By: Shlomo Z. Mostofsky and Rabbi Pesach Lerner

Date: Wednesday, June 17 2009

For decades, the bedrock of the relationship between the United States and Israel has been an unbreakable bond built on trust and a mutual respect for the ideals and practices of democracy. Surrounded by enemies on all sides, Israel has always known it could rely on its powerful ally to support and stand with it in times of need. Similarly, in dealing with a region characterized by strife and turmoil, the U.S. has always known it could rely on its sole democratic ally in the Middle East.

In recent weeks there have been troubling signs of a drastic change in U.S. policy toward Israel. Unwritten understandings between the two nations that have been honored for years are suddenly being questioned and even rebuffed by the U.S.

These policy changes are not mere political posturing. In fact, in a recent opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal, former UN ambassador John Bolton went so far as to say: “For the remainder of Mr. Obama’s term, uncertainty about his administration’s support for Israel will continue to dog Israeli governments and complicate their calculations.”

American Jewry and the Israeli government must view these changes for what they are; namely, statements made and actions taken by the U.S. that undermine Israel’s standing in the international community and that place Israelis at risk of attack by those seeking to destroy them.

The implementation of these policies may jeopardize a relationship rooted in more than a half-century of history. More important, these policies will adversely affect Israel’s security and may lead not to peace but rather to further conflict.

By publicly and steadfastly insisting that Israel cease construction of settlements in Judea and Samaria, the Obama administration is in essence turning a blind eye to Israel’s population growth and its increased housing needs. What are Israelis supposed to do? Should they stop having children because they can no longer add bedrooms to their homes? Are they to stop educating their children because they can no longer build much-needed schools?

In addition, the U.S. is haphazardly dismissing the importance of the settlements as the first line of defense against terror attacks aimed at innocent Israeli citizens. Israel’s ceding control of Judea and Samaria – land it won in a defensive military action – would enable Arab terrorists to settle in close proximity to Israeli cities and facilitate a new round of deadly terrorist attacks. One need only look at the Gaza experience for proof the land-for-peace concept does not work.

The U.S. must recognize that the term “settlements” is a misnomer. In many instances these are full-blown cities that tens of thousands of residents call home. Requiring Israel to empty entire cities is impracticable and immoral. The total population of these “settlements” in Judea and Samaria is approximately 300,000, which represents nearly five percent of the total population of Israel.

One cannot honestly believe that five percent of Israel’s population can simply be transplanted elsewhere. If five percent of America’s population were displaced, it would be equivalent to requiring most of the population of New York State to pick up and move.

Both President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have made it very clear that the U.S. does not accept the legitimacy of Israeli settlements and that they want Israel to halt all construction – whether new settlements or “natural growth exceptions.”

This sudden and shocking reversal in U.S. policy stunned Israeli leaders, and, not surprisingly, was warmly embraced and endorsed by the Arab world. If the U.S. does in fact issue an ultimatum to Israel on the issue of settlements, it will unfairly and unnecessarily put Israel in an incredibly difficult and tenuous position.

Obama has said the U.S. will not dictate to other nations what to do and how to act. Why should Israel be treated any differently in that regard?

Another issue that warrants close examination is the Obama administration’s decision to recant a statement and position used repeatedly by President Bush, which explicitly states that “[m]y Administration remains committed to beginning the process of moving our Embassy to Jerusalem.”

For the past ten years, the president of the United States has issued a bi-annual memo to the secretary of state entitled the “Suspension of Limitations Under the Jerusalem Embassy Act.” This reaffirmation of Washington’s commitment to moving the American Embassy in Israel from its current Tel Aviv location to Jerusalem was required in order to defer implementation of the law. Suddenly, and without warning, the Obama administration deleted that critical line which in the past had declared the intent of the U.S. to relocate its embassy to Jerusalem.

As we bear witness to the abrupt alteration of U.S. policy toward Israel, we question the wisdom in pursuing a path that disregards reality and that is doomed to inevitable failure because the Arabs simply will not recognize or make peace with Israel. How can the U.S., a country whose history has been molded by its Bill of Rights, ignore the Palestinian leadership’s continued infringement of basic human rights?

For example, the imposition of the death penalty on any Palestinian who sells or leases land to a Jew runs counter to every fundamental moral and humanistic code known to man. The blatant discrimination being perpetrated by the Palestinian leadership should make the Obama administration shudder and should repulse every American and every American political leader who champions the guarantee of equal protection under law.

Are these the “peace partners” the U.S. wants to work with? Is this the type of government the U.S. wants to entrust with statehood? This breach of human rights and basic decency should be met with outrage and disgust by the American government.

When the Obama administration and its emissaries advocate for an independent Palestinian state side by side with Israel, it discounts the legitimate security concerns raised by Israeli leaders. By placing undue pressure on Israel to endorse an independent Palestinian state, the U.S. is undermining Israel and essentially telling the world that Israelis, the only people in the Middle East who democratically choose their leaders, have no right to expect their leaders will carry out their election platforms unless they are pre-approved by the United States.

This is undemocratic and must not be tolerated. How can the U.S. compel Israel to accept another Arab state when the Arab nations persistently refuse to accept Israel as a state for the Jews? How can Israel be expected to live side by side with people who preach hatred in their schools and use textbooks containing racist material to incite their youth to rise up against Israel? Where is the evenhandedness in this endeavor?

The Obama administration must recognize the path it is presently pursuing is fraught with peril. Politically expedient sound bites delivered through the media that masquerade as diplomacy could have a devastating effect on a nation with which the U.S. has maintained a congenial and cordial relationship since its birth as a state.

The shifting political winds bring with them an icy breeze that is sending shivers down the spines of not just Israeli leaders but Jews and non-Jews throughout the world who care deeply about the future of the Jewish state.

As Americans, as voters, and, most important, as Jews, we have a distinct responsibility to make our voices heard and let our elected representatives know the path they’ve chosen on U.S.-Israel relations is heading in the wrong direction. With the threat of a nuclear Iran looming large, the Obama administration should be working to further solidify its relationship with Israel, its only true ally in the region, and not alienate its leaders.

The U.S. should reassess the long-term ramifications of an ill-advised, imprudent, and injurious approach. At this perilous time in world history, America must continue to work with Israel to further common goals and mutual interests.

Shlomo Z. Mostofsky, Esq., is president of the National Council of Young Israel and Rabbi Pesach Lerner is executive vice president of the National Council of Young Israel.

Copyright 2008 www.JewishPress.com

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 and is filed under opinion.