[Transcript of the “Eidelberg Report,” Israel National Radio, December 4, 2006.]
In my book Demophrenia, published in 1994, I mention various symptoms of schizophrenia, such as delusions of grandeur, escapism, illogical thoughts, stereotypic behaviors, flattened emotional reactions, and impaired volition. These symptoms obviously exist on a continuum with normal behavior. A World Health Organization study concludes that “schizophrenics, for all their vulnerabilities, are in the full sense responsive social beings like the rest of us.” Still, these “vulnerabilities” result in bizarre behavior, as may be seen in innumerable democratic politicians, including certain Israeli prime ministers.
In saying this, my purpose is not to denigrate them, for their mentality has been conditioned by the democratic mentality of the present era. Instead, I want to warn Israel that the most important political behaviors and policies of their political elites are irrational and destructive. (more…)