Relations: Israel and America

Not good. Not good at all these days. And the blame goes straight to Netanyahu. Bibi is a bully - for many years. He has proven over and over again in US relations that he will play the bully if he does not get what he wants. And what he wants is political strength within his own nation. When he is on the war mongering front, he has the most strength.

More’s the pity with Israelis. The more bellicose they are, the less respect they earn throughout the globe. They don’t seem to get that simple point.

Let’s review: America under the leadership of Obama grants Israel $38 billion aid package, mostly for military strength to be used to protect themselves from the Middle Eastern gaggle of enemies; peace negotiation efforts led over the decades by American diplomats and presidents have emphasized the two-state solution to gain peace between Palestine and Israel. Israel has agreed to this principle several times. However, Netanyahu has broken the accord many times and uses it as a bargaining chip. Yes, he has torn down settlement housing, but then rebuilt them when he didn’t get what he wanted from Palestine.

Also in the review: any time Bibi thinks he might not get what he wants from America, he goes to his American Jewish friends and lobbyists to thwart the sitting president and the congress and the UN. He has done this time and time again. It is a non-starter. Friends don’t do this. Especially repeatedly.

And yet he has the gall to claim the same thing about America taking Israel to the UN Security Council. We didn’t; someone else did and we abstained from the voting because it was the right thing to do. Sorry, Bibi. Your argument doesn’t hold water. The Bully Emperor is shown without clothes.

I’m a supporter of the Israeli State. I support the safety of Israelis. I don’t mind subsidizing them to ensure their safety. But I will not sell out American ideals and global hopes for peace by siding with a bully like Netanyahu. He dictates his wishes and is not a good loser.

If we were to respond to him in kind, we would withdraw our financial support from Israel. But we don’t. Why? Because the Israelis are our friends. Netanyahu is not our friend. It seems clear to us now. So the question is what to do about this going forward?

Well, this has nothing to do with Obama now. It is in the hands of Trump who has no understanding at all of international peace negotiations and their delicacy. I guess he will settle this matter with getting his own way in some economic matter or other. To hell with peace. Why would he bother?

It is also time that our Jewish friends in the United States and in Israel, understand this point: our relationship can be abused for only a so long. After that we understand what you are telling us, or at least your elected officials are telling us. And what we hear is not pleasant news. At some point you should expect a reaction from Americans that you will not like. We have hesitated on this point for decades. I think, however, our patience is at an end. Beware.

And the same warning to Putin: we are on to you and have been for many years. We get it. You want to win adulation from your people by making Russia great again. The only problem is that picking a war with the world will destroy both you and your enemies. What a stupid game play to make, Vlad. Stupid.

And if you think dealing with a similarly stupid Trump will get you what you want, you are in for a very nasty surprise.

You do not represent the Russian people. Neither does Trump. On paper it may seem so, but in reality our two nations are made up of smarter people who understand what the two of you are doing. Wise up, or not. That is your choice. Ditto to Bibi and all the other bullies.

January 4, 2017