Why Peace Plans with Muslims do not Work

Can two competing value systems have a meeting of minds?
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Guest Blogger: R David Willig

Why peace plans will not work
 
It may not be fair to take Mr. Savir to task for his column reporting the views of his former boss, Shimon Peres, but there is one sentence that illustrates the basic misconception that lies at the root of their dangerous policies. "He understands that our neighbors, too, seek a better economy and a place in the globalized world." Unfortunately, but demonstrably, wrong. Our neighbors are not motivated by economic values, else they would not be suicide bombers. No one kills themselves. and others, in the hope of economic gain. There are two value systems, and socialists, like Mr. Savir and Mr. Peres only understand the set of material values. "How many divisions does the Pope command?" was Stalin's famous question. But the Pope, and all true religious leaders, understood that man does not live by bread alone. Zionism, at its best, was and is a spiritual movement. Its value, ultimately, is the survival and success, not of the individual Jew, but of the Jewish people. One does not have to be halachicaly observant to be committed to this ideal.

Our neighbors are not motivated by economic interests. If they were, Egypt would be encouraging tourism, rather than allowing an 80% vacancy rate in their hotels. They would rather have empty hotels than allow tourists in bikinis. The Sunnis and the Shiites would not be fighting in Iraq and in Syria if the fight was about economic interests, Material goods can be divided, shared, compromised. Our neighbors are motivated by spiritual goals, by religion, and their view of Allah allows them no room to compromise. We in the West have grown up in a culture that allows for religious  freedom. The majority do not take religion seriously. Until we realize that in the Islamic World the common man takes religion very seriously, is willing to kill, and die, for their religious beliefs, we cannot understand our neighbors. Mr. Peres and Savir think economic opportunity will entice the the Arab to make peace. The Arab laughs at them, and us. And we Jews, of all people should understand. How easy would it have been for us to have abandoned our beliefs. Some, like Heine, did, but most Jews were, and are, made of stubborner stuff. Unless we address religion as the basis for this conflict we are deluding and endangering ourselves. 

David Willig 

Best Regards,
RRW