Why Israel Ignores the West | Dan Schueftan on Survival Over Approval

Israel has achieved extraordinary military successes across Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and against Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure. But according to Professor Dan Schueftan, military victory is only the beginning. In this wide-ranging conversation with Pamela Paresky, Schueftan argues that Israel faces not a solvable conflict but an enduring condition — one that requires what he calls “violent maintenance” to prevent enemies from rebuilding. From Gaza’s deep-rooted Muslim Brotherhood ideology to Hezbollah’s position in Lebanon and Iran’s regional ambitions, he outlines why deterrence, not diplomacy, defines the strategic horizon. Beyond the battlefield, Schueftan contends that Israel is losing something else: Western public opinion. He sees a broader cultural war unfolding inside Western academia, media, and law — one that, in his view, mirrors the illiberalism it claims to oppose. He also confronts internal challenges: the future of Israeli liberalism, the viability of a Palestinian state, demographic pressures in the Diaspora, and tensions within Israeli society itself. Israel, he argues, must be Sparta toward its enemies and Athens at home — strong without and pluralistic within. Do you agree? Can perpetual deterrence substitute for peace — or does that logic lead somewhere dangerous? Let us know in the comments. 00:00 Intro 00:30 Interview begins 09:40 Understanding Radicalism and Its Implications 14:06 Hope and Despair in Conflict Zones 19:15 Comparative Analysis: North Korea and Iran 28:10 The Role of Progressivism in Global Conflicts 37:03 The Future of Jewish Identity in America 46:33 The Dynamics of Middle Eastern Relations 55:42 Reflections on Anti-Zionism and Jewish Identity ------ Quillette is an Australian-based online magazine that focuses on long-form analysis and cultural commentary. It is politically non-partisan, but relies on reason, science, and humanism as its guiding values. Quillette was founded in 2015 by Australian writer Claire Lehmann. It is a platform for free thought and a space for open discussion and debate on a wide range of topics, including politics, culture, science, and technology. Quillette has gained attention for publishing articles and essays that challenge modern orthodoxy on a variety of topics, including gender and sexuality, race and identity politics, and free speech and censorship. --- Quillette's revenue comes from our readers. We are a grassroots organisation that relies on voluntary subscriptions and community membership as our primary revenue stream. Support Quillette by becoming a subscriber: https://quillette.com/#/portal/signup Or donate send us a one-off tip: https://quillette.com/#/portal/support We made our website using Ghost, a powerful app for new-media creators to publish, share, and grow a business around their content. It comes with modern tools to build a website, publish content, send newsletters & offer paid subscriptions to members. Try it here: https://ghost.org/?via=claire91