"Why do you assume that he Levant is the best location for a Jewish state, when to a friendly and well-intentioned outsider, it almost appears to be the worst."
1. To be clear, I never said that it's the BEST location for a Jewish state
2. If I'm to be honest, I care more about a Jewish state itself than where it is...that being said, as it'd seem rather peculiar to have one in, say, outer Mongolia or South America, it'd seem as if Europe or the Middle East would be the rational choices, since that's where the Jews have predominantly lived (not counting North America, as A. that's pretty recent, comparatively and B. its inhabitants--not counting the Native Americans who suffered their own genocide, of course--are of predominantly European descent, so either way.) There's no way the Jews could ever get a Jewish state in Europe, and really, I don't think it'd make sense. By contrast, many Jews moved to the Levant area in the decades before the 1948 War for Independence, and that's where the UN in 1947 said the Jews could have a state, when they offered to partition two states, one for Israel and one for Palestine.
For better or worse, it's where the Jews were expelled from, and where they've returned to...and with one of the toughest militaries in the world, it doesn't look like they're leaving any time soon.
"If I were, for example, to be charged with governing and securing a group of Hebrews, I would seek to acquire a location where they would enjoy an agreeable atmospheric climate, are surrounded by business opportunities and surrounded by friendly states."
...The area's nice enough...when it's not, you know, being bombed or rocketed to bits...
And Israel's done just fine for itself business-wise, so where are you going with this?
That it'd be better if they were in a location where they weren't surrounded by enemies? Where would that be? Either A. You pick territory from nowhere, in which case, why bother having a Jewish state where Jews have never lived, or B. You pick one where they have lived, which is going to incite violence because there's only so much land on Earth and it's a zero-sum game, so anyone getting more land means someone has less...
What European neighbor would be tickled pink losing centuries-old land to a new Jewish state?
At least in the area where the state now stands, there were so many Jews ready to fight and defend land they'd already begun to take over by sheer force of immigration numbers.
"Couldn't a better location be chosen?"
Where?
Somewhere we've never been--then what's the point?
Europe?
Who's going to be happy with that?
North America?
How would the US, Canada or Mexico be OK with that?
South America or some remote island?
Again, what's the point if we have no real roots there?
"It seems to me that the Israeli military strategic position better suits the interests of militant Zionists and American neoconservatives more so than it does the interests of working-class Hebrews or even middle-class Americans, for example."
1. You want to stop calling us Hebrews...why not just say Jews, really? O.o
2. I wasn't aware that the formation of a Jewish state should meet the interest of "middle class Americans"...? Or anyone besides the Jews involved, really? I mean, why should they meet such interests when it's their nation they're trying to protect?
3. I'd argue it benefits more than the groups you mention.
4. "By contrast, Israel is in the middle of a desert, surrounded by economically depressed states, most of whom have the unfortunate opinion that Israel should not exist there." Supposing that, instead of the peaceful bankers and chocolate makers they are, the Swiss were instead loathed throughout Europe...should they then have to leave their alpine homes, because their neighbors didn't like them? Let's assume, in addition, that rather than their minimal army, the Swiss are, like Israel, armed to the teeth, with compulsory military service and one of the world's best air forces, as well as the assumption that they have nuclear weapons--should the Swiss move?
And,
5. Can you write anything without sounding like a smarmy ass?
May GR Release Date?
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