If you thought Hamas and the Israelis couldn’t be any more divergent in their views, guess again. The way each society deals with one particular issue is relatively indicative of the mentality of both. That issue is mind altering substances, and yes, the results of the disagreement could be deadly.
As the prevalence of alcohol in Israel continues to grow, bakeries are trying to cash in on the phenomenon this Hanukkah by making vodka-filled sufganiot, or jelly donuts. The sale of these donuts manages to illustrate a few key aspects of Israeli society. The Israeli government has only put the traditional alcohol age restriction on the sale of these donuts, leaving trade and commerce open. Israeli society has the capability and resources to improve living conditions through the development, sale and purchase of non-essential items, such as the donuts.
Conversely, Hamas is intending to sentence to death drug smugglers found guilty by the authorities. In Hamas’ society, a potentially minor transgression could literally end an individual’s life. While drugs are illegal in Israel, the penalty would most certainly not include the death penalty. Moreover, many residents of the Gaza Strip do not have resources to develop or purchase non-essential items, that would undoubtedly include the alcohol-laden donuts and many mind altering substances as well (that no one should be buying anyways).
The one thing in common- both the Hanukkah donuts and the penalty for smuggling drugs both stem from religion. However, societal reaction to the products is night and day.
A few months ago, I wrote about the early stages of the conflict in Ukraine through the lens of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. While it appears likely that the war will carry on into the foreseeable future, enough time has passed for us to make an honest assessment of each side’s relative […]
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In mid-May the Irish political party, Sinn Féin, won the plurality of seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Many American readers might not fully understand the significance of Sinn Féin’s political victory- but rest assured that subjects of the United Kingdom and a wide range of political movements the world over have heard the message […]
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On the weekend of March 26th, the notorious MS-13 gang went on a massive killing spree in El Salvador which left more than 70 people dead by Sunday. Even for a country where powerful gangs hold massive sway, this recent tragedy stands out considering that it was the bloodiest day on record since the civil […]
