Breach in U.S.-Israel alliance echoes among local analysts
Some pick sides, others ask both parties to ease ‘crisis’ over Biden visit
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Michael Oren, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, called the strain “a crisis of historic proportions.” Oren is shown at a December 2009 speech at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
Photo by Robert Wiener
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March 17, 2010
Local analysts and activists joined the fray over U.S.-Israel relations, as the White House intensified its criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu over a surprise announcement of a Jewish building project in east Jerusalem.
The announcement, coinciding with a visit to Israel by Vice President Joe Biden, prompted an apology from Netanyahu and a rebuke from Biden.
In subsequent days, however, with Netanyahu rebuffing calls to stall the project, administration officials, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, labeled Israel’s behavior an “insult.”
Jewish leaders are encouraging both sides to resolve what Israel’s ambassador to the United States, former West Orange resident Michael Oren, reportedly called “a crisis of historic proportions.”
United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ on Tuesday issued an action alert (see sidebar) urging U.S. administration and congressional representatives “to issue a statement reiterating their support for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and to call on Secretary of State Clinton to take every step necessary to immediately defuse tensions with Israel.”
Recognizing that “our government and the government of Israel will sometimes have different views on particular issues in the peace process,” the statement continues, “the United States and Israel are longstanding friends who need to resolve their differences in a close and private manner befitting strategic allies.”
The Obama administration’s reaction “has been disappointing, to say the least,” said Stanley Stone, executive vice president of the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey. “In terms of what the Israelis did, I think they have apologized for that.
“With the recent flare-up of violence in east Jerusalem and the calls of some leaders to have protests, there has been no comment on the part of the administration to the Palestinian Authority to lower the rhetoric.”
Louis Beckerman, who cochairs the federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council, said he finds the whole matter “baffling.”
“I don’t believe that the timing [of the housing announcement] was deliberate, but what a mess," he said. ”Why, he asked, would the Israelis “want to tick off their very best friends in the whole world and embarrass the vice president like that? I just hope that with time we’ll get a better understanding of the circumstances that led to it.”
'Pent-up frustration
Behind the scenes, meanwhile, others are debating who is to blame for the escalating tensions.
Judith Klinghoffer, who has taught history and international relations at two NJ universities, Rowan and Rutgers, is among those highly critical of the Obama administration.
The president is “hiding behind Hillary’s skirts,” she wrote in her blog, in an attempt to “counter Arab perceptions that he is not strong enough to stand up to Iran by beating up on Israel on the issue of settlements. After all, showing toughness by abusing Jews has a long ‘honorable’ tradition.’”
But Daniel Kurtzer, lecturer and S. Daniel Abraham Professor in Middle Eastern Policy Studies at Princeton University, said the Obama administration’s rhetoric was understandable.
“I think there is some pent-up frustration on the part of the U.S. administration over diplomatic overtures that have not worked this past year, including the bid to stop settlements,” said Kurtzer, who served as President George W. Bush’s ambassador to Israel from 2001 to 2005.
“When the vice president travels specifically to assure Israel of the everlasting bonds of a relationship, it was a smack in the face.”
Aaron Friedberg, professor of politics and international affairs at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, agreed.
“There is no doubt it was severely embarrassing to the vice president and couldn’t help but be seen by people in Washington as a slap in the face to them,” said Friedberg. “Whether it was intended as that or not, it certainly had that effect. The way they responded is what you would expect under the circumstances.”
Friedberg said the relationship was strained to begin with.
“It is probably made worse because at this point there is not a whole lot of trust between the two governments,” he said. “When you have the preexisting lack of trust there is less inclination to give the other side the benefit of the doubt.”
Friedberg said the rift between the Israeli and American administrations could cost Obama Jewish support if he runs for reelection in 2012.
“I would expect there will be a bigger vote for a ‘reasonable’ Republican candidate than there was last time around,” he said. “I think Obama will get fewer Jewish votes than he did before. But I would doubt there will be a big defection.”
Ben Chouake, the Englewood physician who is president of NORPAC, a pro-Israel political action committee, said he was “confused as to why Obama is doing this. Why can’t Jews live in east Jerusalem? This administration should be especially sensitive to areas of racial and religious discrimination. I don’t consider this an issue. It is annexed territory and there is no violation of any agreement at all. They are making a much bigger deal about this than there should be. And frankly, for any administration to say ‘Jews can’t live anywhere’ is shameful.”
But Debbie Schlossberg of East Brunswick, the chair of J Street’s Central New Jersey chapter, said the diplomatic strains need to be resolved by peace negotiations. “Now we want even stronger engagement,” she said. “J Street would not like this lamentable, unfortunate incident to become a distraction from the talks that were about to happen.”
Reaffirm the U.S.-Israel alliance
United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ issued an “Action Alert” March 16.
The Jewish community has been concerned by Israel’s untimely and unwise announcement approving the construction of 1,600 housing units in east Jerusalem during Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel last week. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized for the timing of the announcement, which the vice president accepted. Subsequently, Israel has been publicly attacked by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the president’s advisers. These attacks have increased tension between the U.S. and Israel. We believe that the U.S. and Israel should resolve this controversy and continue to work together for peace and security based on our shared fundamental values and strategic interests.
United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ is urging the U.S. administration and our congressional representatives to issue a statement reiterating their support for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and to call on Secretary of State Clinton to take every step necessary to immediately defuse tensions with Israel.
We are concerned that publicly condemning an ally such as Israel will not advance the interests we share, including furthering the peace process between Israel and its neighbors. From the moment of Israel’s creation, successive U.S. administrations have appreciated the special affinity between our two nations. The United States has provided Israel with invaluable political and material assistance, while Israel has provided the United States with critical intelligence, support, and friendship.
We recognize that our government and the government of Israel will sometimes have different views on particular issues in the peace process. But the United States and Israel are longstanding friends who need to resolve their differences in a close and private manner befitting strategic allies. We always need to remember the depth and breadth of our alliance, which extends well beyond today’s negotiating position — and do our utmost to strengthen a relationship that has benefited both nations for over six decades.
We respectfully urge you to speak out for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and to call on Secretary Clinton to take every step necessary to immediately defuse tensions with Israel.
Sincerely,
Gary Aidekman
President, UJC of MetroWest NJ
David Lentz
Chair, Community Relations Committee of MetroWest NJ
Max Kleinman
Executive vice president, UJC of MetroWest NJ
Comments
Charlie
March 17, 2010
The “Jews can’t live anywhere” trope is disingenuous. It’s not the fact that they’re Jewish, it’s the fact that it’s disputed territory. Neither Jews nor anyone else have the right to live on another’s land.
As to defusing tensions, Netanyahu cannot get away with such a slap in the face (and, in my view, such ill-considered policy) by simply saying the timing was bad. It was obviously intentional, and a sincere apology, and offer to discuss “settlement” policy with the Obama administration, is clearly in order.
Sally SANDERS
March 17, 2010
We need to be in control. We have earned it.
I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
Need to be in control.
Never Again!
Bill
March 17, 2010
Netanyahu’s insult to this country was not unintended. It smacks of a calculated ploy. If the White House does not publicly dispute the housing development, then Israel is free to accrete this piece of occupied territory and aim for more; if the White House does publicly dispute the intended project, then right-wing Israeli interests can mobilize its allies in this country to aid its occupation goals, and to assist Obama’s domestic opponents by handing them another issue to exploit - a supposed opposition to Israel and Jews. Many pundits and politicians in both countries are now calling on the American and Israeli governments to take the issue out of the public eye. Ironically, the issue has become the timing of the Israeli announcement, rather than the substance of the land grab/housing development. There seems to be much made of the notion that an apology was extended by Netanyahu, that the two countries will have different views on various issues, and therefore this difference should be hidden in the privacy of backroom diplomacy. The real question is who does not want the issue of the land grab/housing development discussed in the American public forums?
steph
March 17, 2010
The real issue is: Why isn’t the US condemning the violence of the Palestinians in the Old City? Why is an announcement about future construction in an area already annexed more perplexing than the stoning of Jews at the Western Wall? Why is it always so easy to condemn the Jews, when the Arabs are calling for blood? It seems to me, that the errors of the Israelis are slight compared to the actions of the Palestinians. It also seems to me that the Americans are siding with the bullies in this scenario, because the Arab agenda gets center stage.
David
March 17, 2010
Tom Friedman has it dead right. Friends don’t let friends drive drunk. Israel, as much as I love it, has been insensitive and has made a terrible diplomatic blunder. It has wasted scarce political capital when it can ill afford to do so. This isn’t simply a public relations disaster that can be papered over with expressions of undying support between Israel and the US, it is a serious fundamental breach and the world sees this clearly.
This event can yet have a positive outcome if it galvanizes Israeli public opinion and helps unify the nation. The time has come for Israel’s parties to put aside their differences and act in the best interest of the country as a whole. Jeopardizing the safety and security of 7,500,000 Israelis by providing 1600 housing units to mollify a minority political constituency is driving drunk. The settlement policy is Israel’s lightning rod for criticism. It provides Israel’s enemies with endless ammunition to use against the state; it costs Israel support on college campuses and in the halls of government around the world; it divides Jews which has inevitable consequences in obtaining their support both verbal and financial.
Yes, by all means, it would be helpful to turn down the verbal heat, but, at the same time, it would serve Israel’s own best interests if we turn UP the heat on the Netanyahu government to end its destructive settlement policies.
Mark D. Tolpin, MD, FAAP and Anne C. Burson-Tolpin
March 17, 2010
We’d both like to see some discussion of truly plausible solutions to the Israeli : Palestinian issue. We’ve had enough of this “He started it first” garbage—which, by the way, antecedes both of our “baby-boomer” births. All that that approach yields is anger, hatred and violence—and it’s been a long time since BOTH SIDES
‘started it” anyway. So, let’s at least learn something from several generations of diplomatic failure and needless bloodshed. And that starts with the assumption that displacing the “other side” to “somewhere else” is not an option and that, as a result, both sides will have to learn how to live amicably together. This will take both time and effort to achieve; however with “tincture of time” wounds can stop festering and heal. To use a trivial example relative to this issue: Today, few if any of us think of never buying a Ford product (or, for that matter, a German one). However, because of Henry Ford, Sr.‘s anti-Semitism and support of “Father” Coughlin, unorganized but effective US Jewish boycotting of Ford vehicles continued into the mid-1950’s (despite the company’s attempts to make amends after Ford Sr. was no longer in the picture). But it did ultimately end—to a point where most US Jews have never heard nor think of it.
We’ve been to ha’aretz Israel; until one has done so, one cannot comprehend how much good and evil concealed as “good” could come out of such a small space. We likely think of David’s running the distance from DC to Omaha to avoid Saul’s wrath; but, in reality, it was only a few miles—say, from downtown Maplewood to downtown Livingston. So much of world history; so much of our societal roots—be we Jews, Muslims, Christians or other religious groups that received moral infusions from any of these Great Three religions—all gathered into this one small area of the planet. Yet, one also feels the weight of blood that has watered every square inch of this precious land, as we human primates—true to our origins—continuously desecrate this land and the reason d’être of each of our various faiths that sprang from it. Why? Call it the “territorial imperative”: each faith fears exclusion and quests for complete possession, rather than coming together to share. This undermines all of the higher aspirations and goals embodied in this land and of which, with some introspection, all of humanity is capable:
“Aytz chy-eme key lamachazikim bah v’chol chay-cha meoo-shar. Drachay-ah, darchey no-om b’chol nateevo-techah, Shalom”. [It is a tree of life to those who embrace / hold fast to it; its ways are ways of pleasantness and all its paths are peace.”] Clearly, the key words here are “life” and “peace”. For the sake of ourselves, our loved ones and our planet, let’s put our mistrust and competitiveness aside and strive toward these two keys.
Submitted in loving memory of our recently deceased relatives, [ironically, given the above subject-matter] direct disciples of Heinz Kohut, and past presidents of the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis: Drs. Paul and Marian Tolpin of Chicago / Glencoe, IL.
Judith Hershon
March 18, 2010
The photo and caption heading the front page of today’s NYT create a distortion and deliberate exploitation of the situation which erupted in Israel. A mistake was made by an Israeli government official in the timing of an announcement concerning plans for new housing in Ramat Shlomo, a Jewish area removed from any Arab area, and in fact not one Arab will be affected by these plans. Vice Pres Biden, while embarrassed, was not deliberately insulted, however, the American inspired Palestinian rioting which resulted from the US attacks on the Israeli govt can only lead to a hardening of the Arab position and will obtain nothing in the way of a positive outcome. The attempts of the Obama Administration to break the Israeli approach on Jerusalem, a deeply felt historic position, will be counter productive in every respect. Meanwhile, when the Palestinians glorify the worst terrorist attack in the history of Israel naming a town square after a suicide bomber, no admonishment from the US govt. is forthcoming.
milton turoff
March 18, 2010
Although Israel may not look good in the public relations front, Jerusalam is Israeli and always has been—all of it—with full rights to anybody who wants to live there, including Arabs. If Israel caves here, it will be looked at as ceding a piece, and it’s enemies will surely seize on that.
Harry Shapiro
March 19, 2010
The entire “miscommunication” over the housing announcement was a pre-meditated ploy to inaugerate a New Holocaust. Reverend Wright the father Obama never had always relegated the Bible to what he considered the real “Good Book”: Mein Kampf. And, now, the mask has been pulled off, the deception uncovered. Adolph Hitler’s bastard son is in The White House and we must all run for our lives before it’s too late.
Paul Surovell
March 21, 2010
Haaretz reports tonight that Netanyahu has agreed to 3 of the 4 demands made by Clinton during her phone call last week.
—Israel will suspend building in E Jerusalem for the same duration as the West Bank moratorium on settlements.
—Israel agrees to negotiate core issues—borders, refugees and water rights—during the proximity talks.
—Israel will make conciliatory gestures to the Palestinians including freeing prisoners and letting aid get in to Gaza.
In my view, these are all reasonable steps that should have been taken without Clinton and Obama’s prodding, but the important thing is that Bibi took them. And now the onus is on the Palestinians to demonstrate that they are serious by making similar conciliatory gestures.
So Obama and Clinton criticized the Israeli government and the world didn’t come to an end.
Obama and Clinton made demands on the Israeli government, it complied, and Israel’s security has not been reduced by one iota. In fact, Israel’s stature has grown by it’s willingness to take steps for peace.
South Mountain Peace Action of Maplewood and South Orange is sponsoring a public forum on Israeli-Palestinian Peace on Wednesday, March 24th at Maplewood Memorial Library from 7:30 to 9:00 pm.
The forum will focus on the Obama-Clinton program for a two-state solution and US-Israeli relations following the Biden visit.
The speakers are leading members of the “peace camp”—Ori Nir, national spokesman for Americans for Peace Now, Hussein Ibish, senior fellow at the American Task Force on Palestine, and Debbie Schlossberg, leader of the central NJ chapter of J Street.
There will be ample time for questions and comments (1 minute limit). All points of view are welcome and respectful dialogue is encouraged. Please join us.
Paul Surovell, Chairman
South Mountain Peace Action
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
www.BeAboutPeace.com
Mordechai
March 22, 2010
Jerusalem is Israel. Bibi has maintained this position all along. How does a nation make peace with a group hell bent on killing it? In 1990, one of the actions of the Oslo accords was for Palestine to remove the clause in its charter calling for the destruction of Israel. Has it done so in 20 years? NO. Have you ever read a textbook being used in Palestine? NO. They call Jews pigs and monkeys, and extol their youth to suicide bombings. Do you get my point yet?
Paul and all you other peace idealists. Here is a message. If we want to be true to our exhortations of never again, we need to learn the lessons of the catastrophy that caused such exhortations. Lesson one, negotiation is not an option to be used with those who want to kill you. The only negotiation that Hamas and Iran will understand is total destruction. Did diplomacy stop Hitler? No, only the complete devastation of the German nation, the death of Hitler, and the victory of the allies stopped the killing.
Another lesson. The United States refused to grant asylum to the Jews of Germany, and led Hitler to the belief that he could annihilate us. Had there been a free Jewish State, there would have been a place for European Jews to go. Instead, the Palestinians, who you want to make peace with, aided the Germans, and slaughtered Jews within Palestine. With the increasingly violent atmosphere for Jews in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, and for that matter most of Western Europe, Israel should never cede another inch of territory. Message to Barack HUSSEIN Obama - if you truly want peace then start making a stink about how the Muslims who you love so much, are treating Jews in Europe.
In these dangerous times, not only is Israel imperative, but additional space to accomodate European Jews may well become a necessity if the Arab population of Western Europe continues to grow and the governments refuse to deal with their violence against Jews.
Sally Sanders
April 01, 2011
How long does it take to understand the political arena?
Jerusalem is Israel.