While it is no doubt true that the orthodox-liberal divide among Jews has become a political divide as well. Israel is becoming more religious and conservative while US young Jews remain liberal and secular, Christian Zionists specifically and Americans on both sides of the aisle remain supportive of Israel’s conservative bent. Yes, if would be better if Israel became more independent, it is also true that Israel is not a charity case. The current relationship has many mutual benefits and unfortunately many differences. On the question of a mutual defense treaty, I have no doubt that in a Republican administration, the US would support such a treaty. Why? Because of shared values. Ted Belman
New report ‘Crossroads: The Future of the U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership’, claims ‘social and political trends in United States and Israel are reshaping politics of both societies’.
By Natasha Mozgovaya, Blog on Haaretz
[..]
Malka claimed that it is impossible that U.S. and Israeli interests be totally aligned, however he believes that “Israel has become a complicated domestic political issue” in the U.S. alienating younger liberal Jews that disapprove of Israel’s handling of the conflict and lack of religious pluralism.
He also attributed these growing differences to changes within Israeli society, saying “today Israel’s Jewish population is more nationalistic, religiously conservative, and hawkish on foreign policy and security affairs than that of even a generation ago, and it would be unrecognizable to Israel’s founders.”
This, according to Malka, has reshaped Israeli politics and policies, increasingly estranging Israel’s Arab populace.
As these trends in both countries continue to take their course, diplomatic challenges “will likely intensify and spark additional U.S.-Israeli friction”, the report said, necessitating a reevaluation of the relationship, instead of resting upon the ages-old mantra of shared values and interests.
Given United States’ financial straits, aid for Israel cannot be taken for granted in the future. The security cooperation between the countries has reached an all-times high – but this may not be something that can be taken for granted, given the growing differences in analysis of the strategic threats.
“Given the shifting political and strategic environments and strains on the U.S.-Israeli partnership, now is the time to ask hard questions about U.S. security guarantees“, Malka wrote in the report.
The report discussed the pros and cons of solidifying a security agreement with Israel referring to prospects for Palestinian-Israeli peace as well as the plausibility of presenting a united front against Iran.
Malka suggested that due to the diverging security and policy interests, it would be beneficial to both the United States as well as Israel to clarify terms to defuse the uncertainty over the future security cooperation.
He also suggested reshaping the relationship between the United States and Israel to fit the changing domestic and regional conditions. A new arrangement, according to Malka, must treat Israel “less as a dependent”, while containing “clearer commitments of what each side will do for the other—with an implicit understanding that there are limits to those commitments”.
The report called for a rethinking of U.S, military aid to Israel, while “emphasizing Israel’s role as it grows from being a dependent to a more equal partner.” He called on both countries to recognize that their future relationship will not be like that of the past, calling on both sides to “ prepare for a time when the historic rationale for strong U.S.-Israeli ties may be less significant and when the politics in both countries may change the parameters of U.S.-Israeli cooperation.”
Malka concluded the report saying that while the U.S.-Israeli relationship is deep, “the challenges to it now are more profound than at any time in history.”
Yamit said:
Oh, Yamit…that’s so sweet.
If Mapai the original labor party existed today I would vote for them. The Likud today compared to Mapai would be considered way to the left of Mapai.
I think Golda represented Mapai’s mindset and world view of Israel and her place in the world
Some Golda quotes compare with BB and Likud of today:
“I prefer to stay alive and be criticized than be sympathized.
How can we return the held territories? There is nobody to return them to.
There were no such thing as Palestinians. When was there an independent Palestinian people with a Palestinian state? It was either southern Syria before the First World War, and then it was a Palestine including Jordan. It was not as though there was a Palestinian people in Palestine considering itself as a Palestinian people and we came and threw them out and took their country away from them. They did not exist.
We don’t thrive on military acts. We do them because we have to, and thank God we are efficient.
We have always said that in our war with the Arabs we had a secret weapon — no alternative. The Egyptians could run to Egypt, the Syrians into Syria. The only place we could run was into the sea, and before we did that we might as well fight.
[The Soviet government] is the most realistic regime in the world — no ideals.
We owe a responsibility not only to those who are in Israel but also to those generations that are no more, to those millions who have died within our lifetime, to Jews all over the world, and to generations of Jews to come. We hate war. We do not rejoice in victories. We rejoice when a new kind of cotton is grown, and when strawberries bloom in Israel.
This country exists as the fulfillment of a promise made by God Himself. It would be ridiculous to ask it to account for its legitimacy.
Arab sovereignty in Jerusalem just cannot be. This city will not be divided — not half and half, not 60-40, not 75-25, nothing.
To be or not to be is not a question of compromise. Either you be or you don’t be.
Pessimism is a luxury that a Jew can never allow himself
It is not only a matter, I believe, of religious observance and practice. To me, being Jewish means and has always meant being proud to be part of a people that has maintained its distinct identity for more than 2,000 years, with all the pain and torment that has been inflicted upon it.
Finally, I wish to say that from the time I came to Palestine as a young woman, we have been forced to choose between what is more dangerous and what is less dangerous for us. At times we have all been tempted to give in to various pressures and to accept proposals that might guarantee us a little quiet for a few months, or maybe even for a few years, but that could only lead us eventually into even greater peril.
Above all, this country is our own. Nobody has to get up in the morning and worry what his neighbors think of him. Being a Jew is no problem here.”
While I agree Israel is not the welfare recipient Israel haters/anti-zionists/anti-semites argue, in truth, if we’re being truly honest, the current U.S. business relationship with Israel(and many other nations)is an entangling alliance and it is a form of crony capitalism. It is a form of interventionism. At least religious Jews will honestly acknowledge the reality that the U.S. uses the relationship to influence the decisions and policies of Israel’s government.
It’s true, the original zionists believed in buying up the land. Israel should continue to do this, of course. Annexation will bring war; that’s just being realistic. One should consider all the consequences that will result from their choices/decisions.
The Significance of King David, who for all intents and purposes had already conquered zion, paying thousands of pieices of gold to buy the Temple Mount. There was significance to that act? Why pay for what one had already conquered?
This report is a crock of shit. The support for Israel amongst the American people and Congress is extremely high. And Israel is not a charity case but is already an equal partner. What money Israel receives from America is used to buy American military equipment, therefore it gets filtered back into the American economy. There is also the matter of intelligence which Israel provides and technology etc. I’m so sick of this bullcrap about Israel receiving handouts from America when the relationship is nothing of the kind. It is a mutally beneficial relationship.
Again, what is this fool talking about? When have Israelis NOT been hawkish on foreign policy and security affairs? They MUST be considering the enemies surrounding them.
And why would Israel’s founders not recognize the country since they too were nationalistic and hawkish even though they were on the left. It is the Israeli left that has changed, not Israeli society overall. Today’s Israeli left is anti-Zionist.
It seems to me that this report was created by those who WANT the Israeli-American relationship to end and therefore are trying to create a rift.