On some level, it couldn't have been worse. We have a situation where the most trusted member of the U.S. administration, Vice President Joe Biden, is in Israel seeking to win over the hearts and minds of the Israeli public which, according to the polls, is highly suspicious of the Obama government. And in his opening public remarks, the vice president shows he's cognizant of the need by the administration to state more clearly and vociferously than it had heretofore that the American-Israeli special relationship is as strong as ever.
Included in his comments was the important statement that when it comes to matters affecting Israel's security, there is no space whatsoever between the American and Israeli positions.
In sum, the administration was paying attention to those of us who have been saying for some time that it was imperative for the president and vice president to use their bully pulpits to make clear that the outreach to the Muslim world did not in the least mean any erosion in the U.S.-Israel relationship. This was important for at least three reasons: to keep the trust of the Israeli people; to prevent illusions about a weakening American support among the Palestinians which could lead them to conclude that peace is not necessary; and to make clear to anti-Israel forces around the world, who are feeling their oats these days, that America is not a ripe target for their campaigns against Israel.
The stage was set therefore for the most successful effort for strengthening U.S.-Israel relations since the new administration entered office. And then came the announcement of plans for building 1,200 new apartments in East Jerusalem.
One doesn't have to accept the most cynical interpretation of that announcement, and I surely don't, that the prime minister knew about it, to recognize what a disaster it was. Whatever the motivation and whoever the responsible party, it is the government of Israel that justifiably is held accountable for converting an optimal moment in U.S.-Israel relations into a moment of crisis. The crucial point is that the government had an obligation to anticipate what might go wrong during the vice president's visit and to give firm instruction to all cabinet members about avoiding such pitfalls, particularly on the subjects of settlements and East Jerusalem.
That the administration was angry was not surprising. First was the sense of personal embarrassment to Mr. Biden, especially since part of his mission was to enhance the relationship. Second was the need to separate itself from the Israeli actions, lest it be perceived that the coincidence of the Biden presence and the building announcement be linked in the minds of the Palestinians and Arab world. And third, with the proximity talks in the works, the administration undoubtedly saw a vociferous reaction as necessary to mitigate Palestinian anger so that the talks would proceed.
While much of this is understandable, there needs to be some stepping back so that there are no long-term deleterious results from this contretemps. The vice president's comments in his Tel Aviv University address softening the U.S. response was helpful. Less helpful were his comments that Israel's announcement on building in East Jerusalem was endangering American troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is the kind of rhetoric that does exactly what Mr. Biden has studiously avoided doing, linking the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to America's larger Middle East challenges, and it unnecessarily calls into question Israel's role as an ally and the impact on American interests. The Mearsheimer and Walts of this world will delight in this kind of criticism of Israel.
It is also in America's interest not to let this unfortunate incident give the Palestinians another excuse not to do what is right, to finally negotiate a compromise peace with Israel and to stop the preaching of hatred. I'd like to see some of the kind of passion and emotion just exhibited in criticism of Israel be employed to condemn the continuous teaching of hatred of Israel in Palestinian schools and television and in the ongoing honoring and martyrdom of Palestinian terrorists who murder Israeli civilians.
Ultimately, Palestinian unwillingness to compromise for peace and to stop the hate are the real obstacles to peace. The administration should not let its temporary unhappiness with Israel divert it from these essential truths.
Abraham H. Foxman is National Director of the Anti-Defamation League and the author of "The Deadliest Lies: The Israel Lobby and the Myth of Jewish Control."
Whaa? On which planet is Biden the most trusted member of our administration - planet Israel? Shows exactly where your loyalties lie, Foxman.
"Palestinian unwillingness to compromise for peace and to stop the hate are the real obstacles to peace."
Why should the Occupied offer up compromises to the Occupier? How does one compromise on injustice? Steal half of me? Kill half of me? Snort. And you have the indecency to blame Palestinian "hatred" as an obstacle to peace. Sorry, but the day they will love you is the day when you love the Nazis. Got that?
The pro-israel lobby needs to wake up and realize how destructive and dangerous this kind of 'crying wolf' could be.
And, let's be clear, shall we ... the problem with this announcement was not the ill-timed nature of it but that it was made at all.
It is also in the best interests of a Jewish and democratic state of Israel that its supporters not ignore all of the essential truths of this conflict and not mistake ‘temporary unhappiness’ with a US administration that may finally be on the verge of demonstrating bold leadership, along with a handful of Arab states, to push both sides in this conflict to make the necessary compromises for peace.
ahahahahaha yeah "why are these people who's land we keep stealing so unwilling to compromise?!"
its so confusing when victims don't cooperate!
It seems routine for israel to blow a whistle, then American politicians stand up and dance a jig. They do the dance because they receive so much money in bribes for doing it.
We should make it illegal for any politician to take any money from any group supporting a foreign nation. Our country is falling apart while Israel is doing quite well, thanks anyway. We have horrible unemployment but Israel has jobs and public healthcare, thanks to money stolen from U.S. Taxpayers. When will somebody stand up to this criminal enterprise and bring them down?
Disspocess an displace an entire civilization to live out your European religious fantasy in the heart of the Arab world.
Indiscriminate bombing of Beruit and Gaza on America's dime.
Elected a certified war criminal ( by your own courts) Prime Minister.
You hold the world record for defying UN resolutions.
You run over a young American girl with a bullbozer then manage to suppress a play in THIS country based on her letters home. That indicates you have way to much power HERE to control OUR freedom of speech.
Frankly we don't really care how you guys in the Middle East treat each other any more. At this point you seem to deserve each other. EVERYBODY involved just looks plumb ugly from here.
BUT do it on your own nickle not mine.
We are tired of fighting your wars, especially since you have made common cause with Big Texas Oil and the Let's Have Armegeddon Crowd.
AND finally we are just plain broke.
Your sugar daddy is out of cash.
Your piece falls short on several levels.
First, at no point do you apologize for the settlement project. No, the only apology is in regard to the timing.
That falls short.
Second, you write that:
"This is the kind of rhetoric that does exactly what Mr. Biden has studiously avoided doing, linking the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to America's larger Middle East challenges, and it unnecessarily calls into question Israel's role as an ally and the impact on American interests."
They are linked, and no amount of obfuscation will break that coupling. Your piece falls short here as well.
Third, the title of this piece is quite a good barometer for the content, as it embodies at least two distortions. It's not Biden's issue; it is Israel's. And it's not a "contretemps", it undermines the foundation of American interest in the region.
This reader is unimpressed.
SANCTIONS NOW!
Boycott. Divest. Sanction.
The Israeli government has made it quite clear that it has NO INTEREST in preserving a relationship with the US. After the public humiliation of the VP of the US (which was preceeded by humiliation of visitors from Congress recently) the message is loud and clear. Even Congress hears it now.
Mr. Foxman, it is Orwellian that you run the "Anti Defamation League."
Here is a group in Israel -- grass roots and genuine that is truly about anti defamation.
http://www.en.justjlm.org/
I'm pretty sure Biden did not take this as public humiliation himself. The one who makes a diplomatic faux pas is the one who should be humiliated.
The relationship Israel would like to preserve is sucking money and materiel from the US to enable the continued oppression.
It's time that came to an end.
Sadly to me, earlier Netanyahu/Israel graciously and warmly presented Mr. Biden a beautifully framed notice of plantation of trees in Israel in honor of his recently deceased mother, Jean Biden, which needed to take a back seat to this farther reaching incident. But the thought, presentation, the sentiment and acknowledgement for the vice president was touching.
The truth is that Israel decided to shame the US by choosing the day before the talks were to begin to announce construction of new homes in Occupied East Jerusalem and Israel's PM has let it be known that are plans for another 50,000 Israeli housing units to be built in Occupied Palestinian Territory. Israel has demonstrated it has no interest in peace and has no respect for law.
Then people like you, defend the actions of that disgraceful government. You say Palestinians should stop hating. I say you can tell Palestinians to stop hating when Israel stops hating Nazis because Israel is doing to the Palestinians what was done to them.
FYI: there is a big difference between being OBJECTIVE and being antisemitic.
Some Zionists are unable to understand it because their fanatism is blinding them.
Even many Jewish bloggers in this post are critical of Foxman's arguments and have acknowledged Israel's hypocrisy and unfair treatment of the Palestinian people.
Are you saying that those Jews are also anti-semitic Nazis???
this worked in the past but not anymore...
The Palestinians should not be paying for the Holocaust.