Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger, “Second Thought: a US-Israel Initiative”
“Israel Hayom”, January 31, 2014, http://bit.ly/1dSaLHX
The assumption that Israel must accept the Kerry Plan as a basis for negotiations with the Palestinian Authority – lest it risk a rift with the US –should be assessed in light of the full context of US-Israel strategic cooperation, the imploding Arab Street, the unique foundations and nature of US-Israel ties, the US political system, the ineffectiveness of prior US plans and Israel’s own security requirements.
US-Israel strategic cooperation transcends the Palestinian issue. Thus, despite the 66-year-old disagreement, between the two Administrations, about the ways and means to resolve the Palestinian issue, strategic cooperation has catapulted to unprecedented heights.
Notwithstanding Arab talk – but based on the Arab walk – the Palestinian issue does not preoccupy the attention of Arab policy-makers, does not significantly impact vital US interests, and does not play a key role in destabilizing the Middle East, as reaffirmed by the tectonic Arab Tsunami, which is unrelated to Israel or the Palestinian issue.
Therefore, the Palestinian issue has been superseded by regional and global mutual threats, interests and benefits, shaping the increasingly two-way-street mutually-beneficial US-Israel agenda: the US supply of critical military systems to Israel; the Israeli battle-tested laboratory, which enhances the performance of US military systems and the US defense industries; the joint development of ballistic, space, UAV, cyber and other critical technologies; Israeli innovations upgrade the competitive edge of US high tech industries; Israel provides intelligence of Iran’s nuclear threat and Islamic terrorism on the US mainland and beyond; Israel trains US elite units in countering-terrorism and urban warfare, and shares battle lessons, shaping US battle tactics; Israel’s power-projection deters rogue regimes, which threaten pro-US Arab regimes such as Jordan and Saudi Arabia; etc..
Israel’s role as the most consistent, capable and willing ally of the US gains in importance, as the Arab Street becomes increasingly anti-US, Islamist, unstable and unpredictably violent. While the US cuts its defense budget and withdraws its military from the Middle East, Russia and China deepen their presence in the region and West Europe is preoccupied with domestic challenges.
The disagreement over the Palestinian issue is, also, superseded by shared US-Israel Judeo-Christian values, which have strongly influenced US morality, legal and political systems. This dates back to the early Pilgrims in the 17th century, the Liberty Bell’s inscription from Leviticus, the Founding Fathers, the Biblically-driven Anti-Slavery Movement and the current statues of Moses in the US House of Representatives and the US Supreme Court.
American constituents – which are the axis of the Federal system – through most of the Congress – a co-equal, co-determining branch of government on external and domestic matters – have established a unique bottom-up, systematic, positive attitude towards the Jewish state. They disassociate themselves from the Executive’s moral equivalence towards Israel – the role model of counter terrorism and unconditional alliance with the US – as opposed to the Palestinian leadership – a role model of international terrorism and an ally of Nazi Germany, the Communist Bloc, Khomeini, Saddam Hussein and Bin Laden.
In 1948, the charismatic US Secretary of State, George Marshall pressured Israel to accept his plan of a UN Mandate for Palestine as a substitute for independence. Marshall considered the Jewish state a liability and the Arabs an asset. He assumed that Israel would join the Communist Bloc and would be unable to defend itself against the invading Arabs, thus triggering a second Jewish Holocaust in less than ten years. Prime Minister Ben Gurion refused to negotiate Marshall’s proposal.
When threatened by UN Security Council sanctions, which dictated a withdrawal from the “occupied Negev,” Ben Gurion stated: “What Israel has won on the battlefield, it is determined not to yield at the [UN Security] Council table.” Ben Gurion’s principle-driven defiance and steadfastness produced short-term pressure, but long-term strategic respect, transforming Israel into the most reliable, stable, capable, democratic and unconditional ally of the US in the Middle East and beyond.
In 1957, President Eisenhower pressured Israel to evacuate the Sinai Peninsula. Senate and House leaders, both Democrats and Republicans, threatened Eisenhower with legislative paralysis, and convinced Eisenhower to reduce his pressure. However, Israel pulled the rug from under their feet by accepting the Eisenhower plan.
In December, 1969 and June, 1970, Secretary of State, William Rogers, introduced the Rogers Plan, calling for Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 lines, providing for a return of Arab refugees to Israel and shared Israel-Jordan rule in Jerusalem. Prime Minister Golda Meir rejected the plan, initializing the construction of three large new neighborhoods in eastern Jerusalem, home of over 100,00 persons. Rogers tolerated Egypt’s advancing surface-to-air missiles in violation of commitments, which facilitated the deterioration to the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
In 1977, President Carter pressured Israel to participate in an international conference, highlighting the Palestinian issue and a full Israeli withdrawal. Prime Minister Begin dismissed the idea and initiated the dialogue with Egyptian President Sadat, which led to a peace accord.
In September, 1982, President Reagan announced his plan, calling for full Israeli withdrawal and an immediate settlement freeze. Prime Minister Beginrejected the plan, expanded settlements, and laid the foundation for the November, 1983 upgrade of US-Israel strategic cooperation.
Accepting the Kerry Plan would revert Israel to the pre-1967 9-15 mile sliver along the Mediterranean, dominated by the mountain ridges of Judea and Samaria, which would be controlled by the Palestinian Authority, a systematic violator of agreements, perpetuator of hate education and generator of terror. The irreplaceability of Judea and Samaria mountain ridges for Israel’s national security has been reinforced by the Arab Tsunami. It has made the Middle East – the most conflict-ridden region in the world – more violently intolerant, unpredictable, unreliable, unstable and treacherous.
Accepting the Kerry Plan requires the subordination of long-term vision and security to short-term convenience, and the subjugation of realism to wishful-thinking, thus jeopardizing the very survival of the Jewish State, transforming Israel from a unique asset to a burden. Rejecting the Kerry Plan, might create short-term tension, but no long-term rift. On a rainy day, the US prefers a defiant, rather than a submissive, ally.
Shabbat Shalom and have a gratifying weekend,
Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger, Jerusalem, “Second Thought: US-Israel Initiative”
John Kerry Threatens Israel With Boycotts if Talks Fail
Dept. Defense Minister responds to new boycott threats by US Sec. of State Kerry: ‘Friends don’t put ultimatums on Israel’s security.’
Report: Kerry is Behind European Boycotts
Govt. sources reveal that Kerry is responsible for EU boycott threats, keeps them in check during talks, ready to escalate if talks fail.
Bennett: ‘Boycott Threats Won’t Move Us’
Bennett responds to Kerry’s threats of international boycott, says ‘only security will bring financial stability, not PA terror state.’
Tell that to BB and the Israeli Left!!!
Right-wing MKs slam Kerry for ‘boycott threat’
Bennett: Israel expects its allies to support it, not serve as ‘mouthpiece’ for ‘anti-Semitic’ groups or push for ‘terrorist state’
Right-wing Knesset members on Saturday slammed US Secretary John Kerry for saying that if peace talks with the Palestinians fail, there will be a “high risk” of increased boycotts, as well as a higher likelihood of international isolation, in store for Israel.
Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel (Jewish Home) was also quick to respond to Kerry’s comments.
American Hypocrites:
US blasts European banks’ decision to blacklist Israeli firms
Boycotting groups that operate in West Bank will not help resolve conflict, says State Department
“Boycotts directed against Israel do not help, and we oppose them,” she said. 🙂
Two weeks ago, two of Europe’s largest financial service institutions announced they would terminate all joint operations with Israeli banks who deal with Jewish settlements in the West Bank, deemed by the European Union to be illegal under international law.
It’s Kerry who is pushing the EU boycotts to put pressure on Israel to agree with Kerry’s agenda.
He is playing hardball and Israel is playing the wimp. Israel should push back and fire Every Arab working for any Jewish concern in the Territories and in Israel proper. Countries who businesses boycott Israel on the basis that is against International law should be made persona non-Grata in Israel as those commercial concerns claim they are following EU guidelines that settlements and all of the Y&S do not belong to Israel but to the Arabs, as if it’s any of their business.
Shut them out of all interference on the ground and all access through Israel to the Arabs. Stop all tax rebate transfers as well and give it to Israelis hurt by the boycott financially. Israelis should start an ad hoc campaign to boycott all products from Scandinavia and discourage any tourism by all Jews and friends of Israel if we have any.
I think we can hurt them more than they us if our leaders have any pride left and some semblance of cojones. ???? Above all tell Kerry is presence is no longer wanted or required. If Israel doesn’t hit back hard now it will be so much harder in the future unless BB is going to capitulate completely. If yes then he is probably welcoming such pressure to justify his capitulation.
Kerry should first be given the Kerry Quiz to test his competence on the Middle East
http://www.madisdead.blogspot.co.il/2014/01/a-mini-5-1-question-quiz-for-secretary.html
Kerry wants success so he can run for President. Israel, say NO!
Israel is far better now than what it was in 1948; 1956; 1967; 1973 and after in all dimensions. No matter it may or may not do, anti-Semites will fabricate a means to discredit israel or/and its leaders. With his understanding it is up to Israel to say no (BIG NOOOOO!!!! whenever and wherever it is appropriate)) to those who are threatening it to have a name for themselves from within and out.
I hope BB won’t let his country and those who put/have great confidence in his abilities down by accepting a peace that could potentially harm Israel’s future.
The bottom line is indeed the bottom line.
“Balls,” said the Queen. (“If I had ’em, I’d be King.”)
Kerry probably just wants to ‘save face’ and he expects Israel to oblige.
Israel should say we are not moving out of Area C, which includes Jordan Valley, no dividing of Jerusaleum, no Jewish towns will be under Palestinian sovereignty. The Palestinians can self govern in Area A.
That should be the Israeli position. Israel needs to draw an Israeli line in the “sand”. Stop pussy footing about.
Or just say no that is not an acceptable framework to work from at all.