The Geometry of the Conflict

Symmetry and asymmetry in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Yaacov Maoz

One of the ancient linguistic terms has been refined in the Israeli political discourse of the operation
"guardian of the walls" era, symmetry (Greek συμμετρεῖν). The term is known from the field of
geometry and it indicates equality or balance between two parts of an object in space. This term has
also taken root in the philosophy of art, aesthetics. Here it instructs on harmony between the parts
of the object, until the observer finds himself fascinated by its beauty and falls into the trap of his
love.

In Israeli political discourse, the term is associated with the various manifestations of the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict. To be precise, the term is said to be more prevalent in its negative form,
asymmetry. Israeli leaders complain about the imbalance between the parties to the conflict, which
usually works to the detriment of the Jewish side. In this context it must be said that we are in a vast
system of asymmetry, which is one of the main generators of the conflict and we see nothing but the
tip of its iceberg.

The first aspect of the conflict, on which right-wing leaders lament, was the very large-scale pogroms
by Arabs against Jews compared to the few pogroms of Jews in Arabs. The asymmetry, in their view,
cannot provide a reason for officials or the media to indicate in general that there are terrorists on
both sides. This is what the police commissioner claimed, and it was only a few minutes before the
minister in charge landed a decent blow on his head.
The fear of creating symmetry is justified, but the minister's response causes greater damage and is
worthy of any derision. To admit that there are Jewish terrorists means to drop the main argument
of the State of Israel towards the peoples. But the solution to this is not in silencing the discourse on
the phenomenon but in cutting it down. When we speak highly of our Jewish moral standard, it is
better that we prove it to ourselves by suppressing any phenomenon of Jewish terrorism against
Arabs. Only then can we complain that asymmetry works against us and that we are the
disadvantaged side.

The phenomenon of Arab pogroms against Jews is related to an asymmetrical phenomenon that is in
fact the foundation of the conflict. Samuel Huntington described it as a "Clash of Civilizations." In our
case, a clash between the Jewish civilization in the Land of Israel, numbering about six to seven
million Jews, and the Islamic civilization, numbering one billion and a quarter Muslims. The vast
majority of them were happy to destroy Israel, while a minority, some Arab governments and some
of the Arabs in Israel, are willing to live with us in peace. How is it possible that the small Jewish boat
of the Land of Israel does not sink in the bubbling and foaming Islamic ocean? The answer in
principle is modernization. The Jews were wise to adopt the principles of modernization in all areas
of life - politics, art, technology, medicine, agriculture and more. This is an asymmetry that works for
the benefit of the fragile minority of the Jews of the Land of Israel in the Middle East, and in the
meantime, it covers up the enormous numerical asymmetry that works for the Islamic world. We
have no guarantee that the symmetry between these two asymmetries will last forever.

One of the most impressive manifestations of the numerical asymmetry between the Islamic world
and the Jewish world is the repeated attacks by Muslims against Jews around the world. Hundreds of
videos have been uploaded to social media showing groups of Muslim terrorists beating Jews
vigorously. The Jews, described by Islamist anti-Semites as ruling the world, are controlled by the
Islamic mob at every site; without a single poor attempt to defend themselves. While in Israel the
security of the Jews rests on security forces with a clear advantage over Palestinian-Iranian
terrorism, the Jews of the world are left to the fists of the Muslim terrorists. Here the Israeli security
asymmetry does not balance the Muslim asymmetry in the world. The Jews of the world behave as
the Jews of the various exiles have behaved for many generations under Christian or Muslim
tyranny, in silent and frightened absorption. The largest exporter of Krav Maga is failing every day to
defend itself. The more defeatist part of the Jews in the Diaspora chooses to demonstrate alongside
the Muslims against the State of Israel, on the assumption that in doing so it will save its skin from
the imminent Islamist revolution coming in Western countries. Thus, we find two distinctly
asymmetrical Jewish bodies sharing the same dubious mission. The first is the anti-Zionist ultra-
Orthodox and the last is the radical liberals. What unites them is hatred of Israel which is worse than
that of the Islamists.

Hamas managed to impress the world with its military capabilities in the last round. The incessant
firing of missiles against civilians only, with the intention of harming only Jews, is considered by
many to be a success, even though these are war crimes. A five-year-old Jewish toddler or a
Palestinian father and daughter murdered by Hamas will not undermine the false propaganda of
Hamas and its supporters in Israel and around the world. Nevertheless, his military capabilities do
not tickle the IDF's excellent capabilities. From a purely military point of view, the asymmetry works
in favor of the IDF. But in war as in war, at least for Hamas, all the despicable means are kosher.
Hamas manages to cover up its military inferiority by calling for an Arab revolt against the Jews of
Israel, by turning the conflict into a religious war and by using a savage attack against Jews around
the world. The call of Islamic terrorists in London to rape Jewish women will soon come true. Those
who do not believe are better off perusing the atrocities of the Islamic State ISIS. Asymmetry also
works on the moral plane. We will not be able to find Jews calling in the streets to rape Muslim
women. This is unthinkable, not even among Jewish terrorists in the Land of Israel. Hamas, which
claims to represent Islam through terrorism, will not issue a statement of condemnation of the
phenomenon that first and foremost disfigure Islam. On the contrary, Hamas will encourage Muslims
to do so, even if the religion of Islam has never preached to rape women. From a purely terrorist
point of view, the asymmetry that Hamas ignited in Israel and around the world overcomes the
military asymmetry of the IDF.

There is another question of symmetry or asymmetry associated with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,
and it deserves much attention. It has been widely claimed that the State of Israel has no strategy in
relation to the Palestinians. This claim is only partially true. Indeed, the State of Israel has not yet
decided how to deal with the issue in the long run. And yet there is a simple and obvious strategy. It
is good for the current Israeli leaders to preserve the symmetry between Hamas and the Palestinian
Authority. As long as the internal Palestinian conflict exists, the chances of the establishment of a
Palestinian state, which is perceived, at least in the eyes of the right, as a strategic threat to the
State of Israel, are slim. Therefore, the State of Israel has no interest in taking full advantage of the
military asymmetry towards Hamas and eliminating its leadership. Israeli asymmetry works here to
preserve Palestinian symmetry and the Palestinians insist on failing in it every day. But this
symmetry is only temporary. Hamas is getting stronger and the Palestinian Authority is weakening,
which will create a Palestinian asymmetry that will turn on our heads in the not-too-distant future. It
is very doubtful whether we can prevent this.

Within the entanglement of symmetries and asymmetries we have presented above, and we have
not yet enumerated all of them, it is possible to draw some conclusions concerning Israeli policy. We
would like substantial things to change in the Islamic world, such as the adoption of this foreign and
strange concept called "liberty" which is usually associated with the "crusader" Western culture that
must be eradicated. But we do not have the intention to change the world of Islam. The main
question is how we should behave in these circumstances. If so, we must break the asymmetry
between actions we are able to perform and those we are unable to. The State of Israel is capable
and it is its moral duty to strengthen the moderate Arab public in Israel; Not in false statements, but
in a comprehensive and in-depth response to its socio-economic needs and especially in the fair
integration of its leaders in the Israeli leadership. A fair partnership with Israeli Arabs will strengthen
social resilience in Israel and prevent a real disaster. The State of Israel must play its part in the
rehabilitation of the Palestinian Authority and assist it in establishing a demilitarized state in the
territories of Judea and Samaria. The current leadership in Israel agrees and demands that the de
facto state of Hamas be demilitarized. There is no reason why the de facto state of the Palestinian
Authority in Judea and Samaria should not receive the same treatment. The State of Israel must
cultivate peace relations with Arab countries. The State of Israel, which is very effective in protecting
the security of its citizens, must also demonstrate excellence at the political level. Leading political
moves to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the only way to victory in the deepest sense of the
word.

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Dr. Yaacov Maoz is a researcher, author, publicist and social activist. Commentator on Judaism and
Israeli society. Chairman of the Aramit-Ashurit Language Revival Committee and Ambassador of
Goodwill of the Assyrian People in Israel.

yaacovmaoz@gmail.com