Exactly 100 years ago, in his seminal essay, “The Iron Wall,” revisionist leader Ze’ev Jabotinsky wrote these words: “As long as the Arabs feel that there is the least hope of getting rid of us, they will refuse to give up this hope in return for either kind words or for bread and butter.”
Sadly, Israelis witnessed this on many occasions over the last century and in ferocious and bestial form on October 7.
What Israelis have to understand is that the key to this conflict is hope. For too long, Israelis have scoffed at the incitement emanating from Hamas and Fatah, which not only call for the elimination of the Jewish state, but constantly drum into their followers that it is possible and will happen soon.
As Jabotinsky ended the “Iron Wall” essay, “the only way to reach an agreement in the future is to abandon all idea of seeking an agreement at present.”
Israel must send a message that it is here to stay, period.