Freudian Slip!

An Islamic Republic News Agency Report today (31 December 2008) notes that the Speaker of the Iranian Majlis, Ali Larijani, outlined what he sees as the goal of the Israelis in their attack on Gaza. According to the report, "the Israeli authorities are trying to make the regional states compromise with their regime."

Given the fact that Iran is taking the lead in the international criticism and condemnation of the Israeli strikes, it follows that the Israeli goal of "compromise" is illegitimate. Well, if it's illegitimate to insist that Hamas compromise, then the only legitimate course for the Israelis would be to accept as legitimate Hamas's goals. Unfortunately, Hamas is dedicated to the destruction of the state of Israel.

There's actually no problem here. Anyone who can read knows that Iran, Hamas, and Hizbollah do not accept the idea that Israel has any right to exist. The Iranians can't even bring themselves to mouth the word "Israel." The use the term "Zionist Entity." The elimination of Israel is a clear goal of all three and, as Larijiani has made clear today, any expectation that any Muslim entity compromise with Israel is illegitimate.

So short of packing up and moving to some other location on our planet, what exactly are the Israelis expected to do? What would I do if I were an elected Israeli leader given this reality? In my view, the Israelis are showing, and have long shown, remarkable restraint. But it won't last forever.