This is such a terrible story that one has to ask what is the purpose of keeping its memory alive. And from all places, nowhere else but in Israel’s formative literature: the TaNaKh.
There are two possible answers to this question:
An undercut Syria is advantageous to Israel since it would further disrupt the Iranian-Syrian-Hezbollah axis, which includes Hamas and the Houthis, with their plans to exterminate Israel.
However, as much as Israel wants to see Assad weakened enough so that Syria cannot be a real threat to Israel for many decades, his complete overthrow would bring turmoil and uncertainty to the area. In the end, a total triumph by either side of the contenders would probably strengthen an anti-Israeli regime.
Traditionally, Jews have been highly conscious of their behavior as a group, as “am Israel,” as the people of Israel. Unity and solidarity have been distinctive aspects of that behavior.
If the idea of “Jews don’t do this” doesn’t keep on coming up every time Jews misbehave among themselves and toward others, Erich Fromm’s rumination that we will still have an ethical heritage, but it will soon be spent could become true.
