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Comment by yostrovs | Hacker News Reader

Europeans give too much value to their sympathies. Given that it's now clear to anyone that will open their eyes that there is no international law, Europe ends up looking like an old grandpa yelling at the clouds, powerless to actually do something. Sympathies are not enough.

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To many fellow Europeans, the “old grandpa shouting at the clouds” is perceived to be some other entity.

¿Por qué no los dos?

There are an awful lot of old men yelling at clouds in power across the world right now.

Sympathies translate into trade policy, arms embargoes, diplomatic recognition, and votes at international bodies. The idea that soft power is meaningless because it isn't a missile is a contradiction in terms. Europe is Israel's largest trade partner. That's not nothing.

Also, "there is no international law" is a strange argument to make in defense of a country that spends enormous resources lobbying international institutions and running influence ops in allied democracies. If none of it mattered, why bother?

> If none of it mattered, why bother?

Hope for the best, plan for the worst. Republicans and missiles being the best.

Israel would crumble if the EU embargoed it, which it deserves but sadly it's not going to happen. They're getting themselves in a very precarious position, alienating the EU and forcing the US to get into their crazy plans. I think this is not going to end well for Israel in the medium term.

Soft power is wonderful and lovely, and it would be a much better world if shows of force where to stop.

Sympathy is akin to allegiance, and over time translates into all sorts of practical benefits. We were getting harsher on China until it turned out that they can be reasonable and a good trade partner.

Israel doesn’t have a ton of friends left in the world arena. Sure, we might be old grandpas over here, but at least I think it’s a better world if we hold each other accountable and try to be friendly to our allies.

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