Apologies: This Post Is a Bit of a Cri de Coeur
At the end of this week, Mahmoud Abbas (aka Abu Mazen), President of the Palestinian Authority, will declare the establishment of the State of Palestine at the UN. The state's welcome by well over 100 member states has already been assured. The recent reconciliation of Abbas's PA with ever-bloodthirsty Hamas -- which, together with the statehood maneuver's tactical end-run around bilateral negotiations, has throttled all life out of the Oslo Accords -- will be politely elided by learned commentators and bedazzled diplomats. President Obama, who is committed (quite properly) to veto the statehood declaration, will be embarrassed and diminished. (Indeed, his bush-league mishandling of every element of this situation might prove to be the culmination of his weird campaign to transform the presidency into befuddled, hapless irrelevance.)
I don't mean to be overdramatic about this, but what might be lost in the clamor of mixed jubilation and hysteria when Abbas takes the floor could be the death knell of Israel.
I read an article in New York Magazine this morning about Obama and his relationship with American Jews. Boilerplate sanctimonious blue-state guff, mostly, larded with snotty backhand swipes at anyone who looks askance at Abbas as a negotiating partner or who questions the premise of land for peace (we're all "right-wing Likudophiles," apparently -- who knew?; Bibi's coalition is "surpassingly volatile;" Ed Koch is now "loopy" for having revised his opinion of Obama over Israel; American Jews are notable for the "earsplitting volume of the collective megaphone they wield," and so on and so forth). This bit particularly appealed (emphasis added):
In [Bibi's] speech to Congress...he spelled out demands that were maximal by any measure: recognition by the Palestinians of Israel as a Jewish state as a precondition for negotiations, a refusal to talk if Hamas is part of the Palestinian side, an undivided Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and absolutely no right of return for Palestinian refugees.
I'm on board with all four, so I guess I'm off the charts.
I've read enough of this kind of bilge to find it vaguely entertaining, and the author's faith in the good intentions of his president is, in its own delusional way, rather touching. But what gets under my skin -- what makes me about ready to rend my garments, in fact -- is the spectacularly self-righteous, utterly self-confident assertion made again and again by this and so many writers of similar ilk: that the only thing that's standing in the way of a peaceful future is Israeli intransigence. This writer is fully convinced that the product of a cessation of Israeli settlement-building and a withdrawal from territory to the 1967 lines (with swaps!, he keeps shouting, as if that will reassure us) will be the dawning of a beautiful new era. We will "remain both Jewish and democratic, satisfy Palestinian national aspirations, facilitate efforts to contain Iran, alleviate the international opprobrium directed at [us], and reap the enormous security and economic benefits of ending the conflict by taking up the task of the creation of a viable Palestinian state."
To which I say: your fantasies might kill me, pal. But I gather you're comfortable with that.
Yes, I caught the tush-covering sidelong reference to the years of rocket fire that ensued after we withdrew from Gaza. That was nice. Don't half-acknowledge the permanently traumatized city of Sderot and then dismiss it into irrelevance. Own the fact that you fully recognize what will really result from further territorial concessions: the Sderotization of the rest of this country. Don't preach to me that it's my obligation to cut off my arm to satisfy your selective sense of historical justice. Especially if you're likely to get a certain pleasing frisson out of the spectacle of my bleeding to death.
The author of the piece lauds Obama for having the courage to give it to us straight -- for being a true friend, in other words.
In attempting to apply tough love to Israel, Obama is trying to make a stalwart ally see that undertaking the painful and risky compromises necessary for peace with the Palestinians is the only way to preserve the Zionist dream—which is to say a future as a state both Jewish and democratic. His role here is not that of the callous assailant but of the caring and sober brother slapping his drunken sibling: The point is not to hurt the guy but to get him to sober up.
We sobered up in 2000 and pulled out of Lebanon. We sobered up in 2005 and pulled out of Gaza. Look what it got us.
I don't know what's waiting for us on the other side of Friday. Whatever it is, I'm not expecting it to be good.
- Comment (24)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (2)
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
Comments :
Mar '11
Re: Apologies: This Post Is a Bit of a Cri de Coeur
My prayers are with you. To my own eyes it has looked like the cards have been lining up for another mideast war ever since Barry O took office. All his talks of "resets" and "new understandings" have seemed to me to be little more than a veiled permission for the region to go after Israel. With Clinton (whose husband was never a friend of Israel) as SecState he has certainly cleared out any would-be US supporters. But through it all God has preserved His people.
Jun '10
Re: Apologies: This Post Is a Bit of a Cri de Coeur
Prayers here too. I am praying for a miracle.
Aug '11
Re: Apologies: This Post Is a Bit of a Cri de Coeur
Not all the blame can be put on Obama, although I'm pretty sure under Bush we wouldn't be in this situation.
I think Bibi got us here by agreeing to the first settlement freeze. By making that fatal mistake he gave credence (in the eyes of the world) to the impression that the settlements are the main obstacle to peace and thereby legitimized (again, in the eyes of the world) the Palestinian demand for further freezes as a precondition to resuming negotiations.
I could be wrong though.
Aug '11
Re: Apologies: This Post Is a Bit of a Cri de Coeur
BTW, great piece. Beautifully put.
Mar '11
Re: Apologies: This Post Is a Bit of a Cri de Coeur
"New York Magazine" is filth that would make Izvestia or Pravda seem honest by comparison. And I would personally like to [redacted for "show"] Heilemann [redacted] Sderot, or for that matter Ashkelon, Ashdod or Beersheva, the next time the Gazans get a collective rocket in their pockets.
But do you know what really galls me? It's that so many Jewish Americans actually believe the kind of rubbish that Heilemann and NY Magazine spew out.
Edited on Sep 20, 2011 at 6:34amMar '11
Re: Apologies: This Post Is a Bit of a Cri de Coeur
BTW, my apologies if I broke the Ricochet COC with that last comment.
Like Judith, I live in Israel, and fear for my children's lives when those rockets start to fly.
But what am I thinking? Heilemann has got it all figured out. All we need to do is to give the Arabs a few more ways to kill us, and then everything will be good and unicorns and rainbows will be everywhere. Obvious, really, given how well it's worked out before, right?
Oct '10
Re: Apologies: This Post Is a Bit of a Cri de Coeur
Maximal? Not maximal enough.
1) recognition by the Palestinians of Israel as a Jewish state as a precondition for negotiations 2) a refusal to talk if Hamas is part of the Palestinian side 3) an undivided Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and absolutely no right of return for Palestinian refugees."
To which shold be added, 5) no ethnic cleansing by the PA of any post-settlement Palestinian state.
May '10
Re: Apologies: This Post Is a Bit of a Cri de Coeur
Romney's strong response just posted on the Corner at NRO gives me some hope that there will be a serious backlash if this goes through.
I may be naive.
Edited on Sep 20, 2011 at 6:23amRe: Apologies: This Post Is a Bit of a Cri de Coeur
Yes, Judith, that article is cause for despair. The author thinks "sharp criticism of Iran and Syria" is a "hard-line pro-Israel position?" How did the world get to a place where someone could write that?
Jun '10
Re: Apologies: This Post Is a Bit of a Cri de Coeur
Americans deceive themselves when they don't worry about Israel's survival. Attacks on the "little Satan"--Israel--are just a rehearsal for, a prelude to, attacks on the "big Satan"--the USA. Listen to (and take seriously) the violent rhetoric from "opinion leaders" in the Muslim world. They're a joke, but they're not joking.
Mar '11
Re: Apologies: This Post Is a Bit of a Cri de Coeur
katievs: Romney's strong response just posted on the Corner at NRO gives me some hope that there will be a serious backlash if this goes through.
I may be naive. · Sep 20 at 6:22am
Edited on Sep 20 at 06:23 am
Only backlash would be from the Right (excluding the isolationist Buchanan wing who still blame Israel for everything). The Left long ago decided that getting rid of Israel would get the world to like us - remember in their view it was the Zionist lobby (cue evil laughter) that got us into that illegal war in Iraq... etc. etc. etc.
Israel has few friends left in this world, all the lessons of WWII are inverted now. Too many feel they have more than atoned for old sins and can go back to good old Jew hatred, same as the rest.
Feb '11
Re: Apologies: This Post Is a Bit of a Cri de Coeur
Judith Levy:
... his weird campaign to transform the presidency into befuddled, hapless irrelevance.
The sorry epitaph of what may well be the worst presidency in American history.
Heshmon: "New York Magazine" is filth that would make Izvestia or Pravda seem honest by comparison.
The magazine is a reflection of the city demographic it caters to. There are many wonderful things about New York City, but somehow it always make me think of a passage from Heart of Darkness:
I found myself back in the sepulchral city resenting the sight of people hurrying through the streets to filch a little money from each other, ... to dream their insignificant and silly dreams. ... Their bearing, which was simply the bearing of commonplace individuals going about their business in the assurance of perfect safety, was offensive to me like the outrageous flauntings of folly in the face of a danger it is unable to comprehend. I had no particular desire to enlighten them, but I had some difficulty in restraining myself from laughing in their faces so full of stupid importance.
Aug '10
Re: Apologies: This Post Is a Bit of a Cri de Coeur
I'd bet a dollar against a doughnut that the magazine had the article in the can before the NY-9 election . If the vote went the wrong way they ran the story to show the Jewish support for Obama.
Irony beyond all belief with Abu Mazen and Ahmedinijad both allowed to set foot in our country and Susan Rice and who knows who else busily crawling up the backsides of the world's worst players.
Israel must wait as well, if there has been any Clintonesque moves to mess with Israeli politics, then someone needs to find a way to delink from the present gang and leave them alone in the room with the Zimbabweans, the NoKos and the new Palestinian "state governor" . The stench should serve as a just dessert.
Oct '10
Re: Apologies: This Post Is a Bit of a Cri de Coeur
A "sobering" post, Judith, and beautifully written. We hear your heart cry and join with you in your bewilderment and contempt for liberal bias toward Israel. It is heartbreaking and confusing all at the same time.
Re: Apologies: This Post Is a Bit of a Cri de Coeur
This video about the Palestinian situation is interesting:
Jun '10
Re: Apologies: This Post Is a Bit of a Cri de Coeur
Judith Levy: . . .
I read an article in New York Magazine this morning about Obama and his relationship with American Jews. Boilerplate sanctimonious blue-state guff, mostly, larded with snotty backhand swipes . . . .
Beautifully put. I have always been a proud American, but if we (through the Obama administration) abandon Israel to the likes of Hezbollah, Hamas and the like by allowing the conditions to develop for the "next war," I will be profoundly ashamed.
I keep an Israeli and an American flag on my desk. I have long felt that our mutual fates are inextricably tied together.
I pray for Israel and for a new American leader who will led it the unequivocal support (economically and militarily) that it deserves.
Edited on Sep 20, 2011 at 11:49amNov '10
Re: Apologies: This Post Is a Bit of a Cri de Coeur
My heart has been sick ever since we abandoned the South Vietnamese and I have long feared that the same thing would be done by the same people to Iraq and Israel. Now I see it occurring by a President who is either, as I suspect, malevolently disposed towards Israel or who is utterly incompetent and being manipulated by the worst elements in our society.
There has been NO honor in Washington since George W. Bush left office. He and I parted company on a number of issues, but I never doubted his trustworthiness nor his commitment to our keeping our pledges.
Re: Apologies: This Post Is a Bit of a Cri de Coeur
Excellent post, Judith. My thoughts are with you -- and with my relatives in Israel. The Heilemann piece is absurd; but then, I see no evidence that Heilemann has any expertise in the region. He seems to be regurgitating fashionable lefty talking points. Funny how the Left picks its battles. They all have "Free Tibet" bumper stickers on their cars, but they know better than to confront China in any meaningful way about that. Israel, on the other hand, they can kick around.
Any ides whether any EU country will join the US in opposing the Palestinian move? I was not surprised to see the BBC's website, enthusiastically endorsing this piece from the Guardian by Jonathan Freedland, arguing that Britain must support Palestinian statehood (because, among other things, a "no" vote would strengthen Bibi -- the horrors!). But I knew that's where the BBC and Guardian stood -- not sure about Cameron, though.
Aug '10
Re: Apologies: This Post Is a Bit of a Cri de Coeur
We need a thousand Orde Wingates about now. Or one John Adams : "
I will insist that the Hebrews have done more to civilize man than any other nation. (Letter from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson)
Farther I could find it in my heart to wish that you had been at the head of a hundred thousand Israelites . . . & marching with them into Judea & making a conquest of that country & restoring your nation to the dominion of it. For I really wish the Jews again in Judea an independent nation. (Letter to Mordecai Manuel Noah, 1819) "
Someone needs to go to this website and copy every quote here. And then go and read them to our President a couple hundred times.
Edited on Sep 20, 2011 at 12:14pmDec '10
Re: Apologies: This Post Is a Bit of a Cri de Coeur
G.W. Bush was no strong supporter of Israel, either, in my reckoning. I was dismayed when Sec. Rice capitulated to the arab demands (the Annapolis negotiations, if I recall correctly), that Livni could not walk in the same door as they and she had to be led in from a back door.
Many in America have given up on our political elites when it comes to a host of issues, the sort of sentiment that has given rise to the Tea Party and our disdain for either political party.
Here's an example of how ordinary Americans have been taking the issue of Israel's survival into their own hands. The idea behind these efforts is to help inform Israel that America is not her politicians and to let our politicians know that they abandon Israel at their electoral peril.