There is no easy solution to Israel's national woes

Editor,

I read Santhosh Chandrashekar's recent column and I'm intrigued to learn more about the origins of his interest in Israel.

Why on Israel's Independence Day do you find the issue of Nakba to be salient over other issues?

Taking India as an example, do you find Aug. 15 - India's Independence Day - a gloomy occasion, considering the millions of victims of partition and the fact that even today, millions in India lack the right to self-determination? Do they also cast a shadow over the essence of independence for Indians?

Israel, much like India, is an ethnic mosaic with some Jews from European descent while others are from Muslim countries, including many local Palestinians. It is, therefore, not a typical "colonialist outpost."

The bloody conflict is a concrete one since pre-independent Israel. It is by no means a specter of national imagination, and it claims the lives of thousands of civilians.

It is much like the one taking place in Jammu and Kashmir. Still, some of Israel's neighbors are its trenchant enemies, like you wrote, indeed "forcing Israel to live by the sword."

That is why it still practices compulsory service. It is not due to historical circumstances, but a current situation.

It is definitely not preferable, but before questioning Israel's democratic foundations, it should be reminded that many Western democracies practiced conscription for decades without being accused in the same way.

After World War II and the horrors of the Holocaust - completely missing from your arguments - and the displacement of Jews from Arab countries following widespread pogroms there, a vast majority in the U.N. supported the establishment of the Jewish state. It exceeded much further than just Europe and the U.S.

Contrary to your argument, two of Israel's Arab neighbors - Egypt and Jordan - are in state of peace, and many countries around the globe, like India, have close relations with it.

The Occupied Territories are a major issue with no easy solution, as was demonstrated following the disengagement from the Gaza strip in 2005 - not 2006, as you wrote - which led to its occupation by a terrorist organization, Hamas.

Hamas doesn't even recognize the right of Israel to exist, and keeps on using missiles to attack Israeli border towns on a daily basis.

Moreover, like many other countries around the globe, Israel is a nation-state, which of course doesn't call for an exclusion of its minorities.

These problems should be solved, but I was wondering whether you would describe in the same manner the "invisible wall" separating Hindus and Muslims in India, apart from the fact that exchanges between the two populations there are much more violent, as was demonstrated in the Gujarat violence of 2002, with thousands dead.

Similarly, one might apply your description to the Muslims in France and in other European countries.

So yes, Israel's birthdays are always rough, but just like India, the situation is much more complicated and solutions are not that simple. It doesn't mean that the party should be muted. On the contrary.

Sagi Ginossar

Daily Lobo reader