Israeli Empire

Hashemite

Banned
WI Israel annexed Sinai and other territories and became a large country, at peace with Palestinians (who have a sort of Autonomous Republic).
 
I believe that would be possible if the world community accepted Israel to grow whenever they were attacked by their neighbours. It might even lead to less restlessness in the area, if unrests weren't rewarded with weakening Israel. On the other hand, there might be more nationalism - like in Turkey or Germany when they were beaten in wars and had to give up territory. But it doesn't appear to me as if that would be much of a change to todays world, except that there might be slightly fewer suicide bombers.

If they had avoided a few bad economic decisions, Israel might even have become strong enough to treat surrounding nations as satellite states - Lebanon, Syria, and Jordania would be "influenced" strongly by Israel, while Egypt would probably be too big for that. That might also help Israel solve some of the problems fuelling unrest in the area - Palestinian refugees could be integrated fully into the Jordanian economy, making even more Palestinians follow; Lebanon could be integrated into Israel more and more, making Israel more cosmopolitan and giving it road access to Europe; and more.

The question is, whether so much power would corrupt Israel into treating the whole area like the West Bank - or whether it would lead to uneasy cooperation similar to the former Warsaw Pact, but with increasing ties and in the long term even understanding and independence without war, and with lots of problems solved.
 
jolo said:
Lebanon could be integrated into Israel more and more, making Israel more cosmopolitan and giving it road access to Europe; and more.
The Zionists aren't going to accept a more cosmopolitan state. their objective is a Jewish state and if that means kicking out other groups then so be it.
 
ThePharaoh said:
WI Israel annexed Sinai and other territories and became a large country, at peace with Palestinians (who have a sort of Autonomous Republic).

This could happen only the region were more secular:

Religious Jews remain opposed to Zionism and do not immigrate to Israel in large numbers.

The PLO holds to its leftist and secular roots and is not opposed by Islamic groups such as Hamas, but remains opposed by the Hashemites of Jordan.

Israel does not build settlements exclusively for Jews in the WB but annexes it, takes advantage of the divide between pro-PLO/anti Hashemite and pro-Hashemite/anti-PLO groups, and proves itself better at providing social services than either of the other groups.

In short, Zionism evolves very differently from the OTL, holding more to its socialist roots and not allowing religious Jews to hijak it, while at the same time Palestinian nationalism is not taken over by Muslims.

Probably Israel in this TL would be less Jewish in character, but a safer and more stable place for Jews to live than in the OTL.
 
Michael B said:
The Zionists aren't going to accept a more cosmopolitan state. their objective is a Jewish state and if that means kicking out other groups then so be it.

This is why Israel has expelled the 1/5th of its citizenry that are not Jewish.

Oh, wait, it hasn't. If their objective was a purely Jewish state they would have banned non-jews from citizenship.
 
Blochead said:
This is why Israel has expelled the 1/5th of its citizenry that are not Jewish.

Oh, wait, it hasn't. If their objective was a purely Jewish state they would have banned non-jews from citizenship.

Clearly, Zionism includes a spectrum of ideologies, ranging from those who would expel or exclude from citizenship all non-Jews, to those who see Israel as a place for Jews to live together with non-Jews, as citizens of a multi-national state. Most Israeli voters are somewhere in between and, as in any political process, the current situation is a compromise.
 

Gremlin

Banned
The whole point of Israel is a jewish homeland for the jews ran by the jews. Therefore the annexation of the Gaza and West bank would have resulted in a Jewish minority unless the disenfranchised their Arabic members.
If they did this then Israel would cease to be a democracy and be no better regarded than Syria or Lebanon as an oppressor of its people.

Sharon's Gaza pull-out has delayed the day when the Jews lose their majority but unless they can release themselves from the West Bank the day will still arrive.
 
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