What an Arab democratic spring will mean for America’s relations with the Jewish state

Israel is a liability to the US, always has been and now it is to the point of absurd....and dangerous.

If anyone doubts that the US support for Israel is based on anything but Jewish political influence--meaning mainly political donations--all they have to do is go the Presidential Libraries staring with Truman, put "Israel" into the search function and read through the private and public papers and documents and conversations concerning Israel. Without exception you will see this...."domestic political considerations"...given as the reason, from the various horse's mouths for every decision made on Israel by every president and political party that has passed through the WH.

In short, the "Jews for Israel" bought the US government. Fanatical and single interest groups like this are always more involved and financially committed to their cause than your average American who is just looking for decent government in his one vote.

But I disagree strongly with the myth that Israel has broad support among Americans...it does have that support from Jews and christian zionist but they are the 'fringes' in America, not the majority.
The World Opinion Poll by the Univ of Maryland is much more accurate in showing that 73% of Americans believe the US should be 'even handed' in the I/P conflict and not take sides. Basically among the US public you have those who know nothing or little about Israel and are therefore indifferent although they lean to 'fariness', and those who are informed and therefore disgusted with Israel and the US relationship with, and aid to Israel.

As a professional researcher who has followed the issue of Israel/Palestine, the ME, the US relationship and public opinion on a daily basis for a decade I can tell you that the tide has turned on Israel in the US public, as it has in most of the world. That tide hasn't yet reached congress and Washington, but it's on the way.

The Israeli infiltration and subversion of real US and Americans interest is the biggest aberration in US government history and one that cannot last. The only question is how it will end.

“Those who live by the sword will die by it” unknown

This phrase, I believe was written when Alexander the Great went on his campaign of conquering, looting, and murdering across Greece, Persia, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Judea, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, etc. Have not all countries to date who lived by the sword not died by it? If not tell me a country that has not.

This should be especially a wake up call to Israel. They live almost completely by the sword and today they are strong thanks to the U.S. but times change and one day they will find themselves not so powerful and will become vulnerable and will become the hunted instead of the hunter. With no friends in the neighborhood they will be reduced to begging for forgiveness and will resort to begging the Mideast neighbors to show mercy even though they never showed an ounce of mercy themselves.

In my opinion, the only way Israel can survive for a long time is to make friends with their neighbors not enemies. Is it not easier to get bees with honey than vinegar.

May Truth, Justice, and Freedom Prevail

Israeli policy towards the territories occupied during the Six Day War of 1967 constitutes a breach of international law, and could eventually spell the demise of Israel as a Jewish State. The West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Golan Heights are not legitimate parts of Israel. They are territories, conquered and occupied, initially to provide Israel with strategic depth against its enemies. That was all well and good, but the times have changed, strategic depth is no longer as important, and is irrelevant to the hundreds of thousands of illegal Jewish settlers on those lands. Unpopular as it may be among the Israeli and American right, the occupied territories must become a new Palestine, with the exception of the Golan which should go back to Syria. The creation of a Palestinian state would go a long way in easing tension between Jews and Muslims in the Middle East. It is true that the Arab street is, on the whole, more hostile to Israel than Arab leaders, but that is largely due to the suffering and statelessness of the Palestinians. Sadly, there is little hope of meaningful change towards a Palestinian State in the foreseeable future. The bloody stalemate looks set to continue, while demographics eat away at Israel's Jewish majority.

Israel should be using their current relationship with the US to secure a lasting peace from a position of strength. A lot has been mentioned about the role of demographics in the Middle East, but people are overlooking the role of demographics in the US.

The Israeli hawks should ask themselves how many educated Americans under 30 support their cause. As America becomes more diverse (less white and Christian), support for Israel will likely wane in the best of cases. If American power and wealth are under threat, it will plummet.

Israel has been nothing but a headache for my country, the US. It has grossly distorted our politics and moral compass. Did I mention it has cost us billions in wars waged essentially on its behalf and American soldier lives, let alone those of innocent civilians. The sooner we shake off this minute nation, the more peaceful things will be. Perhaps then my Congressional representatives will finally concentrate of more important things at hand like the economy, international goodwill, and deteriorating infrastructure.

America has no more of a strategic interest in the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea today than it did prior to May 8, 1945.

It's funny how right wingers who go on and on about George Washington's advice to avoid foreign entanglements can then turn around and wrap themselves in the mother of all foreign entanglements without seeing any inconsistency.

And now, in the last three weeks we see that a nation whose very existence was predicated on the gross denial of human rights of its people during the second world war has pulled out all the stops to support a favorite military dictator without the slightest qualms about denying indefinitely the basic civil rights to 80m+ people in a neighbouring state.

America needs to get out of this profoundly dis-functional relationship that adulterates its government, exacerbates the cost and difficulty of national security and defense, and profoundly complicates America's relations with many countries around the world.

Dear Sir,

Dearly though you seem to wish for a break between the US and Israel and a realignment of the US with the Arab nations, it is not to destined to be. Amercans and Israelis genuinely share values, know and like each other. Decades of smear campaigns against Israel have therefore left the relations virtually unscathed. The opposite is true of Americans and Arabs. While Americans bear Arabs no ill will, we realize that the Arab nations do not genuinely share our values or like us; though, certainly, there are exceptions. Real change, then, will only become possible with real, deep, sincere change in the Arab world. Cosmetic democracy just won't cut it.

Frankly, Israel is an not asset, but a liability to the United States. Its not a question of whether or not Israel shares it values or that Arabs are ot trust worthy. Israel causes more problems in advancing realpolitik. Modern US Presidents won't bad mouth Israel even in private, but the further back you go, the less enthusiastic they were. What the author says is true. I don't know how reliable the Israeli's really are. Is a country along with Britain and France capture the Suez Canal in 1956, a reliable ally? It was the Americans that had to extract the three countries from their belated attempt at recolonization. The comes the Gulf War of 1991-92, when the Americans had to divert resources for "Scud hunting". When was the last time Israel sent any soldiers to fight in any of America's war. If participation in America's war as well as shared values, close economic relationship and close personal relations the country that the country that is America's most loyal ally since WW2 is South Korea. More ROk soldiers have died fighting along side the Americans since the end of the Korea War than the soldiers of any other country. They have been involved in the Persian Gulf War, Afghanistan, Iraq, They South Koreans have always acted with restraint, despite being provoked numerous times by the DPRk.

Sooner or later the Americans are going to pull out of the Middle East. America is only in the Middle East to control the price of OIl. US imports most of its Oil from Canada now than all the countries in the Middle East.

israel has to ask itself, what happens if China takes over or competes with the US for influence in the Middle East or the Americans just withdraw. How would that play out? as far as I know there is no Jewish Lobby in China nor do the Chinese have any guilt for the Holocaust. The Chinese might service you Szechuan Chicken during Christmas, but they definitely are not going to support Israel like the Americans did.

I think Americans have wised up and have really started to doubt America's unwavering support of Israel. Especially Generation Y. Especially after the last crazy unwarranted Israeli attacks on Palestine, I think lots of Americans have become disgusted with their inhumane treatment and oppression of Palestinians (I'm not talking about Hamas I'm talking about average Palestinian citizens). I mean, they firebobmbed a red cross boat carrying volunteers from various countries. they BULLDOZED and killed an American girl that had gone there to protest bulldozing Palestinian homes, so I'm not sure that U.S. policies will remain unchanged for long. The recent protests in Tahrir square has really grabbed people's attention in the U.S, especially among young people. And the fact that so many of these protests were borne out of facebook organizing and messaging emphasizes that politics as usual has changed for good. So let's see if this "love affair" really lasts.

The underlying assumption here is that the Arabs and the Mulsim world in general will feel more sympathetic towards the US, if it stops supporting Israel. Pray tell me what can be possibly considered as even a remote evidence that this assumption is mildly realistic? To date, the constituencies in question seem to exhibit equal amount of hatred towards other nations and entities completely unaffiliated with Israel, such as India, China, Sudanese animists, Ahmadiya Muslims, etc. The strife goes further to pitch Shia vs Sunni, Turks vs Kurds, Palestinians vs Bedouins, etc. There's been no indication whatsoever that these enmities are going to subside anytime soon. In the pecking order of groups hated by marginalized Muslim population, the US is right next to Israel in its own right. Giving up this "marriage of inconvenience" will hardly produce any benefits at all, but will prove time and again that the US is prone to badly calculated opportunism. This is not akin to the US giving up on France after the French Revolution. This is more like asking sixteenth century German Lutherans to expel Jews to appease the Spanish Inquisition. Well, some of them might have tried to do so, but they still remained "heretics" in the eyes of the inquisitors. Heck, even many Italian cardinals at the time were "heretics" as far as the Inquisition was concerned. How are Wahhabies or the Muslim Brotherhood or SCIRI any different?

Abandonment of Israel is out of the question, but it may feel like abandonment to the Israelis if the US puts its own interests first now and again, and chooses to use the leverage it has to get what it wants from Israel.

I'm sure it's been very nice to have your own pet superpower.

"The best way to escape this trap would be for America to win the Palestinians their state. In that event, Arabs in general might be willing to make a people’s peace with Israel. But it was hard enough to negotiate a compromise when the autocrats were in charge. Finding one the masses accept will be harder still."

And therein lies the problem: in an Islamic culture which is intrinsically anti-Semitic, Arabs are fed on a daily diet of rabid hatred of Israel and the Jews by mullahs, political leaders and journalists. The so called 'Arab Street' is about as ready for pluralistic liberal democracy as a black man is ready to join the KKK.

To this toxic brew is added a healthy dose of contempt and derision of the Copts, anyone Christian, and most definitely anyone deemed an infidel and kaffir who believes in no deity at all.

Giving the Palestinian Arabs a state would help matters not one whit. The problem does not lie there - the problem, i.e. the illiberal, intolerant, regressive Arab/Islamic culture, can only be resolved from within - by an Islamic Reformation.

I suggest not holding your breath for one though.

If Egypt becomes a Republic, with a vibrant middle class and thriving trade, I highly suspect tensions among the Arab World with Israel will decline. Why? The bigger desire amongst the majority of Arabs is to largely live a life, make a decent living, and play with their grandkids. A number of Arab Main Street types might "hate Israel" because they've been told to, or because they believe Israel represses Palestinian brothers. If Egypt becomes a Republic, however, engages in regular trade with others includng Israel, and makes more money, it changes two dynamics: First, internally, they can see Israel as a mutually profitable friend, and secondly, Israel stops being the predominant economic power in that area. Yes, Saudi Arabia has oil and there are some buregeoning industries in areas like Turkey, but Israel has strong firms, research and development, and a very brainy, educated culture. This makes it a much more solid economic power, and thus, has not only "values" links but also economic ones. In my opinion, those are more valuable over time. If Egypt has more potent economic footing with America, then it can do more to force the Palestinian issue with America. For all of the talk of values, cultures, terrorists, etc, it's money that talks the loudest.

The article several times makes reference to the argument that Israel deserves American support because it is the only democratic country in the Middle East. As America works to transition power from one military strongman to another (Mubarak to Suleiman), the argument rings hollow. When it is one’s own meddling and money that is suppressing self determination, it is absurd to claim that the autocrats must remain in power because of the lack of democracy.

If it is believed that the Egyptians are not sensible or moderate enough for a responsible democratic government, another decade of tyranny isn’t what is going to bring them around.

@The_Prof,

Very good point. Israel needs to negotiate a peace while it still can, from a position of strength. Israel's strength compared with the countries around it has been on decline for a decade, and it will decline further still as Israel's, Palestine's, and America's demographics edge further in Palestine's favor.

Why wait until America no longer supports it, or no longer it supports it so much, for Israel to make peace? It is even more doubtful that Israel will be able to secure a favorable peace when more unstable democracies surround it. Their position is weakening and they are fools for not cashing their chips in now.

Interviewer: "Are you a true friend of Israel, Mr President?"
Nixon: "Of course I am. It's cheaper than the Sixth Fleet."

This may no longer be true, but the Israeli alliance is still a major military asset for the US, especially in the context of ensuring that our Arab allies in the Gulf are not exposed to undue pressure from those who do not have our interests at heart.

This comes at a price; it makes the US unpopular with the Arab masses - but then Western interests and those of the Arab street are not necessarily compatible - as we're likely about to find out in Egypt.

Whatever details might be occuring on the ground in the ME, whether it's in Israel & Palestine, Iran, Egypt, Afghanistan... the underlying allegiance should always be towards countries that nurture democracy and all the freedoms that we in the West hold dear. This naturally allies the US to Canada, Europe, Australia, Japan, Israel, Brazil and other similar countries. Obviously, a balanced approach to any situation is required, but we in the West should remember who we would rather share our values with. When 0.1% of the ME is Jewish, surrounded by ennemies, and just happens to be democratic, while 99.9% is Muslim, theocratic, and denies the existence of Israel, I think I know why the US provides more aid to Israel, then to Portugal, or Japan, for example, whose sovereignty is rarely, if ever, questioned.

Indeed, Harry Truman was correct, when he decided to support Israel’s founding after relentless lobbying. “I have to answer to hundreds of thousands who are anxious for the success of Zionism,” he grumbled. “I do not have hundreds of thousands of Arabs among my constituents.”.....

It is true again..... Since then, the power of the pro-Israel lobby in Washington has grown stronger......, just look the Wall Street, American Medical Association, U.S. Congress, American Bar Association, Who owns New York Times, who owns Los Angeles Times, the list goes on and on....

Ariel Sharon, who served as Israel’s 11th Prime Minister, responsible for the massacre by Lebanese militias of Palestinian civilians in the refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila. In 1970s, 1980s and 1990s Sharon championed construction of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian land.

Prime Minister Sharon reported to have said “don’t worry about American pressure; I tell you, we, the Jewish people, control America and the American people know it!”

I hope it is not true, however, if Obama does not apply enough ‘tough love’ to settle this issue, Obama should return his Nobel Peace Price? The next super power may not be as kind to Israel as current super power? The end of one super power along and the end of Israel, the prophet is written on the ‘dividing walls’ by Palestinian youth already?

It was also reported almost 1/3 of all foreign aid from the United States goes to Israel in the amount of $142,900,000,000; Israel has total population of 7.2 million people.

U.S. also gives Egypt $29,000,000,000 to keep peace with Israel. In addition, U.S. pays Jordan $3,900,000,000 as well.

Almost half of foreign aid from United States is used to support Israel in some shape or form. Let us divide the $185,800,000,000 by the total population of Israel of 7,200,000 people. That is USD $25,805 per person.

Furthermore, if US citizens donate money to the state of Israel, it is tax deductible. God knows how much money US citizen donate to the state of Israel.

Almost two dozen resolutions in UN condemn Israel and several times the United States is the only country cast a veto most of the time.
Why the whole world is wrong almost two dozen times? Can Israel exist without unconditional US support? Economically? Military? Politically?

U.S. is fighting two wars; is it is somewhat related to Israel? Now, the airport security is getting so tight, I saw buckets of confiscated bottle water, perfume, wines, knifes, scissors, nail clippers, lighters, tweezers, etc.... and you have to pass thru a X-ray machine too.... You are only allowed for a few minutes to load/unload luggage, the security measures are getting tougher and tougher....

U.S. U.S. is running 14 trillion dollar government deficit, 76 trillion dollar Medicare deficit, if you add all the deficits of states, county and cities, social security deficit, credit cards debts, student loan’s debts, home mortgage debts, etc...... U.S. has several hundred trillions dollar in debts or underfunded obligations.

Within a few years, the entire U.S. government budget may not be able to pay for the interest on these debts.....

Here is the end of MuBarak, who is next in line? Under the current political and economic situation in U.S. and the two anti-terrorist wars still going strong, can U.S. not to re-consider the unconditional support of Israel?

Indeed, someday, the hunter may become the hunted; some day the chicken will come home to roost....

What a sad joke!!!

I cannot believe, in that entire post, that there wasn't even ONE reference to the experience of the Jews during World War II as perpetrated by Hitler's Nazi Germany, and America's role in liberating them.

This is troubling, as it points to the true myopia of many people who are critical of our relationship with Israel. Didn't it even cross the author's mind, that perhaps, America views its relationship with Israel as that of a protector of a historically persecuted people. Such a vision plays directly into our superpower / justice ethos, for better (as I and many others think) or for worse (as I'm sure many others think).

The generation(s) that tended the relationship with the Israeli state were the same generations who saw firsthand what was done to the Jews in Europe. You don't think that might have a bit to do with why Israel remains special to America?

It can be summed in a sentence: if you think the world's leading polyarchy is going to ever move from the side of a democratic bastion within an opressive (and existentially hostile) region, you don't understand America.

See also: The sovereign state of Taiwan.

Mubarak was not dropped like a hot potato. Only when it started to become clear that his tenure was unsustainable did America look for a way out.

America needs to be friends with Egypt, no matter who is running it - not just its ruler.