The Foundation for Constitutional Democracy

Moral cowardice has characterized Israeli prime ministers for a number of decades. To be sure, moral courage is rare among politicians, more so in an age of moral relativism. However, as one may learn from Plato, courage is a precondition of wisdom. This explains why folly is another characteristic of Israeli prime ministers. Hardly encouraging for a nation at war, and Israel has been at war for a very long time. Ponder, therefore, the words of some stouthearted men:

What’’’s needed is wisdom—but there are no wise men in Israel.
Jonathan Netanyahu, May 11, 1975

War is not to be avoided but is only deferred to the advantage of others.
—Machiavelli

It will always be found in the end that the only way to whip an army is to go out and fight it.
—General Ulysses S. Grant

I’’’ll tell you what war is about. You have got to kill people, and when you have killed enough of them they stop fighting.
—General Curtis Lemay

The way to prevent the enemy from attacking you is to attack him and keep right on attacking him. This prevents him from getting set …
—General George S. Patton

To base one’’’s conduct in an important undertaking on faith in the moderation of one of the contracting parties is asking for trouble—Any plan conceived in moderate terms must fail when the circumstances are set in the extreme. Hence, in any situation where each of the possible lines of action involves difficulty, the strongest line is the best.
—Metternich

They [Israeli governments] should have responded to these terrorist acts long ago. The fact that they have waited this long, necessitates a reprisal action of major dimensions now.
—Jonathan Netanyahu, October 27, 1966

Compromise is the easy refuge of irresolute or unprincipled men.
—Metternich

Any compromise [with our enemies] will simply hasten the end.

—Jonathan Netanyahu, December 2, 1973

Weaker states can ill-afford merely to react to events; they must also try to initiate them.
We must rely for the execution of our plans on ourselves alone and on such means as we possess.
—Metternich

Never take counsel of your fears. Pursue the enemy with the utmost audacity.
—General George S. Patton

When called upon to handle important matters, the statesman must tackle them vigorously. For this to happen it is necessary that the course decided upon should not only be clear in the eyes of the Cabinet, but should also be made clear in the eyes of the public.
—Metternich

I see with sorrow and great anger how a part of the people still clings to hopes of reaching a peaceful settlement with the Arabs. Common sense tells them, too, that the Arabs haven’’’t abandoned their basic aim of destroying the State; but the self-delusion and self-deception that have always plagued the Jews are at work again.
—Jonathan Netanyahu, November 17, 1973

You ask what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us: to wage war against a monstrous tyranny—That is our policy. You ask: What is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory——victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.
—Winston Churchill, May 10, 1940

I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and returned not until they were destroyed. I crushed them so that they are not able to rise; — I pulverized them like dust in the face of the storm.
—King David, Psalms 18:38-43