Our banana republic
Former Defense Minister Moshe Arens charges that the Netanyahu government is behaving like a banana republic in acceding to the demands of the Obama administration, and that this behavior is not helping Israel's image elsewhere. Now that the Obama administration has decided to raise the profile of the differences of opinion that existed for many years, Israel giving in to Washington's demands may momentarily assuage tempers in Washington. But the emphasis is on momentarily. Additional demands will be coming, and if they are not accommodated the situation may worsen. In Jonathan Alter's book "The Promise" on Obama's first year in the White House, Obama is quoted as saying: "I know how to handle Netanyahu." And after a year of dealing with him, Obama probably gives himself a good score on this subject.One cannot escape the feeling that Israel is the only country in the world that does not know how to say no to Obama. Forget about former enemies like Russia, China and Iran. Look at how many allies say no to Obama. Turkey. HONDURAS (which said no for months and eventually won). Colombia. Britain. Only Israel is afraid to say no. Why?
Has the government's policy of giving in to Washington's demands strengthened the relationship between the two nations? It certainly does not seem that way at the moment. And what if the Israeli government had stuck by its positions - would that have resulted in a crisis? Or by sticking to its principles when vital Israeli interests were at stake, would the Israeli leadership have gained respect in Washington? The jury is still out on this question.
But it is clear that Israeli subservience to American demands does not strengthen Israel's image in the eyes of its enemies and in the capitals of Europe and Asia. The net result of this Israeli policy in recent years is negative. Add to that, and not least important, how Israelis feel about themselves in light of this subservience. After having attained independence at great sacrifice, and having gotten used to a democratically elected leadership determining the nation's course of action, it is a blow to our self-esteem to see our leaders obeying orders that come from abroad.
Read the whole thing.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:15 AM
2 Comments:
I have no idea why Israel's leaders could not say "NO" to Obama on Jerusalem and on the Gaza blockade. The worst they would have faced from Obama would have been harsh words. Acting like a banana republic demoralizes Jews and only further undermines Israel's already beleaguered international standing. If there is no issue on which the Israeli government would stand firm, its time for Jews to start swimming. For a government incapable of making a principled defense of the country's supreme interests is not long going to have a country left to defend.
What could go wrong indeed
The common denominator between Israel's prime ministers who act as if Israel is the 51st state of the US, is that they are Freemasons like their Democrat Jewish allies in the American administrations, the CFR and the Trilateral Commission, etc. They all bow to the phallic obelisk in Washington DC, the Vatican, London, etc. Since the '90s, Rabin, Peres, Netanyahu, Mitzna, Sharon, Barak. They all implemented the policies of the left. Barak was the one who canceled the sale of the Phalcons - to India.
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