Q&A: The Trolley Problem and the Annexation of Judea and Samaria
The Trolley Problem and the Annexation of Judea and Samaria
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Regarding the question of annexing Judea and Samaria, there are several aspects, including of course the moral one. There are a few sides to the issue, and here on the site you brought this debate between Zandberg and Smotrich (disapprovingly): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xg-qIMlepo
When I’m exposed to these debates, I think it connects to the well-known “trolley problem”: according to the utilitarian approach, one could argue that annexation would improve the situation of the Arabs in the territories compared to their current condition, and therefore annexation is moral (that is Smotrich’s argument).
According to the deontological approach, ruling over people while denying them full civil rights and discriminating against them relative to other people is an unethical act, and therefore annexation is not moral (that is Zandberg’s argument).
- Am I right about this comparison, and what do you think of it? 2. Have you discussed it here on the site? 3. Could you refer me to a source that deals with it?
Answer
I haven’t addressed it directly, but the main claim is that we are dealing with a collective, not just a mere collection of individuals. Therefore, the question is not how much this one will gain and that one will lose, but what will happen to the collective. Beyond that, there are risks to us here, and that is the primary consideration, even before finding an optimal solution for the Palestinians.