Dear Prof. Gray

In the above interview (for the internet forum http://www.haayal.co.il) you have been quoted as saying that "the West" would never let Israel be destroyed.

I would be grateful if you could be more specific about this assessment, and explain what it is based on.

You can answer me by email, in which case I will post your answer on "haayal", or you could write it directly in the forum (it is in Hebrew but you will see which article is the right one by your picture in it...)

I am sure that I am not the only person who would read what you might have to say about this subject with great interest.

Yours Sincerely

Esther Welch

Hi Esther Welch,
Please call me Chris. What I mant about the West not letting Israel be destroyed is that it would no more let the nation-state of Israel be overrun and/or disestablished by force then it would Canada. Even many people much more critical than I of Israeli policies, such as Noam Chomsky, would be utterly opposed to the destruction of Israel (which I know many Islamists and others still call for). Of course, lots of us would rather see many changes in Israel, such as it becoming a totally secular state, but I'd like to see many fundamental changes in the US as well.

Some Israelis seem to fear a second Holocaust. Such may happen, thanks to the horrible military technologies we have now, but Israel will not be alone in this. If, in one horrible example, a nuclear device was set off in Tel Aviv it is true much of Israel would be destroyed. But not all, and the West's commitment to the idea, and the nation-state, would continue as best it could. It is just as likely that New York will be attacked in such a way these days as Israel.

Now if one believes that to return the '67 territories, or actually allow a Palestinian nation-state to be created out of them, will destroy Israel, well I don't agree and as much as an anarchist such as I can support any state I support the Palestinians' right to one. And European, even US, pressure for that will continue to grow I expect, but I doubt if even this necessary step for peace will be required of Israel by the US government, Israel's most important ally.

And what is this based on? Many things, but especially my understanding of US domestic politics and of international civil society.

So, I hope this helps clarify things. Thank you for your interest in my openion. Feel free to post this to Haayal. Chris

>...but Israel will not be alone in this. If
>...a nuclear device was set off in Tel Aviv it is true much of Israel
>would be destroyed. But not all, and the West's >commitment to the idea
>...would continue as best it could.