These are all solid pieces of advice. However, just as the Palestinians (as the expression goes) "never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity" when it comes to getting their own state, Israel too often misses opportunities, particularly when it comes to doing anything that might generate positive PR.
Andrew, this is an impressive thorough and strategically coherent piece. The breadth of vision across military, diplomatic, informational, and cultural domains and the clarity with which it is sequenced. It’s pure pragmatic statecraft that does not indulgesin moral grandstanding nor retreats into cynicism.
What I find most compelling is that this is not an “ethical” strategy in the conventional sense—and that is precisely its strength. It is, in my view, a pre-ethical architecture: a sanitation of the symbolic and institutional terrain that has long been saturated with bad faith, glorified violence, and moral manipulation. Only once that terrain is cleared—through containment, deterrence, and narrative discipline—can genuine ethical relations begin to emerge. In that sense, this strategy doesn’t bypass ethics; it prepares the ground for them to become possible, perhaps for the first time in this domain.
The single biggest step that could be taken to change the paradigm that has led to the present status quo is to end the United Nations charade once and for all. Far from being a force for good it has become the greatest source of strength and protection for Palestinianism in the world. The United States pays a full 25 percent of the UN's operating budget and could sink the whole enterprise by withholding that. If we are unwilling to take this appropriate step then total and major reform and turnover of the organization is mandatory. And under no circumstances can any UN group or division play ANY role in the future life of the Palestinians. They shouldn't even be granted visas to enter the region.
I love every idea you shared in this piece — and in the earlier parts too. Do you know whether power brokers in the Middle East, Europe and the US are reading these too? Have you had any feedback from official sources? These posts deserve much more than gratitude from your many substack followers.
These are all solid pieces of advice. However, just as the Palestinians (as the expression goes) "never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity" when it comes to getting their own state, Israel too often misses opportunities, particularly when it comes to doing anything that might generate positive PR.
Andrew, this is an impressive thorough and strategically coherent piece. The breadth of vision across military, diplomatic, informational, and cultural domains and the clarity with which it is sequenced. It’s pure pragmatic statecraft that does not indulgesin moral grandstanding nor retreats into cynicism.
What I find most compelling is that this is not an “ethical” strategy in the conventional sense—and that is precisely its strength. It is, in my view, a pre-ethical architecture: a sanitation of the symbolic and institutional terrain that has long been saturated with bad faith, glorified violence, and moral manipulation. Only once that terrain is cleared—through containment, deterrence, and narrative discipline—can genuine ethical relations begin to emerge. In that sense, this strategy doesn’t bypass ethics; it prepares the ground for them to become possible, perhaps for the first time in this domain.
The single biggest step that could be taken to change the paradigm that has led to the present status quo is to end the United Nations charade once and for all. Far from being a force for good it has become the greatest source of strength and protection for Palestinianism in the world. The United States pays a full 25 percent of the UN's operating budget and could sink the whole enterprise by withholding that. If we are unwilling to take this appropriate step then total and major reform and turnover of the organization is mandatory. And under no circumstances can any UN group or division play ANY role in the future life of the Palestinians. They shouldn't even be granted visas to enter the region.
Amazing analysis. I had to read the first three parts three times, but I think I'll have to read the fourth part five times.
It's amazing how you can produce such complex analyses in such a short time.
So far, after the first reading, it seemed to me that there aren't enough qualified politicians in the world for your roadmap.
Nothing quick about the writing of these! I’ve been working on them for months and just adapting to events as we go.
Agree with you. Fantastic analysis and so clearly discussed and accessible for all. Read it three times now and your final thought, yes.
I love every idea you shared in this piece — and in the earlier parts too. Do you know whether power brokers in the Middle East, Europe and the US are reading these too? Have you had any feedback from official sources? These posts deserve much more than gratitude from your many substack followers.
Excellent, intelligent, hopeful, and readable.
How much influence do you think you have on those with power?