(JNS) Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, I asked one of Kyiv’s diplomats how he would explain the difference between Russian and Ukrainian national identities to outsiders unfamiliar with the history and culture of each country.
He thought for a moment, then said: “The difference is that we Ukrainians look in a forward direction, to the future. The Russians are stuck in the past with their historical grievances.”
Much the same observation can be made about the Palestinians and their supporters, both inside and outside the Arab world. As is the case with the Russian regime, for them, history is not a guide to achieving a better future but a straitjacket that keeps them tied down in the past, eternally litigating bygone events in the expectation of attaining an absolute justice that is always out of reach. This notion of history as a trap lies at the heart of an important new book with the invitingly provocative title, The Arab Case for Israel.
Become a Member
-
Read all member content
Get exclusive in-depth reports from Israel.
-
Get exclusive in-depth reports from Israel
Connect with Israel, right from your home.
-
Lift up the voice of truth and hope
Support Jerusalem-based Zionist journalism.
Already a member? Login here.
