstly we need to establish what is right and what constitutes winning.  One might argue that if the aim of the Zionist movement was to establish a national homeland for the Jewish people in the land of our forefathers (and mothers), then we have already won.  But where to from here?

Earlier this week, following the removal of the settlement Havat Gilad, National religious and Likud members of the Knesset, after proclaiming their shock and horror at the sight of Jews attacking Jews, attacked the move by the security forces and stated that there should be no difference between Jews living in Judea and Samaria and those on the other side of the so-called green line.  All should have the same rights.  I agree with them.  But with rights also come responsibilities. 

As such they need to understand that if individuals or groups of individuals in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Beer Sheva, Rehovot, Ben Yamina, or any other Israeli town for that matter decide to build houses, or any kind of building without planning permission, then the authorities will turn up, remove the residents and tear down the buildings.  It is a question of the rule of law. 

I agree with our right-wing politicians that the law should apply to all Israelis equally.  Even more so, if in the process of performing their duty, the police or authority workers are physically attacked by the residents in question, or these same residents decide to attack their neighbours in some vain attempt at exacting some perverse “price tag” then these residents will be arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.    

You cannot have both ways.  Either you want to be treated the same or you do not.  Ergo, would you rather be right than win.

One can argue that Israelis have the right to settle in all the land of Israel and that our historical claim to this land is greater than any other.  One might also argue that just because we have the right does not mean we should, or that it is our interests to do so.  If we really care about the future of the country and want to see a Jewish and democratic state, then perhaps we have to take a look at our rights and explore the option of being smart rather than right, and making decisions which serve the greater interest of the country rather than the narrow interests and ideologies of a few. 

This argument necessitates a great deal of maturity and insight from the settler community and their supporters.  Many sacrifices have been made for the greater good in this country over the past hundred years or so.  In order that our children and grandchildren will not need to make any further sacrifices, perhaps we need to look at winning today rather than being in the right.  Giving up certain rights in the short-term will undoubtedly lead to a win situation in the long-term.  Eventually, this long-term can also lead to Jews living in all parts of the historical land of Israel, if not in the state of Israel.

Being right may appeal to the ego, but is short-lived and  in reality achieves very little.  As a new Middle East evolves, one which was not instigated by us , but with which we will have to contend; achieving our long-term goals is what matters.   We have the right to choose to exercise our rights… or not, as we see fit.  However we have the obligation to ensure that ultimately we win. 

As we are all too aware, losing is not an option!