Both sides seem to love war more than they'll admit. In fact their leaders can't remain in power over their people unless they constantly stage war and fear based campaigns. A people held in fear are easily manipulated and controlled by a relative few large and in charge. Ultimately without a focus on an outside enemy, Israel's own would turn on other Jews and nasty infighting would ensue. Like in America, many are the "Jews" (translation: Regular nondescript human beings) who otherwise would hate or oppress their own who just didn't measure up to some ideal or go to a particular Synagogue, etc. It's hilarious how the New Testament speaks of the Jews who will be destroyed and their Temple removed as another people, when other than a few Greek Gentiles and some Pagans, Jesus himself and all the rest were Jews themselves. It isn't about the common people, Jews or otherwise. It's about those leaders who run the whole show, the hands of a few or any sovereign who will meet their untimely demise accordingly.