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The Spectacle Blog
Yesterday, before the Republican Jewish Coalition, GOP candidates lambasted President Barack Obama’s policies toward Israel, accusing him of mollycoddling Iran, spoiling terror groups, and fussing over Palestinians at the expense of Israelis.
Policy prescriptions ranged from “regime change” in Iran in Syria to the relocation of the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Newt Gingrich promised to reappoint ultrahawk John Bolton to his UN ambassadorship, which drew applause from the packed house. Not to be outdone, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney threatened Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with indictment “for the crime of incitement to genocide.” However loathsome the Iranian president, it is not immediately clear [under the auspices of which international criminal court the United States does NOT recognize] where Ahmedinejad would be tried.
I think we all would like to see the emergence of friendlier regimes in Iran and Syria. But frankly, we have very little say in the matter. John Bolton certainly wouldn’t be my first choice to represent American interests at the UN, but at least that’s an attainable policy aspiration. Likewise, the repositioning of the U.S. embassy is something an American president could arrange — however, that’s a very touchy subject in peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Aside from Newt’s encouragement of the daily shadow war we’re already fighting against Iran, most of this does little, if anything, to actually help Israel. If these candidates want to demonstrate a real commitment to assist our friend and ally, they first need to recognize Israel’s weaknesses and how we can help address them.
In May 2009, shortly before assuming office as Israeli ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren identified “seven existential threats” facing Israel for Commentary. They are as follows (summary notes within parentheses are mine, unless in “quotes” in which case they’re taken directly)…
1. The loss of Jerusalem (political and spiritual state capital, critical to realization of Eretz Israel)
2. The Arab demographic threat (“a binational state…would spell the end of the Zionist project”)
3. Delegitimization (international isolation at the global stage)
4. Terrorism (lack of success dealing with low-intensity conflicts launched by Hamas, Hizbullah)
5. A nuclear armed Iran (unstable nuclear neighborhood)
6. Hemorrhaging of sovereignty (illegal Arab workers, Israeli Haredim, etc.)
7. Corruption (breakdown of public morality…”greatest single existential threat to Israel”)
Upon consideration of Oren’s “existential” threats… there’s not a whole lot America can do for Israel that it’s not already doing. Would moving our embassy shore up Jewish resolve to protect and defend Jerusalem? Doubtful. I figure they already feel pretty committed to the city after three millennia. But it could demonstrate our support, even as the Jewish state faces increasing hostility at the world stage.
Israel is on its own when it comes to demography, sovereignty and corruption. We’re already doing everything we can to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, short of strategic bombing — which I believe would like only cement support for a broadly unpopular theocracy and commit the nation as a whole to the task of nuclear armament — which would merely impede, not destroy, their weapons program.
Thus, we stand with Israel against policide…even if there’s little we can do to prevent the absolute evil of terrorism within the Israeli state. Panetta’s policy speech was ridiculous, and Guttman’s “gutlessness” shocking. However, both instances demonstrate that our support for Israel — or lack thereof — is often nominal.
Ah, but what about the $3 billion we spend every year in military aid? Well, I think there are some real questions we can ask about how these funds support or undermine the Israeli military and economy. To be perfectly clear, I am not advocating a blanket erasure of support -- however, a recent report by the free market think-tank, the Jerusalem Institute for Market Studies, suggests that American aid comes with hidden costs.
For instance, under the terms established, Israel is obliged to buy weaponry from America that is priced considerably above market value, at the expense of a robust domestic arms industry. Likewise, American military sustenance of more dubious partners across ensures that Israel must direct more resources toward countering potential threats - but we feel a need to maintain leverage in the Arab world as well. In 2010, former PM Ehud Olmert advised a decrease in Israeli defense budgeting to buttress fiscal policy. However, when a great proportion of that budget comes from a foreign ally, efficiency succumbs to moral hazard. For free-marketing Republican candidates, this shouldn’t come as a complete surprise. Finally, as opposed to endless billions in military aid that comes with hidden terms and conditions, our support for Israel should allow full exercise of diplomatic self-determination. For instance, America has demonstrated a heavy-hand when it comes to squelching Sino-Israeli strategic partnerships. This is inappropriate, and unhealthy for both sides.
Believe me, I’m not trying to go all “Ron Paul” on you here, but I’m wonkish and academic by nature. Effective foreign policy demands that we read between the lines. If we’re going to have a frank discussion about how America can support Israel, we need to consider the reality of our relationship, not shout platitudes at the echo chamber. That’s called being a false friend, and it does nobody any good. Least of all the Israelis.
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More Blog Posts by Reid Smith
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/12/08/so-what-can-we-do-for-israel
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mzk1| 12.8.11 @ 2:51PM
We poor Israeli Haredim are an "erosion" of sovereignty? I suggest he read a Chareidi magazine like Hamodia or Mishpacha (available in English in any religious Jewish neighborhood) and he'll find their support for Israel way beyond that of many people who call themselves Zionists.
I'm sorry he decided to play into the hands of the Israeli ultra-far-left, a group that makes up for lack of votes with entrenchment in the courts, media, and universities to a degree that would make Geogre Soros green with envy.
Jack in Wi| 12.8.11 @ 3:14PM
Israel costs us much more then 3 billion a year if you figure all the money we give to Muslims to bribe them to stay peaceful with Israel. The best solution for Israel is to cut them and the Arabs off cold turkey. They need tough love to get straightened out. It is their neighborhood. So let them figure out how to live together without our money or influence.
mzk1| 12.8.11 @ 3:29PM
You have my permission to stop bribing the Muslims.
mzk1| 12.8.11 @ 4:07PM
This would be OK if the rest of the world wasn't falling all over itself to lick the feet of the Arab oil barons. If you could stop them also, I would go for it.
mzk1| 12.8.11 @ 4:09PM
The fact is, that the US is the only power in the world whose foreign policy contains a measure of morality. The rest of the world is pure self-intenrest and the religion of Leftism.
Kevin| 12.8.11 @ 10:32PM
Right: so long as we have trouble with the Muslims, we should also be taxed to finance Israel. Sure.
mzk1| 12.8.11 @ 2:54PM
You know, I come to Israel, I work in "hi-tech" (as we say in Hebrew), I give the Israeli government my tax money, I put up with all sorts of ignorance and discrimination, and this yahoo tells me I'm threatening sovereignty? Let's see how the demographic stiuation - not bad, by the way - would be without us.
JimH| 12.8.11 @ 3:33PM
Michael Oren is certainly doing what he should for his country. For Americans though, the question which should be asked is what should we (our government) do for Israel?
Con Chef (NB) | 12.8.11 @ 3:57PM
Back them if they strike Iran. And by that, I mean looking out for our own interests & keeping the Straits of Hormuz & the Persian Gulf open. And in so doing, I'm SURE we won't be the only ones there. The Brits, Aussies, Kiwis, Danes & Germans have all sent warships to the Gulf at some point during the Iraq war. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if the S. Koreans joined a naval force like that.
mzk1| 12.8.11 @ 4:00PM
So far we've been threatened by Panetta if we do.
Con Chef (NB) | 12.8.11 @ 4:15PM
F that hack. He's toting the line of the Marxist President's base. He'll be out of a job soon anyways. You think that since Obama has dropped to Carter-eque numbers with everyone in the country, he'll risk alienating the ridiculously huge percentage of the Jewish vote that the regressive Dems rely on? He'd lose the Jewish vote for them for the next 50 years. If not longer.
But what do I know? I'm just a 32 year old politically conservative (don't keep Kosher, not a strict observer of the Sabbath) American Jew. So this is one man's opinion.
I'm SURE that the same HUGE chunk that've been loyal to him & that party will NOT like to see Israel turned into a glass parking lot. These people are the Boomers. And they, & some of their parents, remember WWII all too well.
mzk1| 12.8.11 @ 3:42PM
What can be done for Israel? Quite simple. Actually show respect for the fact that we are ones whose lives are at stake, and let us make our own decisions. Stop pressuring us "for our own good". Stop playing games with Jerusalem; Congress years ago declared that it is our capital and should not be divided, so why do American documents not list Israel as the birthplace of one born there.
I just came home from work. The station I change busses in has a huge mall next to it; that mall was devastated by missles from Iraq. If anyone recollects, the reason it was hit was because Bush I, the most anti-Israel president (yes, worse than Carter) since Nasser reversed the US's pro-Arab policy by stabbing the US in the back, decided to protect a country still legally at war with us and told us to shut up and suck it up.
We complied; this is not a one-sided relationship. We sat there and let missles fall on our cities because Bush I asked us to. We've given the US lots of intelligence over the years, including a MIG. And our people truly love the United States, perhaps more than the people of any other country.
So please, stop treating us like children. According to Jung Chang in "Mao", China fell to Communism at 70 MILLION people lost their lives because Eisenhower pressured Chaing Kai-Chek into restraint. Well, we have maybe 10% of that, and an extremely vulnerable country only a few miles wide.
Please.
Con Chef (NB) | 12.8.11 @ 4:00PM
Cut Sayeret Matkal loose & have a blast, so to speak. I'm all for it & you get no argument from me, Brother.
mzk1| 12.8.11 @ 4:04PM
I'm just talking about letting someone build a porch on his house. And, of course, Hilary's stupid speech.
But thank you.
Con Chef (NB) | 12.8.11 @ 3:53PM
This has kinda baffled me. The defense spending thing. Now, I know that the Israelis have done alot of their own upgrades & installations to the aircraft we've sold them. But we sure as hell don't sell them tanks. If I'm not mistaken, IMI makes the Merkava, the newest versions of which are as capable as our M1A2s, the German Leopard, or the British Challenger. AND they have the ability to carry troops.
I also don't see why they need to buy their small arms from us, either. The Galil assault rifle is a great weapon &, like our M-16 that has morphed into the M-4. Why don't they carry it anymore? Or are the M-4s they use built under license by IMI?
mzk1| 12.8.11 @ 4:00PM
Airplanes?
Con Chef (NB) | 12.8.11 @ 4:18PM
Does Israel make her own F-16s & F-15? I didn't know that. Learn something new every day. Under license from General Dynamics & McDonnell-Douglass?
mzk1| 12.8.11 @ 4:04PM
The guy who takes me to work, works for Soltam. I guess I can ask him.
Kingofthenet| 12.8.11 @ 4:37PM
How come there is no questions of what Israel can do for us?, OK, I will go first, PAY back all our 'Loans' with YOUR money.
AmSpec regular| 12.8.11 @ 5:10PM
Anti-semite.
Nite| 12.8.11 @ 8:07PM
The main help we can give Israel is to oust Obama and his goons forever from the WH and Congress.
Kevin| 12.8.11 @ 10:31PM
I await an article by an Israeli called "What Can We Do For America?" (waiting waiting waiting)
Ken (Old Texican)| 12.9.11 @ 9:52AM
mzk1
Thank you guys for all of your gifts to us. (As a Baptized Christian, I sorta' consider myself an "adopted Jew".)
In my mind, possibly the greatest gift you guys have given us is your quiet courage in your motto: "never again".
As you will note...I am a fifth generation Texan. (Texican). My forebears fought at the Alamo and with Sam Houston.
We do "Remember The Alamo" and thus identify with you being surrounded and outnumbered time and time again...and whipping the murderer's butts.
Thank you.
Believe me when I tell you that at least a hundred million Christians here stand with you.
God bless
Ken (Old Texican)| 12.9.11 @ 9:58AM
Well, mzk1
Perhaps I misspoke. Your greatest gift to us was Jesus. Above I was speaking about "recently" (smile).