The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel

Thomas Friedman in today’s New York Times on a new book by Haaretz columnist Ari Shavit titled My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel. The book, he writes, has a way of thinking about Israel:

“that to understand Israel today requires keeping several truths in tension in your head at the same time.

 “First, that Israel, at its best, is one of the most amazing political experiments in modern history, so much better than its critics will ever acknowledge. Second, Israel at its worst, is devouring Palestinian farms and homes in the West Bank in ways that are ugly, brutal, selfish and deceitful, so much worse than its supporters will ever admit. Third, Israel lives in a dangerous region — surrounded by people who hate it not only for what it does but for what it is, a successful Jewish state — but its actions matter, too. It can ameliorate or exacerbate Arab  

Strikes me as being right on the mark.