The Dilemma of the Israeli People

The Israeli people look around them and see a neighborhood full of turmoil and cruelty. Egypt keeps replacing one dictator with another. The minority government of Syria has brutally suppressed the majority rebels and now has even resorted to poison gas attacks. When the rebels finally succeed, there will probably be a new bloodbath in retaliation against the people who are now in power. The Gaza Arabs claim they will conquer all of Israel and shoot rockets across the border to back up their threat. The Arabs and other people in the Moslem world are taught in their schools that Israel and all Jews are evil. No wonder the Israeli people don't trust the Arab people. Israel is faced with an existential dilemma, continually occupying a land that most Israelis don't want to occupy or giving power to a neighbor that can change into a monster overnight. That is what happened with Gaza. Gaza was supposed to be a test case for Palestinian sovereignty. The Gazans immediately elected a government that expressed hostility toward Israel and acted accordingly. So now independence for the West Bank would bring an Arab state in intimate proximity to the population centers of Israel.
So what is the answer to the dilemma? There is no easy one. First of all, Israel must put itself in as strong a position as possible to face any eventuality. A strong military is essential. Continuing to be a leader in science and technology is important. Israel must turn the demographic clock in its favor by being as inclusive as possible. Separation of church and state is essential. Involvement of religion in government is counterproductive for both government and religion. The law of return must continue to provide a safe haven for Jews from anywhere in the world, but the Hebrew language and culture should be the defining factor for who is an Israeli. Non-Jews as well as Jews who are defined by that culture should be allowed and even encouraged to stay in Israel as long as they support the State of Israel. Everything should be done to make the Israeli Arabs part of Israel by more than just equality before the law. This will require integration and education of all Israelis.
The Middle East is the neighborhood of Israel. It's not the best neighborhood, but history has placed Israel in it. Israel is not going away, and neither is the neighborhood. So the Israeli people will have to make the best of it.