Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Elliott Abrams has a must-read on the way in which the Administration stood aside at the UN: Joining the Jackals - The Obama administration abandons Israel.
At the United Nations, a lynch mob for Israel is always just a moment away. The Islamic countries are a reliable source of venom, led by the Arab bloc; what we used to call the "non-aligned" are all aligned against Israel and happy to join the fun; and the Europeans can be counted on for hand-wringing rather than staunch resistance. Only the United States, and a few brave allies like Canada and Australia, can be counted upon to oppose diplomatic lynchings year after year; and only the United States can stop them in the Security Council.
In the American government, it is never the State Department bureaucracy that wishes to brave the endless assaults at the UN. Normally the resistance comes not from the various regional bureaus or from the International Organizations bureau, where Israel is so often viewed as a giant pain, but from the White House and sometimes (example: George Shultz) the Secretary of State.
This week the mob formed again, instantly, after the Gaza flotilla disaster, reinforced this time by the leadership of Turkey, whose language at the UN was more vicious than that used by the Arabs. As usual there was really only one question once the mob began to gather. It is the question that arose repeatedly in the Bush years--when the Hamas leaders Sheik Yassin and Abdel Aziz Rantisi were killed by Israel, when Israel acted in Gaza, when Israel put down the intifada in the West Bank, and during the 2006 war in Lebanon and the late 2008 fighting in Gaza: would Israel stand alone, or would the United States stand with her and prevent the lynching? Would the U.S., in Daniel Patrick Moynihan's memorable phrase, "join the jackals?"
This week the Obama administration answered the question: Yes we would, and Israel would stand alone. It is simple to block the kind of attack issued as a "President's Statement" on behalf of the Council, for such a statement requires unanimity. The United States can just say "No," and make it clear that orders have come from the White House and will not be changed. Then negotiations begin on a serious statement--or, there can be no statement at all. The killing of dozens of South Korean sailors by North Korea in an action that truly threatens the peace did not evoke the kind of action the Security Council took against Israel, proving that the UN does not always act, or act in the same way, when news flashes hit. Whether Israel is slammed depends on whether the United States is willing to take a stand...
Do read the rest. And could we please remember that it's been Hilary Clinton playing point person for many of this administration's assaults? Don't forget it. She'll be back.
I disagree somewhat with this analysis. Here's Marty Peretz, who also disagrees:
http://www.tnr.com/blog/the-spine/75249/the-great-flotilla-debate-the-facts-are-israels-side
Plus, Joe Biden has further supported the perception that the administration isn't joining the baying masses:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/laurarozen/
I think there is room to argue about the blockade itself, as Jonathan Chait points out, but he effectively refutes the one-sided and hysterical assault on Israel:
http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-chait/75239/flotilla-opinion-formed
Further to the Abrams piece: simply refusing to discuss Israel at the UN is counterproductive. It puts the US in an untenable position - plus - it gives us no room to address the issues including the Turkish government's apparent step out onto a limb.
Seeking an investigation into the event isn't Throwing Israel to the Wolves, especially since an investigation will reveal the fact that many of the Peace Activists are linked to extremists and support Hamas, possibly even al Qaeda.
These facts clearly support the Israeli position, and also expose potentially serious problems with Turkey which could impact US/Turkish relations as well as NATO.
Yes, I'm sure a fully transparent, UN-led Goldstone-style probe will out all the facts. Dream on. I have a feeling that the result will be an entirely different kind of probe.
Well a UN-led anything is bound to be a catastrophe.
However an objective investigation will reveal the true nature of the "peace activists" on that Turkish boat, and also the problems with Hamas' philosophy.
But - it might also show where the blockade of Gaza is counterproductive in some respects - for example restricting arms and materials that coule be used to build bunkers etc makes sense but contributing to the poverty of Gaza is a) wrong b) counterproductive - it isn't making people turn against Hamas, it's making them hate Israel. And it isn't just the people of Gaza who hate Israel now, it's becoming an alarming global phenomenon.
Therefore, the Israelis themselves should look into the decision-making process that led to this debacle but also review the blockade itself in all its aspects - some of which are quite dubious.
There's no point for example in not helping the people of Gaza make a living. One is far more likely to be threatened by people who have nothing to lose, by people whose livelihoods have been destroyed, than by people who are prosperous and content with their lives.
So to be honest I think the blockade has elements that should be eliminated, for example restrictions on exports and also on imports of certain items, for the sake of Israel as well as the residents of Gaza, many of whom have nothing to do with Hamas but indeed are its victims.
Further, Israelinurse, whom I respect enormously, made a point the other day on Harry's defending Israel from the assertion that Israeli leadership needs to think more about media matters, her point being that Israeli decision-making isn't undertaken to satisfy the media and create PR but rather to defend Israel.
The problem with the assertion, though, is that it fails to recognize one fact: in this war, perception is everything. Words mean more than bullets right now.
One of Israel's biggest problems is the tsunami of hate that's engendered by Israeli existence, point a, but especially by actions which are perceived to be violent, oppressive or brutal. And there have been all too many of those the past few years. The whole war on Lebanon in 2006 was dubious at best and didn't accomplish much - something - but not enough given that Hezbollah has already rearmed and Israel is perceived as the aggressor. There have been violent and ugly acts by settlers and in Jerusalem. Cast Lead was probably necessary but it was perceived to be OTT violent and aggressive - and now this.
Explaining after the fact might and often does convince people who are knowledgeable but it falls on deaf ears among the general public around the world.
We can blame antisemitism for all the hatred of Israel and to a large extent this is a potent element.
But it isn't the whole story. Many events in recent years have caused me to scratch my head and even be outright angry - and I'm about as pro-Israel as one can get.
So I think this was a colossal disaster for Israel, which fell into a trap that was easily foreseen - and some serious self-examination is overdue in addition to exposing the un-peacelike nature of the flotilla and of course, of Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah and other elements both in the East and in the West.
PS. It is ok for advanced, civilized nations to examine their actions. This isn't "self-hatred." It's self-respect and it goes for the US as well. We have high ideals and when we stray from those, and/or if we are just stupid, we have to acknowledge our errors.
First, as to the standard of living, thanks to the big teats from the EU and UNWRA, Gazans are relatively well off. Remember when Gazans broke down the fence at Rafah and swarmed into Egypt? (Was it last year?) Well, they started drifting back because, simply put, life was better back home in their so-called "open-air prison." In fact, the standard of living is better than in several Arab nations and certainly much higher than in, say much of Africa.
Second, when Israel uprooted the flourishing Jewish communities nearly five years ago, even taking their buried dead with them, they left behind millions of dollars worth of agricultural infrastructure that could have been used to promote self-sufficiency and a better lives for Gazans.
Third, if the government of Hamastan were interested in the welfare of the poor, miserable people of Gaza, why would they tear down houses, rendering people homeless, in order to build more mosques and Islamic centers? In a hierarchy of needs, most people would rank a roof over their heads and food as more important.
The Olso Accords with the PLO that Israel signed at the White House leave Israel in charge of the Gaza Strip's coast. The intercepted ships laden with arms from Iran, such as the Karine-AM and the Francop testify to how vital it is that Israel maintain the blockade. Hamas's diversion of some building materials such as concrete and re-bar into building bunkers and Qassams, rather than housing, testify to the correctness of the choices Israel makes about what to let through.
Please stop wringing your hands about how wonderful the world would be if only Jews weren't so mean.
One again Nappy-Headed Ho' AKBAR!
I was worried that Sophia disappeared for a week or so, I thought because people were responding negatively to some of her comments, but her comment on this thread is cringe worthy.
The problem with Sophias ghetto mentality is that she is uncomfortable with powerful Jews.
Sophia, there is no righteousness in being eternal victims.
Maybe as it is said in the Bible that the Jews wandered in the desert for 40 years, so that the Jews who grew up as slaves of Egypt would die off and the new generation, growing up as Free People would be willing to fight for their rights.
I have ZERO sympathy for islamofascists who are at war with Infidels all over the World.
I have NEGATIVE sympathy for self-righteous "progressives", marxists, socialists who side with islamofascism.
Nappy, with respect, I know the history as well as you do. And I've been arguing every day on behalf of Israel for years so please don't flip me off and dismiss my arguments by claiming they're just Jewish guilt.
Having said that I've been uneasy with the blockade from its inception.
There is just no excuse for preventing the people of Gaza from having writing paper and coriander and house plants. These are not dangerous to Israel. And, it's capricious and cruel to tell other human beings whether or not they can have paper for heaven's sake. Personally I would go nuts without paper, I would be furious if I couldn't cook properly or have my plants.
Would I be furious with my government? No. I would be furious with the people who are preventing me from having my paper and my plants and my spices, that harm nobody but which make my life worth living - little things like that are important to people and they are harmless.
But paper - paper in particular - not having paper would cripple me. I'm an artist. How would I do my work?
Think about that. Think about a Palestinian artist, not having paper. Would you want to be in that situation? And if you were would you be mad at Hamas or would you be mad at Israel?
And - what is the point of crippling their economy? I understand why free flow of people and goods across the border became impossible after the election of Hamas but particularly after the violent seizure of the strip. And it's true that as soon as Israel left Gaza violence broke out within Gaza and against Israel. So I understand the security concerns.
But. Israel seems to have this idiotic idea that making life miserable for people will cause them to hate each other or their leaders (and not Israel.) This was the genius behind 2006 in Lebanon - if we bomb the shit out of Southern Lebanon the people will rise up against Hezbollah. If Israel bombs your house you won't hate Israel, you'll hate Hezbollah.
Now, Hezbollah is part of the legitimate government of Lebanon. It is more powerful and better armed than ever. Simply having them a few kilometers off the border is helpful to Israel, true, but the UN as always isn't protecting Israel or protecting Lebanon's borders from smugglers; and the Army of Lebanon is - guess what - heavily Shi'a and nobody is going to try and disarm Hezbollah and/or the Palestinian militias in Lebanon. They are more radical than ever.
And I don't see any engraved invitations to a peace conference from Beirut. In fact, this was a disaster for Israel as the PM Fuad Sinoira got on the tube at the UN and cried for his people.
Boy that made us look good didn't it.
This isn't Jewish guilt speaking Nappy. It's Jewish brains and yeah, ok, compassion.
So sue me. But since when do we kill people en masse? Since when do we specialize in bulldozing houses?
Since 2006 the Israeli government has been acting full on stupid. You just cannot blame this all on the Arabs or Iran, period. And you cannot blame all the anger at Israel on bigotry, although that's a huge factor obviously.
But we are responsible for our own actions. We are responsible for living as righteous people and examining our lives and our behavior regardless of external circumstances.
Show me ONE Torah or Talmudic scholar who would disagree with me on this. The IDF is founded on those principles.
So why is the Israeli government determined to be so tone deaf either to public opinion or to the suffering of others? I understand the rage against Palestinians since Intifada II but too many government policies are self-defeating and stupid as well as needlessly cruel.
And, the writers here in the US who fear for the future of Israel because younger people don't see the point of Zionism if it shows only the face of cruelty are making a serious point that needs to be considered.
Somewhere along the line we've begun to lose our brains AND our compassion and that just isn't Jewish let alone democratic or enlightened.
Eddie, I'm not uncomfortable with powerful Jews. Give me a break.
I am uncomfortable with stupid Jews though.
Stupid Jews, "progessive" to the point of siding with people who have codified, sermonize, "artists" who create works of art which extol the murder of Jews?
BTW I'm not referring to you but to JINO.