US/Israeli Special Relationship:
Growing Numbers Of Jews Oppose Israeli Policies
06 May 2012
By Stephen Lendman
Strategic interests largely benefitting Israel, not
shared values, are at issue. Washington doesn't
provide the Jewish state more aid than all other
nations combined because of historic binding ties.
On March 25, 1948, Harry Truman met secretly with
Chaim Weizmann (Israel's first president). He pledged
support for the future Jewish state. Minutes after
midnight on May 15, 1948, America was the first
country to extend recognition.
A special relationship began. Thereafter it's grown
financially, politically, militarily, diplomatically,
and counterproductively. Israel clearly benefits.
America loses more than it gains. Serious reassessment
is long overdue.
On many issues mattering most, the Israeli tail wags
the US dog, whether or not Washington's interests are
served.
Both countries threaten world peace. United they
endanger humanity. On February 9, 2010, an
Intelligence Squared debate resolved: "The US should
step back from its special relationship with Israel,"
saying:
"Israel believes America's special relationship is
vital. It is, certainly, to Israel. But what about for
the US? Israel has no oil, enemies in many places, and
a tendency to defy Washington when it perceives its
own interests to be threatened, which is not
infrequently."
Does America's relationship do more harm than good? Is
it time to step back and reconsider? These and related
issues weren't resolved. Raising them publicly served
a purpose.
A packed New York University student union showed
people want answers they haven't gotten. Together
these pariah states menace humanity. Breaking up is
long overdue.
In their book titled "The Israel Lobby and US Foreign
Policy," John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt argue that
Israel is "increasingly a strategic liability....It is
time for the United States to treat Israel not as a
special case but as a normal state, and to deal with
it much as it deals with any other country."
Doing so "means no longer pretending that Israel and
America's interests are identical, or acting as if
Israel deserves steadfast US support no matter what it
does."
James Petras said "(t)he US-Israeli relationship is
the first in modern history in which the imperial
country covers up a deliberate major military assault
by a supposed ally."
He referred to the 1967 USS Liberty attack. Israel
bombed and strafed it. Dozens of US seamen were
killed. Around 170 were wounded. The vessel was
heavily damaged. Israel got away with murder. It
wasn't the first or last time.
From then to now, the relationship strengthened. Today
more than ever it threatens world peace. Managed news
perceptions conceal it from public view. It's time to
reveal what's been denied too long. It's time to cut
ties and move on.
On May 9, greater cause emerged. The US House passed
HR 4133: United States-Israel Enhanced Security
Cooperation Act of 2012. It went to the Senate for
consideration.
It "express(es) the sense of Congress regarding the
United States-Israel strategic relationship, to direct
the President to submit to Congress reports on United
States actions to enhance this relationship and to
assist in the defense of Israel, and for other
purposes."
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R. VA) introduced
it. He had 304 co-sponsors. It passed 411 - 2. Nine
didn't vote. Another nine voted present.
John Dingell (D. MI) voted "Nay." So did Ron Paul.
Passage "will lead to war," he said. More on his
comments below.
On May 9, US sovereignty lost another round. Netanyahu
is a global menace. HR 4133 facilitates his
belligerence. Chances for war on Syria and Iran
increased.
Israeli weapons aid insurgents against Assad. Its
satellite images claim Iran's developing nuclear
weapons. Known facts belie contentions. Netanyahu
hypes the threat. Congressional allies support him.
More ammunition came on May 9.
AIPAC praised the bill's passage. Rising regional
threats warrant it was claimed. "America and Israel
must further enhance their strong security
relationship in this dangerous environment."
"Cooperation with Israel strongly supports American
security interests."
The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) also
"strongly praised" the bill's passage.
"This bipartisan legislation reaffirms and strengthens
the deep military and security relationship between
the United States and Israel, and reflects the
bi-partisan consensus of the US Congress that this
relationship must continue to thrive."
"It also reaffirms Israel's right to defend itself
against threats and reiterates America's unshakable
commitment to Israel's security, recognizing that a
secure Israel will always be in America's national
interest."
Ron Paul disagreed. On the House floor, he said:
"Mr. Speaker: I rise in opposition to HR 4133, the
United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation
Act, which unfortunately is another piece of one-sided
and counter-productive foreign policy legislation."
"This bill's real intent seems to be more
saber-rattling against Iran and Syria, and it
undermines US diplomatic efforts by making clear that
the US is not an honest broker seeking peace for the
Middle East."
"The bill calls for the United States to significantly
increase our provision of sophisticated weaponry to
Israel, and states that it is to be US policy to 'help
Israel preserve its qualitative military edge' in the
region."
Sovereign nations should handle their own security
issues. US taxpayers shouldn't underwrite others.
Neither should America's military.
The bill states US policy "reaffirm(s) the enduring
commitment of the United States to the security of the
State of Israel as a Jewish state."
America's committed to protect its own security, not
"guarantee the religious, ethnic, or cultural
composition of a foreign country."
"More than 20 years after" Soviet Russia dissolved, HR
4133 seeks new reasons to maintain NATO's
"anachronistic alliance: the defense of Israel."
The bill wants Israel more involved in NATO,
"including an enhanced presence at (its) headquarters
and exercises."
It's a "dream" act "for interventionists and the
military industrial complex." Paul wants NATO
"disbanded not expanded."
"This bill will not help the United States, it will
not help Israel, and it will not help the Middle
East." It facilitates greater regional interventionism
at a time there's already too much. "It more likely
will lead to war against Syria, Iran or both."
Paul urged House colleagues to vote Nay. Only John
Dingell agreed and did so.
The stronger US/Israeli ties bind, the more likely
global war approaches. Israel's a strategic liability
for America, the region and world.
Neither reflects democratic values. Allied with
Israel, the US is more vulnerable to attack and more
likely to embroil the world in conflict. Both reflect
the worst of the other. With these type allies, who
needs enemies.
Each lacks moral standing. Neither respects human
rights. Both are the world's main offenders. Pointing
fingers elsewhere can't hide truths too glaring to
deny.
Successive administrations in both countries have
abusive track records enough to make some despots
blush. Destructiveness between them made the whole
greater than the sum of its parts.
What's in it for America by giving Israel more? How do
US people benefit? They've got a right to rage about
lavish aid to Israel at a time they're asked to
sacrifice.
Middle East polls reflect hostile Arab street US
sentiment. When asked how best Washington can improve
its standing, responses overwhelmingly say change
regional policies and stop supporting Israel.
Growing numbers of Jews oppose Israeli policies.
American ones want a relationship this destructive
ended.
So do millions of people worldwide. An alliance based
on militarism, belligerence, racism, and human rights
abuses is crucial to end, not support. Doing it before
it's too late matters most.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached
at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book is
titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized
Banking, Government Collusion and Class War" http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html Visit
his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to
cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on
the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive
Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and
Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are
archived for easy listening. http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour.
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