[..] Simply put, Liberman has revived Israel’s “periphery doctrine” of the 1950s, adjusting it to modern strategic realities. It is his greatest contribution thus far as foreign minister to Israel’s well-being, and it warrants far more attention than it has garnered to date.
The periphery doctrine dates back to the bad old days of the 1950s, when Israel was encircled by hostile Arab nations. At the time, David Ben-Gurion developed a strategy based on diplomatic outreach to countries on the region’s periphery, such as Iran, Turkey and Ethiopia, in the hopes of cultivating their friendship and support as a counterbalance to our unfriendly neighbors.
[..]
But then along came Liberman with a novel and shrewdly inspired approach. Realizing that the bulk of Israel’s diplomatic attention and resources are directed towards the alliance with the United States, Liberman sought to broaden the base of Israel’s support elsewhere in the world by launching a concerted effort to develop closer ties with other nations, particularly African, South American and Eastern European countries.
In other words, he has resurrected the periphery doctrine but with a global twist, pivoting Israel’s diplomatic attention to parts of the world that had previously been all but ignored.
Thus, for example, in the latter part of 2009, Liberman visited five African countries, including Kenya and Nigeria.
Leveraging Israel’s formidable knowledge and expertise in fields such as agriculture and health, he offered to assist his hosts with biotechnology, advanced water-purification techniques, and in the battle against AIDS.
As a result of his visit, which marked the first time an Israeli foreign minister had visited some of these countries in nearly 40 years, a series of important diplomatic agreements and economic deals were signed.
Liberman also traveled to South America, strengthening ties with Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Colombia, nations that had not previously received the attention they deserved. On the other side of the globe, he worked assiduously to build bridges in Asia and deepened relations with rising powers such as China and India.
And he placed a renewed emphasis on the Balkans and southern Mediterranean region, promoting closer cooperation with Greece and Cyprus to offset the deterioration in relations with Turkey. This has had major benefits such as cooperation on energy resources and also helped to prevent the most recent attempt by pro- Palestinian anarchists to send a flotilla to Gaza.
In addition, he expanded the number of countries with which Israel holds high-level diplomatic consultations, and despite cuts in Israel’s national budget, he fought successfully to open nearly a dozen new consulates and embassies abroad. These include consulates in Sao Paulo and St. Petersburg, as well as ones in Bangalore, India, and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, that will open shortly.
These initiatives have strengthened Israel’s diplomatic standing in the world and enabled it to reach out to parts of the planet that are increasingly important from a political and economic standpoint.
And they undoubtedly contributed to the success of Israel’s efforts last year to stave off the unilateral Palestinian attempt to win official recognition of an independent state.
Obviously, Israel remains in a very difficult position, facing an existential threat from a nuclear-addicted Iran amid the mounting instability caused by the Arab Spring uprisings.
Say what you will about Liberman and his politics, but in laying the groundwork for a far more sophisticated and global approach to Israeli foreign policy, he has greatly enhanced the Jewish state’s status throughout the world. This is a genuine achievement, one that will bring great benefits to Israel for many years to come.
@ Bernard Ross:
Only Eldad so far meets my min. requirements for Jewish leadership.
@ Bernard Ross:
A little perspective:
Israel has lost around 30000 killed in wars and from terror/ riots/pogroms since 1920. http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/casualtiestotal.html
That number was an average days work for the Nazis, the Ukrainian -Russian Pogroms/ the Crusaders/Inquisitions….Wars against Rome.
“Eretz Yisrael in its entirety belongs to the Jewish nation, and we are commanded by the Torah to inherit it and to dwell in it, and not to leave it in the hands of any other nation. It is forbidden to allow the gentiles to have a foothold in Israel, as it is written,’do not allow them a foothold’, and it is also written, ‘they shall not dwell in your land’. Therefore it is forbidden to withdraw from any part of Eretz Yisrael, thereby leaving it, G-d forbid, in the hands of gentiles”.
The consequences for Jews not obeying Torah Laws re: the Land of Israel and settlement:
As it is written, ‘the Canaanites lived amongst them at Gezer’ (Judges chapter 2)…” In other words, our generation made the same tragic mistake as did the generation of Joshua. Yes, they captured the land. But by not driving out the inhabitants, they failed to actualize their conquest and sovereignty, which in effect, rendered their conquest insubstantial. (see Judges, chapter 2)
“The deeds of the fathers are a sign for the sons”.
“‘Beware of what I command you Today: Behold, I will drive out before you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivvite, and the Jebusite. Be vigilant not to seal a covenant with the inhabitants of the Land to which you are coming, since they will be a fatal trap for you.'” (Exodus 34:11-12)
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“HaShem spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab, by the Jordan [River], at Jericho, saying, ‘Speak to the Children of Israel and say to them, “When you cross the Jordan [River] to the Land of Canaan, you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the Land from before you; and you shall destroy all their prostration stones; all their molten images shall you destroy; and all their high places shall you demolish. You shall possess the Land, and you shall settle in it; for, to you have I given the Land to possess it. … But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the Land from before you, those of them whom you leave shall be pins in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they will harass you upon the Land in which you dwell. And it shall be that what I had meant to do to them, I shall do to you.”‘” (Numbers 33:50-56)
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“They [Children of Israel] provoked Me with a non-god, angered Me with their vanities; so shall I provoke them with a non-people, with a vile nation shall I anger them.” (Deuteronomy 32:21)
CuriousAmerican Said:
Rubbish, this is just another disingenuous way to discourage the Jews from seeking the justice they deserve. I am sure that if you put your sharp mind to see the continuing swindles of the Jews in this present day you can come up with solutions that do not always reduce the interests of the Jews. Most of the world has been, and moreso, continues to be complicit in the swindle. The Jews are the easy mark. Those with practically nothing and living in a national ghetto can always be swindled to give more as opposed to the hundreds of millions of muslims with hundreds of millions of miles. Have you heard of affirmative action? It is a policy designed to restore justice and during that process it is “unfair” to some. It has the benefit of avoiding civil unrest. I shudder to think of what may happen if the Jews ever wake up to what was done and what continues to be done. A true national leader would seek repayment of debts incurred by the jew killers, their funders, their supporters. There is no statute of limitation on murder.
yamit82 Said:
I agree, I think this is the cause of the European chronic, serial slaughter of the Jews. The Jews are the living witness to the false claim and therefore must be eliminated.
yamit82 Said:
The Jews in Israel have also known no rest.
yamit82 Said:
Who do you like or trust or who do you think would be good for Israel?
CuriousAmerican Said:
Isn’t this what has been done to the Jews by the Christians for 2000 years, why would one presume that the reverse is unthinkable? At this time, Europe, the birthplace and cultural descendant of Christianity, is in alliance with those who seek to kill and swindle Jews. I do not seek for Jews to do the same to others but I consider that part of the problem is that the world always expects that Jews should follow their rules which they themselves do not follow or enforce. This ridiculous charade is accepted by fool Jews. Therefore the fool Jews tie their own hands when seeking solutions to the crimes repeatedly perpetrated on them by the other. Those who associate with an ideology and do nothing to mitigate the excesses of that ideology are to some extent guilty of facilitating its damage.
CuriousAmerican Said:
I have always believed that Israel missed a great opportunity in Lebanon in the first occupation. It should have created a Christian state in the south of Lebanon for the Lebanese Christians which could have become a magnet for the other mideast Christians. Everything was in place for its success. Barak is the epitome of failure and poor judgment. Perhaps the opportunity remains with the reopening of hostilities with Lebanon. Israelis wish to remain apart from meddling with their neighbors but I think this is a mistake as the lack of meddling gives them the status quo.
@ CuriousAmerican:
Was this comment an afterthought to your comment #20?
Nothing I say will produce either my coffin or it’s nails. In Israel we are usually buried in a shroud. 😛
The fact is that you got the rights and a Jew ran for VP in 2000 on the Gore/Lieberman ticket.
Had it been Lieberman/Gore the Democrats would have won, and everyone knows it.
To now defend an ethnic exclusivity, which the Jews themselves detested, is hypocrisy.
I would love to hear them, anyway.
It would put the final nail in your coffin.
@ CuriousAmerican:
Concessions? Tired of making concession to you goyim, time for you to make concessions to us…< I can offer many suggestions as to what concessions but I don't think you would either like or agree to them.
@ Eric R.:
Don’t know if the purpose of Israel is or should be a haven for Jews. Israel as the historic homeland of the Jews since the covenant with Abraham was meant to be only for the Jews. It’s a small land mass and we Jews are entitled to our own land jut as all the other nations of the world. They have their allotted portion and we have ours.
Our National purpose is National redemption which can only be in our own sovereign nation. Israel today.
Our historic and biblical purpose is national redemption which is spiritual but first things first Jews must be preserved physically.
Torah says: “Among the nations you will know no rest….” meaning, that in the Diaspora, things are going to be bad. So until all the Jews arrive here or are assimilated out from among us we must not just be a haven but a positive place to come to from Choice.
@ Eric R.:
Actually for both Christians and Muslims it’s combination of all 3 nationality and ethnicity and above all RELIGION.
Judaism and Israel today is a negation of both Islam and Christianities basic theological core; being our replacement. Jews should neither thrive, win wars against them or even exist.
Theologically if we are right then they are wrong. This is what drives all Christian and Muslim societies in their antipathy towards Israel and Jews. Terminology is more politically correct but the underlying Jew and Israel hatred and bashing is not emanating from Asia but only nations that are nominally Christian and Muslim or under their direct influence like Black African countries.
@ CuriousAmerican:
Even small numbers who are full of hatred towards Jews and Israel which can be a problem. I know of no Arab Christian or Muslim who does not believe we stole their land. They may have their internal and theological issues with Muslims but have and will always side with their brothers against the Jews so they cannot remain amongst us.
@ CuriousAmerican:
Duh!! What does a Jewish state mean to you?
Does our scripture say that Israel was given to the Jews and all others who want to live in it?
What does our faith say about even allowing a pagan to step foot in the Land of Israel? Seems to me we have a right if not obligation to determine for ourselves who may visit and who may reside in our country. If you want to kick all the Jews out of America it’s no skin off our noses. Jews should not live where or force themselves on anyone who does not want them.
Never good or healthy to be a minority and especially if you area Jew. Being a national minority is abnormal, not a healthy position to be in.
In any event Jews in America got their political and civil right both by fighting a long war for them and getting them as a hitch-hike of Catholics and other minorities battles for political and civil rights in almost each and every state. Nothing was willingly given to the Jews. in America.
My suggestions for Arab Christians is to get out of here ASAP while they can because if they don’t they will be at the mercy of their Muslim Brothers and have no future except persecution and death. If real Jews ever get to run things here we will escort all Christians to the nearest border or exit terminal maybe with some pocket change. Compared to the apathy of other Christians to their plight, that’s pretty humane.
Do not consider for a nano second the Christian Arabs hate Israel and Jews less than Muslims. From personal experience I can attest that they hate us more than the Muslims.
@ CuriousAmerican:
If by Samaritan Christians, you are talking Palestinian Christians, I must disagree. Arab Palestinians, regardless of faith, will be a problem for Israel. The issue in that case, is not religion, but nationality/ethnicity.
As for Russian nationalism being neo-Nazi, Putin is actually trying to make noises about being a defender of oppressed Christians, so taking in Copts and Assyrian Christians (whose Eastern style Christianity is not far from Russian Orthodox) would both be a great publicity coup for him and help stem the Islamic tide in Russia.
If Israel is only for Jews you have an ethnocracy, something which Jews found against when they were in the minorities in the West.
And I am not saying all Christians should be refugees. I am referring to the Judea and Samarian Christians. I gave you the numbers, they are small.
And Christians from Judea and Samaria are technically NOT refugees. They were born in the area.
I do not suggest you save Copts. I suggest you make an offer for the Christians in Judea and Samaria which are only about 150,000. NOT Syrian nor Lebanese Christians.
Such an offer would be wonderful propaganda for Israel and would purchase a lot of Good Will in the West, especially in South America where there are 20 Million Arabs (almost all Christian)
Israel claims Judea and Samaria. It can’t treat the Christians who have been there for centuries as refugees in the land of their birth. They are small enough to franchise with no problems.
The Russian Copt Idea makes sense. But Russian Nationalism is Neo Nazi. They would not be accepted.
There are 2 Million Muslims now in Moscow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbATZ6Zu_v4
Russia will soon be 40% Muslim. This would explain the prophesied Gog and Magog war.
@ CuriousAmerican:
Israel cannot be a refugee land for Christians. Its purpose is as a haven for Jews. There are scores of Western nations, many with low birth rates, that could use, and should welcome, these Christian refugees.
After all, eventually, Egypt’s Copts are going to leave, and there are 8 million of them. A European continent, including Russia, with 500+ million people, and in dire need of some non-Muslim population that will actually breed, might find it useful to take them in. And given the Jew-hatred of the Copts, they will fit right in with the Europeans already there.
@ yamit82:
I read your comment. Whatever complaints one might have of Lieberman, he is (from my view) a far better FM than any predecessor I can recall (including the highly-touted and over-rated Abba Eban).
You talk about what he says vs. what he does. You know what? Sometimes what you say as a diplomat IS important. When Israel has been pissed at the Europeans, he has said so in no uncertain terms. That IS a big thing in international diplomacy.
I have been saying this many times: South America has over 20 Million well assimilated and often elite Arabs. Depending on the country these Arabs run from 90% to 99% Christian, usually closer to 99%.
Their Christianity makes them stable and an asset to their countries.
Lieberman should go to them and make some moves and concessions.
NOT a two state solution; but maybe an offer to enfranchise, and issue building permits to Judean and Samarian Arab CHRISTIANS (not Muslims).
There are only 167,000 Christians in the contested areas. Their birth rate is lower than Jews or Muslims. They could be assimilated quite easily. Given their lower birth rate, any demographic change would evaporate in a decade. 150,000 is a better estimate as the 167 includes other groups like Samaritans.
It would purchase a lot of good will in South America, where overall the Arabs in South America are 99% Christian. Brazil and Chile are emerging. Their good will should not be despised.
This is a rough chart with some data
http://latinarabia.com/countries/ Break down – and it is not even complete, but you will get the picture.
Rather than looking at the Arabs in Latin America as a potential disaster, treat them as an asset.
These people are Westernizd. They are Christians. Even the Palestinians in South America are 99% Christian. Many (The Palestinians, Syrians, and Maronite Lebanese) fled Turkish Muslim tyranny.
Israel has ignored them. The Saudis are walking in with propaganda. It is time for Israel to counter it and make an offer.
An addition of about 150,000 Samrian Christians would be blip on the Israel demographic, would divide and conquer Muslim from Christian, and purchase a world of good.
@ Eric R.:
Did you read what I wrote? If yes, it seems not to have resonated with you.
Lieberman is a right wing Phony, totally self serving politician who will cater to the lowest common denominator. Essentially his views differ not much from BB but based on his dwindling constituency (most past Russian emigres) and a need for separation from the Likud he sometimes takes positions to the right of BB and sometimes to the left when it serves his purposes.
The minister of Police is from his party and appointed by Lieberman and we know what the Police are doing to Jews in Y & S apparently with Lieberman’s approval. He has other low lifes in ministerial positions no less troublesome.
Never take militant even seemingly honest in your face rhetoric at face value by our politicians. What they do is much more revealing and pertinent. Besides he is either a crook or backed by crooks and his main partners, friends and close associates are from the left in Israel and outside of Israel.
I don’t like or trust him.
@ yamit82:
It is a mistake for Lieberman to not be used in America; he would be valuable reaching out to Republicans, as well as to conservative media (the 15-20% of our media that is not to the left of Che Guevara, at any rate). His English is not great but passable, and I think he should be used in appearances on Fox News and on talk radio.
As an emigre from Communism, he has a great life story; and with an innovative foreign policy, he has a great political story.
Some Lieberman facts to consider:
Lieberman is a 2 stater, a believer in land for peace formula and has several criminal investigations pending against him for money laundering and tax evasion. He has known contacts and supporters such as: Jewish Austrian casino magnate Martin Schlaff (Olmert, Weisglass & Sharon) who is /was a partner) in the Jericho Casino and had plans to build casinos in Gaza on Land evacuated by Jewish Northern Gaza settlements. He is also connected to the Moldavian Russian Mafia.
The peripheral policy of the 50’s and 60’s collapsed after the 67 war. So it can be considered a failure. There is no reason to believe it will be any different today or tomorrow under Lieberman.
Lieberman has been marginalized by BB with Barak taking over the most sensitive and important areas of the foreign minister namely: America where Lieberman is Persona non grata, as he is with most of the Eu and the Palestinian Authority. He is trying as best he can to be relevant.
My comment this morning was blocked by spammer and has yet to show???
Being a Russian Jew myself, I more inclined to take seriously the political arguments and Israeli defense strategies of other Russian Jews. Especially from a guy such as Foreign Secretary and Knesset member Avigdor Liberman, who is the real McCoy and sui generis all rolled into one.
I still have a slightly soft spot in my memory for Stalin, as I’ve written here before. But even more so for those millions of Soviet Jews who figured out how to survive him. M’apilim, every one of them. If HaShem hadn’t arranged to get a sizeable Jewish population into old Russia, where they had no choice but to develop the toughness of skin and spirit to overcome the Cossacks, the Black Hundreds, the feckless and doomed Czarist system, and the Nazis who came there to kill all of them.
Most of you probably are fondest of the foreign policy leadership of Abba Eban. But Israel lives in a hardcase neighborhood, and needs to be represented by people of the kind of tough spirit best represented by the Russians and all those irrespresible Galizianers who seemed to be in charge of everything when my wife and I lived and studied there in the early 1970s. The big university in Jerusalem seemed to be run by Yekkes and their descendants. But the Jewish world as I knew it was run by Galizianers.
But back to the main point.
Of the two three most prominent Mediterranean European cultures (Spanish, Italian, Greek), I always preferred the Italians. But that’s okay. Israel needs the Greeks and maybe the Serbs and Romanians as well, in order to maintain better relations with Putin’s Orthodox Russia.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
The question is why did it take Liberman to do what the Israeli government failed to do for all these years? Is the political venom directed towards Liberman related to anger at his diplomat success?
Lieberman is a 2 stater, a believer in land for peace formula and has several criminal investigations pending against him for money laundering and tax evasion. He has known contacts and supporters such as: Jewish Austrian casino magnate Martin Schlaff (Olmert, Weisglass & Sharon) who is /was a partner) in the Jericho Casino and had plans to build casinos in Gaza on Land evacuated by Jewish Northern Gaza settlements. He is also connected to the Moldavian Russian Mafia.
I think Liberman is doing a great job. Besides the activities noted in this article, he is a staunch supporter of Israel and eschews PC. He often says what Bibi can’t or won’t say.