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Adult Education - Journalist Alan Abbey
On October 29, 2006, Alan Abbey, editor and managing director ofYnetnews.com, the English-language website of Yedioth Group, operators of Ynet, Israel’s leading news website, spoke at Congregation Beth Torah. Bnai Zion, a philanthropic organization supporting various projects in Israel, in conjunction with the Adult Education Committee of Congregation Beth Torah, sponsored his  lecture. Rabbi Raskin introduced Mr. Abbey, a Brooklyn native, who came to Ynet in 2004 after more than 25 years as a journalist in the U.S. and Israel. Mr. Abbey spoke on the situation in Israel in the aftermath of the recent conflict in Lebanon and left it to his audience of almost 50, to decide whether it was a win, lose, or draw. He discussed the various negative and positive aspects of the war. Some of events are both negative and positive at the same time.
The positive impact of the war included
- International community is seeing Iran as a destabilizing force in the Middle East
- Lebanon with the help of the United Nations might gain control of its borders.
- The home front demonstrated stamina. Israelis pulled together during that month, showing their strength and belief in their country.
- Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah, admitted, almost apologizing, that he did not think that the kidnapping of the Israeli soldiers would start a conflict and would not have done it if he had known.
- Hezbollah suffered losses and a set back. Egypt and Saudi Arabia even criticized its actions.
The negative aspects from the war included
- The war emboldened Islamic extremists. Hezbollah showed they were well trained, well-equipped, and could fight. This is another destabilizing problem in the Middle East.
- Iran, a supplier of Hezbollah, was strengthened and is going forward with its plans.
- The war demonstrated flaws in the political and military organization of Israel. Israelis are arguing among themselves about the flaws and what should be done.
- Israel is gambling that the international force on the border will maintain peace.
Will the force prevent Israel from protecting its borders?
- Hezbollah still exists and can cause havoc.
- Hezbollah, as a guerilla force, can claim victory by just surviving against a conventional force.
Mr. Abbey thought that Israel will work at rebuilding its military, but the money will come from social programs. He did not foresee a election soon despite the disillusionment with the government. He concluded that Israel did not win or lose the war in Lebanon, but that Hezbollah and others know that Israel will strike back.
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