Balancing dangers and opportunities

The speed of recent changes is breathtaking.

On the negative side, an escalation in anti-Semitism has reduced the quality of life for most Jews. Most European governments do not conceal their contempt for Israel, and their foreign policies and U.N. voting records display an absence of moral compass.

Nothing illustrates this better than their reaction to Israeli self-defense against incursions by Hamas terrorists and rocket attacks. To depict Israel’s efforts to defend itself from violent mobs as a disproportionate response to “peaceful demonstrators” is obscene. No country would have shown as much restraint.

The behavior of the ailing Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his acolytes has descended to levels of anti-Semitism that would have made the Nazis proud.

A rabid hatred for U.S. President Donald Trump has led many American Jews to distance themselves from Israel. Forty-two percent of them even opposed moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.

On the broader Jewish political level, the Anti-Defamation League, the once respected apolitical body whose mandate was to combat anti-Semitism, today aggressively seeks to slander Trump and often criticizes Israel.

The Democratic Party has become radicalized with the emergence of anti-Israeli agitators. The primary election defeat of Rep. Joe Crowley, the Democratic caucus chairman and a firm supporter of Israel, was a significant blow. Jewish voters were not dissuaded from supporting his opponent, 28-year-old Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has made no secret of her hostility to Israel. She is affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America, which supports the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement.

The situation for Jews on college campuses has worsened. Many pro-BDS agitators are fringe Jews working with radical Arabs and far-left extremists.

But outside this gloom, there is also light.

While Israelis are exasperated with corruption and the multiple allegations against the Netanyahus, were an election to be held now, Benjamin Netanyahu would be re-elected. Support for his Likud party is higher than any party has seen in decades.

Despite internal debates, the people of Israel today are more united than ever. Most recognize that, given the current Palestinian leadership, a Palestinian state would be a terrorist state and a potential launching pad for Iran. There is an overwhelming desire not to be an occupier, but separation must be conditional on security.

In the wider U.S. population, there is stronger support for Israel than ever, with enthusiastic support from evangelical Christians.

The decision to relocate the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem was of enormous symbolic importance, as has been U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley’s strident lambasting of those who employ double standards against Israel. In addition, unlike his predecessor, Trump does not refer to Abbas as a moderate. He has made it clear that an institution which gives over $4 million annually from its foreign aid grants to incentivize terrorists cannot be considered a peace partner.

The soon-to-be-announced Trump peace plan  will probably fail because the conflict is not about real estate. The core issue remains the Palestinian desire to end Jewish sovereignty in the region.

In this context, the U.S. decision to reinstate sanctions on Iran – which Trump considered on the brink of becoming a nuclear threshold state – was extremely positive. It may, in time, bring about regime change.

Considering the long history of Russian anti-Semitism, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s warm relationship with Netanyahu and Israel is unprecedented. Without Russian coordination, the IDF could not have destroyed key Iranian targets in Syria. Putin has also supported Israel’s demand that Iran keep its distance from the Israeli border.

In addition, Israel has developed important relationships with India, China, and many African, Latin American and Southeast Asian countries. While Western Europe is increasingly susceptible to pressure from its vastly expanded Muslim constituencies, the relationship with Eastern Europe is strengthening.

And Israel is now enjoying unofficial liaisons and allegedly exchanging intelligence with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states.

This is a truly incredible reversal of the isolated Israel of a decade ago.

Israel is a mini-superpower. Militarily, it has successfully deterred Iran and its surrogates from embarking on war. Economically, its amazing high-tech innovations attract entrepreneurs from around the world and its revolutionary water recycling technology assists other countries.

Finally, Israeli gas exports are expected to further strengthen its global links.

These positive factors more than offset the negative elements referred to above. It is not surprising that, despite some grumbling, Israelis are ranked as a happy people.

We should look at Israel today and, without becoming complacent, reminisce about our position of only 10 years ago, and give thanks to our leaders and the Almighty for our achievements.