YOTAM ETTINGER: Obama’s Criticism of Netanyahu Exposes Palestinian Issue
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President Obama’s criticism of Prime Minister Netanyahu – on the eve of the January 22, 2013 Israeli election – underlines the secondary role played by the Palestinian issue in shaping US-Israel strategic cooperation.
Since March, 2009, Obama has systematically scorned Netanyahu’s policies on the Arab-Israeli conflict in general and the Palestinian issue, Jerusalem and the construction of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, in particular. However, since March, 2009, irrespective of harsh disagreements over the Palestinian issue, the mutually-beneficial US-Israel strategic cooperation has expanded, especially in areas which feature the distinctive Israeli added-value: intelligence-sharing, counter-terrorism, homeland security, missile defense, training, battle tactics, joint exercises, pre-positioning of military hardware, medical treatment of soldiers and civilians, research and development, space, commercial and defense industries and high tech in general. Neither Israel nor the US intends to subordinate primary interests to secondary issues by cutting off their noses to spite their faces.
The volcanic eruption of the Arab Winter since 2010 – independent of the Palestinian issue – has exposed the unpredictability, instability, violent volatility, unreliability, inefficiency, intolerance and anti-US terrorism and hostility on the Arab Street. It has highlighted Israel’s unique features as the only stable, predictable, reliable, capable, democratic and unconditional ally of the US.
Mutual threats to the US and Israel – such as nuclear Iran, Islamic terrorism, proliferation of advanced missile and nuclear technologies, and the clear and present radical menace to pro-US Arab regimes – transcend the Palestinian issue. Moreover, pro (and anti) US Arab leaders have never considered the Palestinian issue a cardinal matter on their agenda. They are currently traumatized by the lethal Iranian nuclear threat, raging Arab Winter, emboldened Islamic terrorism and the erupting Iraqi, Syrian and Muslim Brotherhood lava, which might trigger their downfall.
Notwithstanding Obama’s distrust of Israel’s Palestinian policy, US defense and high tech establishments trust Israel’s unique contributions to US national security and the economy as a matchless source of cutting-edge technologies, a sterling beachhead in a vital region, a battle-tested laboratory, and the largest US aircraft carrier which does not require US boots on board. Such attributes are doubly crucial while the US reduces its power projection and severely cuts the defense budget.
Obama’s criticism of Netanyahu is not unprecedented. Prime Minister Shamir’s policy on the Arab-Israeli conflict, including the Palestinian issue, was ruthlessly criticized by the US Administration. However, in April, 1988, at the height of President Reagan’s brutal criticism of Shamir’s handling of the 1st Palestinian Intifadah, Israel was elevated to the status of a Major Non-NATO Ally. A Memorandum of Understanding was concluded, enhancing US-Israel strategic cooperation in an unprecedented manner. It aimed at leveraging Israeli capabilities in the face of joint regional and global challenges, which superseded the Palestinian issue.
In fact, from 1948 until 1992, all Israeli Prime Ministers faced rough US pressure on Arab and Palestinian-related issues. In most cases, the pressure was repelled, criticism was sharpened, but strategic cooperation surged beyond expectations. Middle East reality overpowered oversimplified policy and moral-equivalency.
While President Obama rebukes Israeli policy-makers, the US constituency demonstrates its overwhelming support for the Jewish State. A December, 2012 poll, conducted by the Pew Research Center shows that Americans support Israel over Palestinians by 5:1 ratio, similar to a 59%:13% ratio documented by a November, 2012 CNN poll. While the Executive branch of government is in the habit of criticizing Israel, the co-equal, co-determining Legislature – the most authentic representative of the American people – has been a bastion of support for Israel since 1948 and for the idea of a Jewish State since1776.
President Obama’s preoccupation with the Palestinian issue, and criticism of Israel, is out of the American mainstream.
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