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Are Israel’s actions in Lebanon largely “vengeance” – a la, Nazi style? · 31 July 2006

In his book, “Hitler: the pathology of evil”, psychologist George Victor – who emphasized that he was writing as a “a Jew” – wrote about people who “embraced the position of victim, felt outraged, and took vengeance – a pattern that wrecked their lives and the lives of their families”.

This, he wrote, “helped me understand the Third Reich”.

In a passage that might well apply to the psychology of many present-day Jews and to Israel, Victor wrote:

“Germany was seriously harmed after World War I – a victimization to which its leaders and people submitted, although Germans remained highly conscious of the victimization and outraged over it. Even more important, however, was Germany’s long history of victimization. While Americans have thought of Germany as a warlike, predatory nation, its history was the opposite. … Germans were the victims of many invasions, some of which decimated the population. That history made Germany a fertile soil for Hitler’s message of victimization, outrage, and vengeance.”

British Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells has said: “If you’re chasing Hezbollah, well, chase Hezbollah. You don’t go for the entire Lebanese nation, and that’s the difference.”

Are Israel’s actions against Lebanon largely “vengeance” for past injustices, driven by a feeling of “victimization”, rather than a balanced reaction to the actions of Hezbollah?

Jeff Schubert’s book, “Dictatorial CEOs & their lieutenants: the cases of Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin, Ataturk, Mussolini and Mao”, will be released soon.

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