February 17, 2014
http://wordfromjerusalem.com/?p=4982
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Under the leadership of the
indefatigable Malcolm Hoenlein, the Conference of Presidents of Major
American Jewish Organizations, a unique umbrella organization, is
gathering in Jerusalem this week. Its members, leaders of America’s most
prominent Jewish organizations, will be briefed directly by the Prime
Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and senior government ministers.
Alas, unless the unexpected
happens and the Prime Minister reads the riot act to his ministers,
these American activists will receive mixed messages and are likely to
return to the US more confused than when they arrived.
They will be baffled by what
they learn about the current round of the so-called “peace
negotiations”. It now appears that Israel will accept - with major
reservations - the framework accord for negotiations as a non-binding
document. In contrast, the Palestinians seem poised to reject it
outright. And yet, despite the Palestinian intransigence, Israel will
continue to be bombarded by demands to make further concessions.
They will find it difficult to
make sense of US Secretary of State John Kerry’s role in the process.
Encouraged by a flow of demands and petitions from Jewish liberals
urging Netanyahu to be “grateful” to Kerry and “not sit idly by”
(whatever that means) and risk foregoing the opportunity for peace,
Kerry has displayed a complete lack of even handedness in the
negotiations. He does not pressure the Palestinians, although he has
made multiple threats against Israel and proposed extreme and dangerous
interventions such as substituting the IDF presence in the Jordan Valley
with electronic fences and NATO troops.
Disregarding the fact that he
represents Israel’s ally, he has alluded to the “dangers” of boycotts,
sanctions and delegitimization unless Israel becomes more accommodating –
a thinly veiled threat that we can be sure the Europeans heard.
Moreover, it was unconscionable
that Kerry failed to relate to the vicious incitement of recent weeks
when released Palestinian killers were sanctified as national heroes
and, in many cases, actually recounted their ghoulish murders of
innocent civilians on state television.
But ultimately, Netanyahu and
his government bear the main burden of responsibility for the
bewilderment that Diaspora Jews (and many Israelis) are experiencing
over the negotiations. Whilst the Prime Minister initially robustly
rejected key security concessions that Kerry demanded, he subsequently
caved into pressure and papered over the differences.
Meanwhile, in absolute
contradiction to the position adopted by Prime Minister Netanyahu and
Defense Minister Ya’alon, Foreign Minister Lieberman - the traditional
hard liner - then embarked on an “I love Kerry” campaign, preposterously
suggesting that the deals proposed were the best Israel could ever
expect. If Netanyahu orchestrated this as “good cop bad cop”
performance, it seriously backfired. On the other hand, if the Foreign
Minister is running his own mini government, that is totally
unacceptable.
This confusion has had major
ramifications in the US, particularly for the American Israel Public
Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the jewel in the crown of American Israel
activism. But in recent months, its reputation was tarnished and its
standing weakened by failed efforts that resulted primarily from mixed
signals it received.
Despite AIPAC’s strong Iranian
sanction campaign (it obtained bipartisan endorsement and the backing of
59 members of the U.S. Senate, just four votes short to carry the
vote), it backed down from its effort due to massive pressure from
President Obama who went so far as to even misleadingly proclaim, that
passage of tougher sanctions against Iran was tantamount to a
declaration of war. Whilst Prime Minister Netanyahu initially encouraged
AIPAC to proceed with its campaign he is also said to have pressured
AIPAC to withdraw in order to placate Obama prior to their meeting in
March.
AIPAC is also facing problems
that are unrelated to Israel’s current lack of strategic clarity. It has
become so obsessed with bipartisanship that the withdrawal of a number
of Democrats made them fear a breakdown, and this is said to have also
contributed to the decision to pull out its support for the initiative.
In the process, AIPAC alienated and left some of its key congressional
supporters out on a limb with the Republicans defiantly carrying on.
With the increasingly
aggressive attitudes against Israel emerging from leftist minority
groups within the Democratic Party, complex challenges are likely to
arise in future which cannot always be subordinated to the interests of
bipartisanship.
Nonetheless, the AIPAC debacle
is symptomatic of the strained relationship between the Netanyahu
government and Jewish organizations trying to support it. The
government’s impulsive statements and ministers’ irresponsible public
criticism and shrill outbursts have understandably exasperated even
committed mainstream supporters of Israel and made them lose
credibility.
Diaspora Jewish support for
Israel cannot be based exclusively on the intransigence and evil of
Abbas and the PA. Instead, it must articulate a broad, unifying,
positive, strategic policy around which pro-Israel activists can build
their cases. It should reaffirm its support of a two-state solution that
reflects the desire of the vast majority of Israelis to end Israeli
rule over the Arab population. It should support the retention of the
major settlement blocs, as enunciated in President Bush’s letter to
Prime Minister Sharon. It should state explicitly that in the regional
scorpions’ den in which it exists, Israel will not compromise on
defensible borders or security and should demand that its neighbors
recognize its sovereignty as a Jewish nation.
The question of the future of
outlying isolated settlements is a matter of contention both within
Israel and in the Diaspora. Whether or not to continue construction in
in outlying areas will be determined by Israelis. Should disagreements
arise within the coalition, they should be debated within the cabinet,
not in the pages of the Israeli and global media.
The many Diaspora Jewish
activists supporting the embattled Jewish state should be treated by the
government with respect. Time is of the essence. Whereas committed
American Jews remain solidly supportive of Israel, many of the younger,
assimilated and intermarried Jews no longer share their parents’ loyalty
to Israel and are easily influenced by “progressive” ideologies and the
anti-Zionist chic.
Pro-Israel American
organizations may not remain so strongly supportive of Israel in the
coming years if they are mishandled. The impending changing of the guard
amongst American Jewry’s greying leadership may polarize these trends.
One cannot assume that the successor to Abe Foxman, the director of the
ADL who recently announced his retirement, will necessarily be infused
with the same passion for Israel. And who will replace Malcolm Hoenlein,
who personally built and so strongly directs the Presidents Conference,
when he retires? The Israeli government can no longer take the support
of these organizations for granted. It must build relationships of trust
with them now, or they may not be there to rely upon in the future.
Our government must provide
clarity of vision and practical tools. The diaspora supporters must not
be treated as puppets to be urged to take on particular positions then
humiliated by provocative outbursts and government divisiveness.
Israel’s global standing would benefit greatly if the raucous
independent ministerial statements diverging from government policy were
to be curtailed.
During the course of the
forthcoming conference, perhaps American Jewish leaders could convey
this message in stronger terms directly to the government ministers they
will meet.
The writer’s website can be viewed at www.wordfromjerusalem.com.He may be contacted at ileibler@leibler.com
This column was originally published in the Jerusalem Post and Israel Hayom
Some of my recent articles:
With Jewish friends like these... (February 10, 2014)
Friends of Israel Must Speak Up Now (February 5, 2014)
Pollard, American Jewish Leaders and Anti-Semitism (January 29, 2014)
The “Price Tag” Crimes Must be Dealt With Now (January 22, 2014)
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