Worse still, the Arabs were plagued by class struggle, conflicting orders, disparities in levels of training and weaponry, and the corruption of their regimes, which took their orders from European capitals. Only 24,000 Arab troops faced 68,000 Zionists and an equal number of trained and armed reserve forces. Then as now, there can be no victory without a stable democratic regime and an effective ruling party. The political programme must provide tactical perspectives and conclude beneficial alliances on local, regional and international levels. Above all, to achieve victory, one must have a just cause.
Democracy is the earth in which stability takes root.
Without it, the edifice is bound to collapse. This week's Soapbox speaker is a Palestinian political analyst.