Aluf Ben, a political analyst for Ha’Aretz discusses the faulty approach of the current Israeli leadership, comparing it to the leadership in 1973, before the disastrous Yom Kippur war.
“Yom Kippur is approaching and it’s a good opportunity for some soul-searching and reexamination of the situation compared to the past. There’s not too much effort required to reach the conclusion that the Israeli leadership has fallen victim in 2003 to a strategic “concept” as it did in 1973. Like then, the leadership has overestimated Israel’s military strength. Then as now, Israel blames the mistakes of its American friends. In both cases, the state was led by an elderly, conservative leader, who did not believe anything the Arabs said, and rejected any change or concessions. The main difference is the result. Instead of a successful crossing of the canal in broad daylight, Israel is bleeding in an unending war of attrition with the Palestinians.”
