A pungent cloud surrounds the homeless man, who has not showered in months. By a water fountain in the public park, he takes out a toothbrush and begins to brush his crumbling teeth. His clothes are tattered, filthy and disgusting, but he removes lint from the shoulder of his coat with great concentration. As he drinks the contents of a crushed soda can he found, he sticks out his little finger like an English lord.

Shooting down rockets in mid-flight is no different from brushing teeth that are severely decayed. It is no different from a foul-smelling beggar dabbing himself with perfume. Our rejoicing over the success of Iron Dome is indicative of a final and strategic decision not to win. We swat at mosquitoes from the Gaza swamp without noticing the rising stench from our own bodies. How about drying out the swamp? In your dreams.

This week, a young man from Gaza, injured while preparing a rocket launcher, was evacuated to an Israeli hospital. What ever happened to chasing down, destroying and eradicating the terrorists? Who has the energy? Besides, it would only lead to “another round” of violence. Such thoughts are based on the assumption that it will never end, that we will never beat them. They are the product of our highly efficient self-defense measures.