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Deja vu — Judith Apter Klinghoffer

Judith Apter Klinghoffer

US WANTS ISRAEL TO PAY FOR "RESET BUTTON" WITH ARABS

So that there will be no misunderstanding: The new Obama "realist" administration wishes to push "the reset" button on its relationship with Arab autocrats. It is willing to pay them with Israeli currency in the form of forcing Israel to agree to create a Palestinian state on her Western front regardless of the clear and present danger that such a state will become a third Iranian satellite on Israel's border. Let us not forget, Iranian satellite Hezbollah is perched on Israel's Northern border and Iranian satellite Hamas on the Southern one. An Iranian satellite on the Western one would complete the encirclement.

The American argument would be funny, if it would not be so frightening. If you help create a weak/corrupt Palestinian state, the Arab autocrats will help you fight Iran. Thousands of years ago, Jermiah raged against the efficacy of relying on the Egyptian "week reed" to save Jerusalem from the Babylonians. He was right. The temple was destroyed and the people were exiled. Yes, that is Ahmadinejad's plan, too. Relying on Egypt to protect Israel from Iran would be as foolhardy now as it was then. Even had Mubarak wished (which is most doubtful) to help Israel prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons it is doubtful it could. Let us not forget, it has not been able to prevent Iranian cell from thriving in Egypt proper.

To be fair There is nothing unique in Obama's treatment of Israel. Poland and the Czech Repulic share the experience. Obama has already tried to pay for a "reset botton" with Russia with their currency. Then, Michael Rubin presciently asked:

Obama may see his offer to Russia as pragmatism, but gestures create precedent. U.S. allies who fear that Washington is willing to sacrifice allies for the sake of diplomatic convenience may question whether alliances remain built on today's interests only, or also on shared values and history. If, after all, Russian antagonism forces U.S. concessions over Poland and the Czech Republic, why not increase Russian belligerence in the Caucasus, Central Asia, or on the Korean Peninsula? If the Obama administration signals that Poland and the Czech Republic are on the table, why should Ukraine and Georgia not be? Why should China not expect to deal over Taiwan, or why should Iran -- another target of Obama's desire to engage -- not demand concessions on Israel?

Well, they should. They do and the Obama administration is more than willing to oblige. Moreover, by choosing a Jewish chief of staff to do the dirty work, Obama showed himself a "worthy" successor to LBJ. You see, Arthur Goldberg was LBJ's point man to read the riot act to Israel. It was his Jewish UN representative that was charged with berating Israel for daring to retaliate against Palestinian acts of terror in 1966 and to inform Israel that it should not rely on any American assistance against Nasser in may 1967. The Jerusalem Post reports

The task of forming an international coalition to thwart Iran's nuclear program will be made easier if progress is made in peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has said, according to sources in Washington.
Israeli TV stations had reported Monday night that Emanuel had actually linked the two matters, saying that the efforts to stop Iran hinged on peace talks with the Palestinians. The remarks were reportedly made in a closed-door meeting previous day with 300 major AIPAC donors on Sunday.

The NYT also predicts a US Israeli battle royale. For the sake of peace, I hope Netanyahu will do what Olmert failed to do during the Lebanon war: Just say no! It would not be easy. Arafat has taught Arabs that saying or even whispering the "right words" to the right Americans can do the trick. Hamas leader, Mashall is already begun dropping hints to the welcoming ears of NYT reporters.

An accommodating US and Israel has already emboldened Iranian hardliners just as it had emboldened Egyptian ones in 1967. The result was the Six Day War. Given the advancement in destructive weaponry, the results this time are bound to be much more destructive. Israel must continue to insist that dealing with Iran must precede the creation of a Palestinian state and not the other way around. Indeed, Iranian bellicosity should be exposed as the barrier it is to the realization of a two state solution.

Posted on Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 1:44 PM | Comments (1) | Return

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