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The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

This idea being floated around by the right-wing, in regards to President Obama and the Democrats not fully supporting Israel because they support bilateral talks with the Palestinian leadership, is ludicrous.  In fact, I would make the argument that the left-wing of this country has shown through their actions that they are in fact more supportive of Israel than the right, and significantly more so than the Christian right.

The right-wing makes the argument that we need to fully support Israel not matter what they do.  Evidence of this was seen recently, when the Obama administration became angry at Israel’s announcement that it was going to build new settlements in East Jerusalem.  The announcement coming as Vice President Joe Biden was making a visit to Israel.  The right-wing argument at that time, was that President Obama is not fully supporting Israel when he condemns them for going ahead with housing units in disputed areas.

This notion that people on the liberal side of the political spectrum who are against Israel continuing to build new settlements in these disputed areas, are somehow anti-Israel is completely wrong.  Everyone from both sides of the aisle wants to see Israel and Palestine achieve peace, but how is supporting Israel as they continue to build these settlements and pissing off the Palestinians achieving the ultimate goal?

The right-wing makes the argument that Israel should not have to compromise on land, including, but not limited to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and all of Jerusalem.  They say that this land is the rightful property of Israel, and that they should not have to give up anything.   You could certainly make that argument, but it does nothing to achieve the ultimate goal.

At this point in our history, it makes no difference which party is more entitled to these disputed areas.  In order for Israel and Palestine to have peace, both sides are going to have to make land compromises, regardless of who can make a better argument as to who the rightful owner of this land is.  If the United States truly wants to see peace come to the region, they are going to have to support a two state solution, and Jerusalem is most likely going to have to be either split up between the Israelis and the Palestinians, or they are going to have to come to some sort of agreement to share Jerusalem.  Israel is most likely going to have to give up the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.  This is the only way that I can see peace being achieved.

The United States needs to be a true friend to Israel, and make it clear that we can only support a two state solution if peace is ever to be achieved.  The right-wing will say that asking Israel to give up land that they claim is rightfully theirs is anti-Israel.  This is completely false.  Supporting a two state solution, with the West Bank and Gaza Strip going to the Palestinians, is a very pro-Israel stance.  This is the only way that Israel is ever going to achieve peace.

Now onto the religious right, the only party that truly doesn’t care about Israel.  For purposes of this blog post, when I speak about the Christian right, I am referring to the Evangelical Christians, the largest religious group in the country according to Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. These people are not pro-Israel.  They pretend that they are, but make no mistake, they are not.  Evangelical Christians only support Israel because the Bible, which they believe is the inherent word of god, says that in order for Christ to make a second coming to Earth, all but a few thousand Jews who decide to convert to Christianity are going to die. I am not making this up, this is absolutely true, and this is the only reason why Evangelicals pretend to support Israel.  Evangelicals believe that Jews who don’t convert are going to spend eternity in hell, how can one make the argument that these people are looking out for Israel’s best interest.  It is absurd.

The only way peace will have hope of being achieved in the Middle East, is if the Israelis and Palestinians can come to an agreement on a two state solution.  The Palestinians currently seem ready to negotiate, but every time the Israelis build new settlements in disputed areas, it makes peace talks much more difficult.  At this point, who is more entitled to the land is irrelevant.  The Israelis think it’s theirs, the Palestinians think it’s theirs, nothing is ever going to change this.  If the United States is truly concerned about achieving peace in the region, they are going to have to act as a broker between the two parties, and let Israel know that we cannot support continued construction on disputed land.  I think that President Obama has made steps in the right direction, but every time he does, we hear cries from the right about the President not supporting Israel.  This is not the case and should not be presented as such.

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Israel Slaps Biden Across the Face

Once again, the right wing in Israel doesn’t know what is best for them, and the United States allows them to get away with everything.  Vice President Joe Biden visited with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday to reinforce America’s unwavering support for Israel.  Recently, the United States has urged Mr. Netanyahu to stop Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem.  Israel considers East Jerusalem part of its capital, a position which the international community rejects, and announced plans to build 1,600 new housing units in occupied territory, just hours after Vice President Biden arrived in Israel.  This announcement by Israel undermines the entire purpose of Mr. Biden’s trip.  The whole purpose of the Vice President’s trip was to restart peace talks with Palestine and to assure Israel of America’s support for their security in a volatile region.  How does Israel ever expect to gain peace in the region if they continue to build these settlements?  Is it possible that Israel is not looking to have peace in the region?

On the same day that Israel’s interior ministry announced plans to build 1,600 new apartment units in East Jerusalem, they also announced plans to develop civilian nuclear plants for energy.  This would be fine, except for the fact that Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates also would like to build civilian nuclear energy facilities, which Israel has condemned.  Look, I understand Israel’s concern.  Israel does not want any of these Arab countries to develop any kind of nuclear energy for fear of them developing a bomb.  But at the same time, it is extremely hypocritical and counterproductive to peace when you condemn all of your neighbors for the exact same thing that you are doing.  It’s just like the United States condemning everyone who tries to develop nuclear weapons, while at the same time stockpiling nuclear warheads.  I’m not suggesting we get rid of our nuclear weapons, and allow countries with questionable motives to develop them, but we need to cease stockpiling weapons and maybe cut down on our supply before we tell others what they can and can’t do.  Just recently, the United States pointed the finger at Brazil for doing business with Iran.  There are plenty of countries in the United States that currently do business with Iran, including the former Vice President Dick Cheney’s company Halliburton.  Can you see why the United States is losing its leverage against these countries?

Back to Israel, in my opinion, there are only two conclusions to draw from Israel’s recent actions.  The first, that Israel has no desire to achieve peace.  They are set on doing only that which is best for them, regardless of the consequences to anyone else, including their allies.  The second possibility, is that they know that the United States has no balls and will support Israel no matter what the consequences.  Like Vice President Joe Biden so wrongly put it, “Progress occurs in the Middle East when everyone knows there is simply no space between the United States and Israel.”  Israel believes that because they have unwavering support from the Unites States, they can continue to stir up the hornets’ nest without worry.  This policy is bad for the United States and for Israel.

I fully support Israel, I have members of my family who are Jewish, and I understand the Jewish peoples’ struggle throughout history.  That being said, the United States, as a friend, needs to take a harder line against Israel’s counterproductive and destructive actions.  The United States cannot afford another deadly conflict in the Middle East.  A war with Iran will have unpredictable consequences.  Israel continues to undermine the United States in its peace talks with Palestine, and in negotiations with Iran.  Keep in mind, there are many people in Israel who feel the same way, but the hard right wing in Israel is driving the country in the wrong direction.  In my opinion, the United States needs to convince Israel to back down, and let them know that the U.S. cannot support Israel if they continue down this destructive path.

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