Western Resistance

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December 27, 2005

Israel: Understanding Israel's Weakness

A paragraph from this column by Caroline Glick (which I recommend on its merits) caught my attention:

Since he took office, Sharon and his advisers have portrayed the status of Israel's relations with the US as one of unprecedented harmony. On a superficial level, this is in fact the case. But this surface tranquility masks its problematic cause. The appearance of smooth sailing in Israel's relations with Washington is the result of the unprecedented weakness of Israel's position in Washington.

My first reaction upon reading that comment was a somewhat surprised "by golly, she's right, Israel's position has weakened considerably these past years." But then I had to think carefully to understand why that was so. I cannot help but think that is a direct consequence of President Bush's "Democratization Project" for the Middle East.

Allow me to explain. Bush was staunchly pro-Israel when he came into office. In the 2000 campaign he was clear it was not the United States's job to be a "trusted partner to both sides" in the conflict, but to be a faithful ally to Israel, and for a while he kept his promise, earning scorn in the Press. All that began to change when the Democratization Project was launched: he began by recognizing in principle the need for a Palestinian State, and by pressuring Israel into making concession after concession.

The change in politics was dictated by a change in philosophy. If you accept that "the Arab World" (to say "the Arab World" instead of "the Muslim World" is a rhetorical trick intended to paint those who disagree with you as racist) can become a collection of Democracies and that doing so will end your most serious problems, reform Islam, and usher peace eternal--okay, I made that last one up--then by golly, you better start treating "The Arab" potentiality on equal grounds with the Israeli reality. Heck, perhaps you should start leaning a little towards the Arab side, to show them you care and move them ahead a little. After all, what you are doing is in Israel's long-term interest, isn't it?

This ideological shift was brought about by the worst kind of idealism mixed with the most disgusting pragmatism. (The first indictment of pragmatism is that it is not very pragmatic.) Until this next administration, or the next one, begins to see the error of its ways, we will do nothing but lose ground in the broad war.

Posted by Ruy Diaz at December 27, 2005 12:58 PM

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