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Last update - 10:42 26/12/2008 Zen and the art of Gaza maintenance By Doron Rosenblum Tags: Hamas, Gaza Strip  Despite prevailing media winds, history does not tailor itself to arbitrary dates of the beginning and end of the calendar year, but usually sees the ebb and flow of foolishness or wisdom cross over from year to year. The snapshot of 2008, therefore, is likely to appear in hindsight to be much like that of 2009. Such is the picture snapped this week of leading Likud members, old and new, headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, Moshe Ya'alon, Yuval Steinitz and Limor Livnat gazing toward the Gaza Strip. Their jaws protrude, their eyebrows furrow, their eyes squint like Clint Eastwood and their lips promise they will topple the Hamas regime, stop the rocket fire and bring back security. Likud is not alone in this. Kadima's Tzipi Livni also vows to topple the Hamas government, to eliminate the rocket threat. In fact, there is hardly a party in Israel whose representatives have not gazed toward Gaza recently - some with binoculars and others with the naked eye, some squintingly enraged and others furrowedly determined. Advertisement But don't ask Livni, Netanyahu, Ya'alon, Steinitz or Livnat how exactly they plan on doing the toppling and eliminating - by what means or at what price. The candidates have hinted that the secrets are known only to themselves, but somehow they always seem to lose the napkin with the code on it the moment they enter office. Elections and promises have always gone together, even if everyone knows that even in the best case scenario - a candidate accomplishing something - it will be the opposite of what he or she promised. But since no election adviser will recommend the only appropriate, fair slogan available: "Do I know? Vote for me and we'll see," the candidates blather endlessly and shamelessly into our ears with their hollow promises, without offering any substantiation or rational explanations. They know, after all, that the public in any case votes against governments and policies, not in favor of an orderly, considered transfer of power. Against the barrages of empty promises and criticism of others, another rationale begins to emerge, characterized by the sheer force of its strangeness and represented by, of all people, Defense Minister Ehud Barak. It seems as if he, tired of ruses and wisecracks, has reached insights and revelations discovered until now only by the patient and wise General Kutuzov of "War and Peace" and the Zen philosopher Lao Tzu. Has Barak been delving into Taoist literature? "He who speaks does not know, and he who knows does not speak," said Lao Tzu. Our own Zen master recently told cabinet members, "Mind your tongues, for such things do not help one's endurance. We don't need to compete over who wants to harm Hamas more, and who hates it more." "Practice inaction and everything will come into its place," said the ancient sage. The wise man from North Tel Aviv's luxurious Akirov Towers adds, "Even three divisions are not likely to stop the rocket fire... In hindsight, we will ask ourselves if we have not missed other opportunities." Barak's new insights are not confined only to Gaza. "We are strong enough to topple Syria and its regime, but afterwards we will have to sit with it for negotiations," he said. About his detractors, he adds, "Take a chameleon and throw it on grass - it will turn green. Throw it on dirt and it will turn brown." Whoever understands, understands. Or doesn't. Barak is smiling like a Buddha. In Israel, it is well known, there is only one way to determine whether we're being exposed to the ruminations of a genius or meaningless drivel - war. If the fighting is awe-inspiring and quick, we are in the presence of genius. If it results in a fiasco, we stand before idiocy, if not criminality. But maybe there are other, less bloody, ways to figure out whether Barak is on to something. Against the Arabs we have tried both overwhelming victories and abject failures, both unilateral withdrawals and fruitless negotiations. We have only just started trying modesty, sitting quietly, releasing ourselves from automatic reactions, and using concerted action only when necessary. It is clear that in our situation, inaction and meditation will not help. But at least we will be able to look into our mothers' eyes and say we tried everything. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Bombing protest A suicide bomber blows himself up amid an anti-Israel protest in Iraq. Underground medicine Ashkelon's hospital moves essential departments into an underground bomb shelter.   1.   inconsistentcyINCONSISTENCY INCONSISTENCY 10:52  |  victor hardman 26/12/08   2.   Enforce the rule of law.We pay taxes to be safe. Period. 11:38  |  David 26/12/08   3.   # 1 merry christmas to good old victor 12:35  |  eric 26/12/08   4.   curious about Iran`s involvement 12:53  |  Rafael of Sydney 26/12/08   5.   Excellent article! Barak is the only hope! Always was... 12:56  |  S 26/12/08   6.   Hi eric #3... imagine the dream of bi-partisan polics... 14:30  |  Esther 26/12/08   7.   To Be?Or not to Be? 15:26  |  Philosophy 26/12/08   8.   Barak, not enigmatic, just a procrastinator 20:04  |  Wade 26/12/08   9.   To Victor Hardman 21:12  |  Otto Rand 26/12/08   10.   Just Look At The Results of Barak`s Inaction 21:36  |  Tod Zuckerman 26/12/08   11.   9 Otto Rand solution: Just give Bin Laden formidable strength 22:30  |  Rob 26/12/08   12.   Tod,you forgot Barak`s Greatest Success : 23:55  |  Absolute Sweden 26/12/08   13.   First, identify the enemy 23:56  |  Shimon Cleopas 26/12/08   14.   #9 OTTO AND THE MOON FAIRIES SO PREVALENT AMONGST 23:57  |  victor hardman 26/12/08   15.   10 Tod Zuckman , you seem like the jerk to 00:35  |  Dutch 27/12/08   16.   9 Otto Rand solution: Just give Bin Laden formidable strength 01:24  |  Rob 27/12/08   17.   not even close. sorry to say, the answer is "criminal idiocy." 02:15  |  dante 27/12/08   18.   Reality 02:45  |  Angel 27/12/08   19.   # 6 esther, the conflict would likely be over...lol 04:49  |  eric 27/12/08   20.   Overlooks the obvious 05:10  |  Colin Wright 27/12/08   21.   Dutch on how to be a crapwit 05:30  |  SDHD 27/12/08   22.   Who Even Knows??? 07:53  |  Baruch Gold 27/12/08   23.   #9, Otto Rand, "ceasefire under tighter supervision" 08:04  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/12/08   24.   #9, Otto Rand and "formidable strength" 08:12  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/12/08   25.   Why do responses end once IAF strikes began? 11:39  |  David 29/12/08

Read & React Israeli killed as Palestinian rocket hits Ashkelon Responses: 27 Bradley Burston: Who speaks for Gazans, when they need it most? Responses: 12 Segev: Trying to 'teach Hamas a lesson' is wrong Responses: 60 Amira Hass: 'Gaza strike is against all Palestinians' Responses: 45 Zvi Bar'el: Key Arab states hope for weakened Hamas Responses: 15 Akiva Eldar: The way out of Gaza Responses: 7 More Headlines 11:15 Israeli killed as barrage of Palestinian rockets pound west Negev 10:22 Israel destroys Islamic University in new wave of strikes on Gaza 09:26 Four Israelis wounded by Palestinians in stabbing attacks near Modi'in 12:01 Barak to MKs: Obama said he would do all to prevent rocket fire on his own home 08:19 In response to Gaza raids, Hamas threatens to assassinate Livni, Barak 08:51 Report: Captive IDF soldier Shalit wounded in Gaza air strikes 10:35 Gaza War Diary II - Who speaks for the Gazans? 10:32 Seven Israeli Arabs arrested for hurling stones in protest of Gaza op 11:53 Source hints Gaza offensive may spur Hezbollah to attack 07:41 Why hasn't Hamas responded to Gaza strikes with greater force? 05:31 Trying to 'teach Hamas a lesson' is fundamentally wrong 01:14 ANALYSIS / Key Arab states hope for weakened Hamas 01:49 Amira Hass / 'Gaza strike is not against Hamas, it's against all Palestinians' 23:18 Hezbollah: Israel may take this opportunity to attack Lebanon 06:09 Joint Gaza operation hasn't softened Olmert-Barak personal differences 00:10 Cost of calling up 6,700 reservists for Gaza op is NIS 3 million a day 08:21 Court decision eases Netanyahu's fear of far-right Likud faction 05:26 Foreign Ministry readies 'diplomatic exit plan' from Gaza Previous Editions Select Day 28 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 22 dec 21 dec 19 dec 18 dec 17 dec 16 dec 15 dec

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