Eretz Israel is our unforgettable historic homeland...The Jews who will it shall achieve their State...And whatever we attempt there for our own benefit will redound mightily and beneficially to the good of all mankind. (Theodor Herzl, DerJudenstaat, 1896)

We offer peace and amity to all the neighbouring states and their peoples, and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all. The State of Israel is ready to contribute its full share to the peaceful progress and development of the Middle East.
(From Proclamation of the State of Israel, 5 Iyar 5708; 14 May 1948)

With a liberal democratic political system operating under the rule of law, a flourishing market economy producing technological innovation to the benefit of the wider world, and a population as educated and cultured as anywhere in Europe or North America, Israel is a normal Western country with a right to be treated as such in the community of nations.... For the global jihad, Israel may be the first objective. But it will not be the last. (Friends of Israel Initiative)

Wednesday 6 January 2016

Colonel Kemp et al: Israel's Vital Defensible Borders (video)

"The Middle East is imploding in waves of violence whose impact has reached Israel.

To the north, radical Islamists in Syria linked to both the Islamic State and al-Qaeda are approaching Israel’s border on the Golan Heights and threatening Jordan as well. At the same time, Iran is sending thousands of rockets with increasingly accurate guidance systems to Hizbullah in Lebanon to again attack Israeli cities.

To the east, Israel faces an array of potential threats from hostile forces that include Iranian Revolutionary Guards, pro-Iranian Shi’ite militias, and radical Islamist terror armies.

To the south, the Islamic State is in Sinai, threatening both Israel and Egypt. At the same time, Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza are working feverishly, with Iranian assistance, to rebuild their rocket capabilities to enable renewed attacks on Israel.

Israel must have defensible borders to protect itself against a broad range of current and future threats from radical Islamist forces."


A compelling video from the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, in which that doughty student of war and defender of Israel Colonel Richard Kemp features, inter alia:


4 comments:

  1. How did they ever let this on the BBC, a positive presentation of Israel!
    The Israel bit starts at 27:20
    My Mediterranean with Adrian Chiles - BBC Documentary 2016

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Ian, will check. Every so often the BBC surprises. Perhaps this was independent of the newsroom.

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  2. The JCPA video shows very clearly the strategically important, unique geography of the area.

    Speaking from recent personal experience, this geography is nearly impossible to appreciate until one actually stands in the Jordan Valley or on the shores of the Sea of Galilee and looks up at the heights towering above.

    The drive from the valley at the Jericho Junction to Jerusalem, one of the five defensible routes mentioned, only takes 15 minutes.

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  3. Interesting comment, Borhani. Thanks.

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