Israel: a warning from history

Thirty years ago, when the state of Israel had travelled only half its present journey since 1948, I interviewed General Matti Peled in New York. As an army general, Peled had been a notably tough administrator of the Occupied Territories, but in retirement had become a dove, publicly urging his country to negotiate seriously with the Palestinians. Abandon the illegal settlements, he said, return to the 1967 borders and resolve all the other issues obstructing a proper peace.

"What do you think will happen," I asked the former general, "if no Israeli government ever emerges strong enough to take such a path?"

"Oh, I think we'll end up like the Crusaders," he answered. "It might take some time, but just like them, in the end, we'll be gone."

It was startling at the time to hear any