Israel-Palestine and the Escalatory Cycle of Violence
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"The lex talionis with interest approach is a Machiavellian outcome that will not end well for anyone. But the reality is, can we see it going any other way?"
Hello Team!
Jonathan wants to address claims of horrific events that may have taken place in Israel as Hamas militants went on a rampage. There are reports that 40 babies were killed, some beheaded, but the details are unclear as the claims have gone through multiple sources. President Biden says he has seen photographic evidence but official sources are not confirming it.
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Atrocity Propaganda
Whether the atrocity occurred or not, it fits the definition of "atrocity propaganda" - information spread about an enemy's crimes, which may be factual but can include deliberate fabrications or exaggerations. The purpose is to cause moral outrage, authorize punitive measures, and mobilize efforts against the perpetrators. There is a history of using supposed atrocities against babies in wartime propaganda, such as:
- Claims of Iraqi soldiers killing Kuwaiti babies in 1990 to galvanize support for the Gulf War
- British propaganda in WW1 that German soldiers were bayoneting and eating Belgian babies
- Claims Irish rebels ripped babies from the wombs of English mothers in 1641 to justify Oliver Cromwell's subsequent atrocities against the Irish
The Escalatory Cycle of Violence
These types of horrific acts provoke visceral reactions that spill over into acts of retaliation and revenge - "an eye for an eye" or lex talionis. Although this ancient legal principle was abolished in Palestine in the 5th century BC, it seems to be making an unsavory comeback. The problem is it leads to an escalating cycle of violence, like children fighting - it will continue until one is crying on the floor, unless someone chooses to be the bigger person and stop it. Hamas has unquestionably committed atrocities like murdering 260 people at a music festival. But if Israel responds with overwhelming force against Gaza, it will likely radicalize many Palestinians who are not Hamas supporters and create a new generation of terrorists seeking revenge. This is the law of unintended consequences.
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The Machiavellian Dichotomy
Israel faces a Machiavellian dichotomy, as Machiavelli said you must either pamper people or destroy them - "Harm them just a little and they'll hit back. Harm them seriously and they won't be able to." After WW1, Germany wasn't sufficiently crushed, allowing resentment to fester and come back stronger. Israel likely knows this and may seek to completely destroy Hamas as a result. But in doing so, how many innocent Palestinians will be harmed or radicalized as collateral damage?
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Divisive Rhetoric and Lack of Nuance
This conflict is being exploited by both the far left and right to sow division and push political narratives. The far left focuses on Palestinian self-determination while downplaying Hamas atrocities. The right uses Hamas' actions to smear the entire left. There is a lack of nuance on both sides. Writing about this topic is fraught with risk of being misinterpreted as sanctioning Hamas in any way. But Jonathan is trying to differentiate Hamas from ordinary Palestinians. Hamas' actions are despicable, but how they are portrayed feeds an unending escalation of violence.
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Wrap up
Any solution to the intractable Israel-Palestine conflict will require compromise, which neither side seems willing to do. Claims of beheaded babies, true or not, escalate the conflict to a level without constraints. The "eye for an eye with interest" approach will not end well for anyone, but is there any other way this Greek tragedy can play out? Innocent lives will be lost on both sides. Jonathan doesn't know the solution but hopes the article provides a thought-provoking perspective without being too divisive.
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