We have become slaves

[bemildred]

This Passover, observant Jews said the Blessing of the Sun, a tradition held every 28 years steeped in mysticism, under which the sun is believed to return to its location on the fourth day of Creation. But the sun isn't alone in returning to where it was 28 years ago: A comparison between today's headlines and those in the archives show that Israel is also where it was 28 years ago.

Back in 1981, the year Israel destroyed Iraq's nuclear reactor, we were threatened by an existential threat, Likud won the elections, Israeli jets flew over Lebanon on reconnaissance missions, three new settlements were built on the Golan Heights and many more in the West Bank, and veteran MK Michael Eitan had just become a lawmaker. Indeed, the sun seems to have been at the exact same angle as it was this week when the government was sworn in. It's hard to draw a comparison between the murder of Egyptian president Anwar Sadat in 1981 and the remarks by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman this week, but concerns over the future of peace with Israel's southern neighbor keep repeating themselves in cycles. As for Israel's official policy toward the Palestinians, it's hard to say whether the current government's refusal to recognize a two-state solution is a return to 1981 or an even earlier era. It's much easier to say a new sun cycle begins this week, and all signs indicate it will be just like the one that preceded it.

Welcome, then, to 28 more years of wandering through the desert. Unless a dramatic breakthrough occurs, we are destined to repeat the same mistakes, delays and errors with the Palestinians and our other neighbors.

It may turn out that in so many sun cycles from now the proponents of maintaining the status quo and messianic annexation policy were right; that the outposts and settlements created a celestial Jewish nation of which Israel was just a precursor. But as far as those who cannot claim divine inspiration can tell, it doesn't look like history will turn out that way.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1077639.html

[LeftishBrit]

1. Excellent article.

[bemildred]

2. I thought so.

I have been reading some reviews of books from the 70s and 80s on I/P etc. and it's surprising how little has changed, how little progress has been made. It's sound and fury signifying nothing.