A few years ago, an Israeli-American who is known for his philanthropy was asked to donate money to build a new maternity ward in a hospital in the south.
During one of his visits to Israel, he met with the heads of that hospital, who presented the plan to him.
The plan looked wonderful, but the price tag was outrageously high.
To his question why it is so expensive just to build the building, their answer was that the hospital is in the line of missiles from Gaza, and so that they do not have to move the premature babies during the shelling, it is necessary to protect them from above and below and on the right and on the left.
The same benefactor looked at them and said with a half smile: Tell me, isn't it cheaper to make peace?
Everyone laughed out loud.
Bitter laughter. This story connects me to Prime Minister Yair Lapid's speech at the United Nations.
A speech that stood on three legs: Iran, the phenomenon of spreading lies about Israel, including on the UN stage, and his support for the two-state solution.
"An agreement with the Palestinians, based on a vision of two states for two peoples, is the right thing for Israel's security, Israel's economy and the future of our children," the prime minister said from the UN stage, adding that the condition is that they stop trying to eliminate us, that they stop shooting, that they stop firing missiles - and then Israel will be the one to help both the Gazans and the residents of Judea and Samaria to build their economy and bring about its prosperity.
"Peace is not a compromise," he explained.
"It is the bravest decision we can make. Peace is not weakness. It embodies all the strength of the human spirit. War is surrender to all that is bad in us. Peace is the victory of all that is good."
After the Prime Minister's speech at the United Nations, I met with several American Jews, who are among Israel's biggest supporters. One of them told me that Lapid's speech was an important step in the right direction. to support the continuation of the situation in the territories.
The problem is not with us, the adults, but mainly among the younger generation here in the US, who do not live on the memories of the Six Day War or the Yom Kippur War. They grew up in a situation where Israel is occupying. They are today managing the funds of the foundations that their parents established, and they are many More selective in their donations."
I asked him, then, what Israel should do.
His answer surprised me - Israel, which invented inventions that change reality, should actively act to change reality, and appoint not only a minister of security, but a minister of peace.
give him budgets.
His role will be to examine the situation in depth and act tirelessly, prepare plans and prepare the area for a situation where it will really be possible to make peace, with confidence and strength that will preserve the lives of the citizens of Israel.
I smiled, and told him it was a great idea and great material for a satire show.
But after we broke up I revisited his proposal.
After all, I thought to myself, why not actually think outside the box?
Why not try?
There are so many redundant offices in the government, perhaps the Ministry of Peace will become the most important of them.
were we wrong
We will fix it!
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