What Israel could use right now
In an earlier post, I noted the isolation that we're feeling here in Israel right now. Interestingly, this weekend I read the chapter in Daniel Gordis' Saving Israel called A Nation that Dwells Alone. Pure coincidence, but it really drove the point home.A lot of you are probably wondering what you can do for Israel right now. There's one thing I can think of that would probably do more to lift spirits here than anything else: A letter signed by 300+ Representatives and 80+ Senators urging the Obama administration to tone it down. We've had some individual expressions of support, for example from Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) (pictured above) and Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.), but a strong letter from a large part of Congress would probably do a lot to bring the Obama administration back to reality. I know that there are some members of Congress who follow me on Twitter - hopefully some of you will grab the ball and run with it.
Here in Israel, the Knesset is trying to get a substantial part of its membership behind Prime Minister Netanyahu on this issue.
Members of the Knesset lobby for the Land of Israel began signing Knesset members on a declaration in an attempt to create a united front against the American rebuke suffered by Prime Minister Netanyahu during the last few days over the Ramat Shlomo diplomatic crisis.Maybe if large majorities of the Knesset and the Congress sign on, the Obama administration will realize that it is picking the wrong fight.
MK Ze'ev Elkin, chairman of the lobby explained the value he finds in such a signing, saying, "We want to give an expression to the fact that there is a broad consensus that on Jerusalem there is no dispute."
If you are connected to someone in the US Congress (House or Senate), please do pass this on.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:19 PM
1 Comments:
Us lovers of Zion are fond of saying in response to attacks from Israel's haters that "Israel can do no wrong", that of course Israel can make mistakes and in fact there is nothing per se wrong with criticism of Israel. Like anyone else she makes mistakes which are open to criticism. Its foolhardy to suggest otherwise.
Could it possibly be that this latest debacle is a case where Israel is legitimately open to criticism? Consider the following article (http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2010/03/15/the-israel-crisis/) from an avowed friend of Israel who has recently been blogging up a storm in defense of Israel and its unique bond to the US.
I'm beginning to think this should give us pause to consider that perhaps Israel is at fault here and we'd be best to hold our silence and let this pass.
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