Israel at 60: A Gift That Keeps on Giving
Israel celebrates its 60th anniversary of independence this week, and this surely is a milestone of biblical proportions given the relentless challenges Israel has faced since its birth. The celebration also represents an ideal opportunity for Israel to reward itself with a gift that may, just may, keep on giving.
What sort of gift could a nation like Israel gift unto itself, you ask?
There are few issues more imperative to Israel's secure future than redressing the day-to-day humanitarian plight of Palestinians nominally under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority.
As Israel turns 60, the Palestinian people are at a crossroads. Do they embrace the violent destruction of Israel as proposed by Hamas or Hezbollah, or do they embrace a viable two state solution that successive U.S. governments have repeatedly tried to help bring about?
Surely, anyone familiar with the conflict realizes that a concerted humanitarian effort that brings tangible, long term results to benefit the Palestinians is an essential component to Israel's safety and long term security. After all the violence, bloodshed and hatred that has accumulated during the past 60 years, now is the time to bring that much needed "Marshall Plan" to galvanize fundamental economic security to a Palestinian people willing to embrace the cause of peace with Israel. That economic development will also enable Israel to continue is miraculous march toward further prosperity. It is not up to Israel alone to redress the plight of the Palestinians, but Israel has a crucial role to play if peace is ever to be achieved.
Israelis, too, are at an important, historical crossroads as they celebrate. They are constantly wrestling with the cost/benefit analysis of building security perimeters, or further alienating an already alienated Palestinian people.
Those security concerns are real, not imagined. All one must realize is how easy it had been for suicide bombers to walk one mile across an unguarded border between Israel and the West Bank to commit murder and mayhem as well as set back the prospects for peace.
But it is in Israel's long term interest to take steps toward the relaxation of border controls so as to enable Palestinians to go about their day to day lives, to facilitate the rebuilding of towns, to support and not inhibit economic development, and to end unnecessarily provocative settlement activity. These are just some of the essential measures needed to be taken by Israel to begin the long, arduous and painful road toward establishing renewed trust with Palestinians. Though many basic questions about Israel's character remain unanswered, poll after poll indicates that the vast majority of Israelis wish to be lead into a promised land where the seminal conflict of six decades is on an inexorable march toward resolution, and that march also begins by Israel taking the necessary steps, as well.
I believe that an inspirational 60th birthday initiative to encourage Palestinians to more fully embrace Israel as a Jewish state living side by side by a peaceful and demilitarized Palestine is something that could set the stage for many happy returns for years to come.
Tough, you bet ya.
Successive Democratic foreign policy experts have long understood the parameters of a viable settlement, and Democratic presidents have been at the forefront of attempts to resolve the conflict. We Democrats have long understood that America's commitment to Israel as a friend and strategic ally of the U.S. hearkens back to Israel's birth a view no less embraced by Republican presidents, with rare exception.
It was a Democratic president who, in 1948, extended recognition to Israel. Eleven minutes after Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion declared Israel's independence 60 years ago, President Harry S. Truman formally recognized Israel. Truman's courageous decision, taken against the advice of his respected and revered Secretary of State, represented the first step in what has become an irrevocable commitment by successive Democratic presidents (Kennedy, Johnson, Carter, and Clinton) to extend the strong hand of friendship and support to Israel, and every Democratic presidential and vice presidential candidate has reaffirmed that friendship.
In this 2008 campaign, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have exchanged occasional barbs attacking the other's campaign for failing to consider the best policy for defending Israel against Iran, and several respected advisors to Obama, notably Zbig Brzezinski and Rob Malley have been unfairly maligned for their balanced views on Middle East issues -- something that has unfortunately left some hard feelings at a time when a unified Democratic foreign policy agenda is essential for the nation's future. But in the end both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have made clear that they both firmly support America's strong ties to Israel, reaffirming a Democratic Party article of faith in our foreign policy.
Yet, supporting Israel's fundamental right to survive and flourish as a thriving Jewish state in the turbulent Middle East need not constitute an endorsement of every Israeli policy. Indeed, many Israelis take exception at one time or another to the very issues that are controversial at times to some Americans...such as settlement expansion, the humanitarian plight of Palestinians, or Israel's occasional heavy handedness in pursuit of its enemies.
Mind you, the alliance between Israel and the U.S. It has not been a one way street. Israel has given much to the U.S., from intelligence support, to technological innovations that have improved our lives. Most younger Americans would be surprised to learn that Instant Messaging (IM) was invented by two young Israelis in the garage in suburban Tel Aviv, or that the most advanced cancer fighting drug against ovarian cancer was invented in Israel.
The next president, along with the international community, can no longer engage in the photo-op diplomacy that has characterized the Bush administration's approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As former Secretary of State Albright aptly put it, the Bush administration finally discovered a "Road Map" that was sequestered in a glove compartment. However belated its discovery, its 11th hour diplomatic efforts have been feeble and half-hearted.
On its independence anniversary, many basic questions about Israel remain unanswered. Not least among these questions is what can be done to protect Israel from the threat of a nuclear-armed adversary without resort to armed conflict? What can be done to minimize the outbreak of another round of fighting with Hezbollah? Is there any chance to bring Hamas into overtly embracing Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state? Can effective U.S. diplomacy galvanize surrounding Arab states such as Syria to come to terms with Israel and put aside their state of war? Will Israelis and Palestinians make the necessary concessions to resolve intractable so-called "final status" issues, such as the future of Jerusalem, the permanent resettlement from squalid refugee camps of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, the future borders of each state, and the security of Israel.
Israel's future security will greatly depend on its willingness to take the bold risks for peace that will be necessary in the face of determined adversaries, but those bold risks must be equally met by convincing concessions from its adversaries. The situation does not look propitious for positive movement anytime soon. But in the hope and expectation that a Democrat will be elected president come next November, putting the Arab-Israeli conflict at the forefront of American diplomacy once again with 24/7 support to help the parties reach step-by-step agreements is part of that gift that will keep on giving to Israel, to Palestinians and the cause of peace throughout the world.
Israel's remarkable achievements since its birth have transformed Israel into a strong, dependable ally of the United States. Israel deserves and has earned America's continued support, but here again, it, too, must take into account broader American concerns about the future of a stable Middle East and recognize that difficult concessions are essential to help realize the dream of its founding fathers (and mothers).
Like any birthday present, it may be better to give than to receive.
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How about we look at the stats of Arab/Muslim nations that took over Jewish businesses, murdered or banished Jews from their lands?
First number is from the year 1948, the second number from 2000:
Algeria 140,000, Less than 100
Egypt 75,000, 200;
Iran 100,000, 12,000 to 40,000;
Iraq 150,000, 100;
Lebanon 20,000, 100;
Libya 38,000, 0;
Morocco 265,000, 5,800;
Syria 30,000, 200;
Tunisia 105,000, 1,500;
Yemen 55,000, 200.
Ambassador Marc Ginsberg makes the case that Palestinains must accommodate Israeli recalcitrance to abide by more than 70 United Nations Resolutions requesting among other things that Israel give up conquered territories--the West Bank for starters.
Ambassador Ginsberg's bizarre condition for peace is tantamount to suggesting the abused wife whose nightly beatings from a drunken husband force her to flee to a shelter should make a greater effort at rapprochment (definitely her own fault), maybe not lift a hand to ward off more blows or refrain from seeking a safe haven outside the home.
I recommend Ambassador Marc Ginsberg acquaint himself with the Founding Principles of the American Jewish organizaton Brit Tzedek v"Shalom (a few of the principles are the return of all occupied terrortories, an end to state-sponsored terrorism, an end to the occupation, and a just settlement for those driven from ancestoral homes) or some of the writings of "Jewish Voice for Peace"!
Even though I am not a Jew, I have been supporting both organizations with thousands of dollars in their efforts to find a peaceful settlement in the Middle East. Peace in the Middle East should be the goal of every reasonable American.
Instead of American admnistrations giving billions of dollars in military aid to Israel, these administrations should devote all their energy to securing justice; then peace will flow like a mighty tsunami.
Most of the people posting here don't know the truth of Israel as it's staring them in the face and they still ignore it in favor of prejudice and lies. You've bought into the lie. Congratulations.
And that commenter who talked about nuking Lebanon - you should thank your butt every day that Israel does what it does. Bombing the nuke facilities in the Middle East when nobody else dared - you ought to thank them because what they do is protecting YOU.
Happy they didn't nuke Lebanon? You should thank Israel for taking out the Syrian and Iraqi nukes and saving your butt time after time - but you don't hear about all of these things, or probably want to.
Vibrani, what part of , Israel is an aggressive rogue, nuclear and biochemical state and has repeatedly indicated that it has no reluctance in cremating neighbours and accuses and then executes people without trial, and collectively punishes people whose lands it illegally occupies, to you not understand?
Why won't you print my response about the attack on the USS Liberty by Israelis in 1968?
"viable two state solution that successive U.S. governments have repeatedly tried to help bring about" That is an outright lie. All so called "peace process" have been a hoax, and Palestinians have no choice but to fight 'till the end to get their land of Palestine back.
Well, no need to fuss about Israel. AIPAC and the Christian Zionists will have their way whether or not Obama or McCain are elected. Both boys dutifully attended the AIPAC/HAGEE love-fest last year and vowed their full support for Israel, along with their willingness to wipe Iran off the map if the Persians get too uppity. Unhappily for him, Ron Paul not only did not attend the pep rally, but even had the temerity to say that he would end our involvement (financially as well as militarily) in the whole of the Middle East. He simply believes that we can be friendly with Israel, and it can defend itself (plenty of nukes). He has more confidence in Israel than AIPAC.
Whew, yes their are educated bloggers here that know the truth. We need a balanced approach to the Palestinian/Israel issue. How the hell can we put demands on Iran when we won't on Israel?
Bless you Jimmy Carter for having guts for acting out your true faith.
This is why they hate us.
Well, I for one thought this article was beautiful. I'm not defending or attacking the past. But this is a very nice vision for the future.
I hope that Peace can be achieved, for all the people. It is not going to be easy but would be worth it for everyone.
I like how the crazy liberals on this website are so quick to throw Israel under a bus. Talking about the Jews who settled there like they haven't been fighting for their very right to exist for centuries. You speak of Isarel so disparagingly, as if the entire Muslim world hasn't been trying to commit genocide on Israelis for religiously-fanatic purposes.
The US policy on Israel is a generally noble deed. Supporting them is virtuous. I side with people merely fighting to live in peace. You crazy, anti-Israel liberals are on the side of people who like to go Jihad on anyone not like them. Sad.
Agreed. It is incredible the amount of hatred and mythology in the posts here. People, you just don’t know the facts. Israel is the only country in the Middle East that is a democracy, has equal rights for all of its citizens (including women, Jew and Arab, and homosexuals), and the only one that has a free press. Israel has given to the world medical breakthroughs, science, technology – your cell phone, clean water from salt water, drip irrigation – the list goes on and on of how Israel has contributed positively to your every day life. Can you say the same for any Muslim or Arab nation?
When have you heard an modern Arab or Muslim leader or national celebration talk about peace with Israel? Yet, Israel continually talks about peace, co-existence, peace is the theme for every Independence Day, in the songs, in the speeches, everywhere. Can’t say that for any Arab or Muslim nation. I suggest you all read the PLO Charter, and try to excuse suicide murders on innocent people going about their daily lives in Israel.
Israel does not have to excuse its existence, nor its right to defend it. Had it not been for the insatiable pride and greed for power, to want all of Israel, the relentless hatred of Jews by their insane dictator Arafat, the so-called Palestinian people would have had their own country years ago.
Vibrani, you one sided revisionist mythology doesn't work anymore. Israel is a theocracy masquerading as a 'democracy'. You need to go over to Haaretz, J'Post and Al-Jazeera,you will see instantly just how everyone has 'equal rights' in Israel.Your old quotes do not work anymore either. It's not your blinded ideology that makes your seem so obtuse. It's your chaotic reasoning that Israel is allowed to lay waste to every international law and convention without criticism and your "enemies" are not entitled to raise a hand in their own defense without being accused of terrorism, when they have every right to defend themselves against Israeli acts of terrorism.Please note: Folks like former Israeli Attorney General Michael Ben-Yair who wrote in 2002, “In effect, we established an apartheid regime in the occupied territories immediately following their capture. That regime exists to this day.” And there’s Shulamit Aloni, former Minister of Education, who said, “Through its army, the government of Israel practices a brutal form of apartheid in the territory it occupies.” Even former South African prime minister Hendrik Verwoerd, considered the architect of apartheid said, “Israel, like South Africa, is an apartheid state.”
If Arab hatred toward Israel is based on their love and support for their Palestinian brethren and their wanting to have their own state, where were those concerns before modern-day Israel? Why didn't they rise up and speak out when the Kingdom of Jordan temporarily ruled the area? Why didn't the Arab world and the United Nations call on Jordan to stop occupying Palestinian land? Fact is, the Palestinian people didn't exist until 1967, LONG AFTER Israel became a state. Prior to that they were just Arabs belonging to different Arab nations.
Furthermore, if the Palestinians are all suffering so much under Israel (as they claim to be), and that they have no choice but to become suicide murderers and use whatever weapons they have against Israel, why is it that NOT ONE NON-MUSLIM Palestinian has resorted to this and yet they live in the same place?
There is no such thing as Palestine in history, absolutely not."
--- Professor Philip Hitti, Arab historian to Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry, 1946.
"From the end of the Jewish state in antiquity to the beginning of British rule, the area now designated by the name Palestine was not a country and had no frontiers, only administrative boundaries . . . . "
-- Professor Bernard Lewis, Commentary Magazine, January 1975.
In June 1913, the president of the First Arab Congress, Abd-ul-Hamid Yahrawi, summed up the attitude of the delegates: "All of us, both Muslims and Christians, have the best of feelings toward the Jews. they are our brothers in race and we regard them as Syrians who were forced to leave the country at one time but whose hearts always beat together with ours. We are certain that our Jewish brothers the world over will know how to help us so that our common interests may succeed and our common country will develop both materially and morally."
In March 1919, the Emir Faisal wrote to then Harvard law professor Felix Frankfurter: "The Arabs, especially the educated among us, look with deepest sympathy on the Zionist movement. ...We will wish the Jews a hearty welcome home. ...We are working together for a reformed and revised Near East and our two movements complete one another. The Jewish movement is nationalist and not imperialist. Indeed, I think that neither can be a real success without the other."
November 28, 2002 marked the 55th anniversary of the United Nations Resolution 181. According to Israel Radio, Resolution 181 partitioned the then British mandated region between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean, and recognized the State of Israel.
And let's not forget Shimon Peres. "I worked together with the late Prime Minister Rabin and he told me: 'You're a builder of a force and I'm a user of a force' and I answered him, 'Yes, if you build a force maybe you wouldn't have to use it. That was my purpose: to build a force that will make force unnecessary. I went to the nuclear option, because I thought this could become a deterrent and prevent war." --Israeli Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres.
Israel totally pulled out of Lebanon, and is STILL being attacked from there, with Syria's help. Where is the world's outrage about this? Where is the world outcry about Syria not recognizing Lebanon? Syria is calling the shots, literally. Plus, Syria hosts 11 terrorists organizations. Don't tell me to trust any of these Arab and Muslim nations because they break their word to their own people, invade each other's nations, and torture and kill each other daily. And I’ve got the data to back that up.
Do you know about Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, a Jewish hospital, that even to this day treats both Jews and Arabs equally, but will you find one "Palestinian" hospital do the same? Do you know that every Jewish child learns about Arabs and Islam and has compassion for all people, but I can't say the same for Muslim and Arab schools.
Israel became a modern day nation in 1948 only after the Arabs were given
the choice to have claim to the land. They said NO. Fact is, the ONLY continuous people in Israel throughout history are the Jews. The Arabs didn’t want it, the Jews got their homeland back. Let’s not forget the Holocaust and the state of Israel is a testament to it never happening again.
It has a right to exist and it will. It is now up to the Muslims and Arabs to actually do something for peace – Israel has given enough. “We will have peace with the Arabs when they learn to love their children more than they hate us.” – Golda Meir.
I agree! Arabs did not want any land in 1948. Actually, they asked the Israelis to help them leave their lands. I also wanted to add that Palestine was empty; no one lived there before the so-called Jews from east Europe settled there.
I also agree with your last paragraph, Arabs need to accept whatever the Israelis dictated to them if they really serious about peace. Arabs need to let Israel do whatever they want because they are Jews and we all know that Jews can do no wrong. Golda Meir was right Arabs are not humans, they hate their children and they hate America because of our Democracy!
Sarcasm!
I love your sense of Reality !
i was very impressed by what others posted on here, it seems as though at least some people are waking up to the lies about israel. am reading the "israel lobby" right now, so admitably I'm not currently an expert on the subject, but I abhore occupation of any sort and know the relationship we have with israel does far more harm than good. this article was really condescending like a white slave owner taking pity and offering generous concessions to the helpless slave, why they should be grateful for anything type of mentality.
i fear some people's blind allegiance to israel (and the two party monopoly's concensus on israel policy thanks to AIPAC and others) hurts our national security, and is another extension of the American Empire. big hypocrisy on the nuclear issue. we have double standards for america and israel. when someone else does it it's terrorism, when we do it...
...It's "spreading democracy"
Let's end this North American occupation right now. Half of me will go back to Africa, the other half back to Holland. Where will you go?
I feel Israel does not deserve our support. For my whole life I have watched while our billions of dollars in military aid to Israel are used to kill people, terrorize people, starve people, crush their homes, and drive people to suicide bombing as their only defense.
Israel stole the land from Palestine. Those of us who want justice will never stop. Time to give back what was stolen and move out.
hey genius, you are living on what you claim to be "stolen" land. Should we give our land back as well.
Attitudes like this one have started to make me doubt the viability of the two state solution I've believed in for decades. It's becoming increasingly obvious that as long as Israel exists, for people like edpell no solution will be the final one.
"I believe that an inspirational 60th birthday initiative to encourage Palestinians to more fully embrace Israel as a Jewish state living side by side by a peaceful and demilitarized Palestine is something that could set the stage for many happy returns for years to come. "
All you have to do is swap out the words "South Africa", "White" and "Black" for "Israel", "Palestinians" and "Jewish" and Ginsberg's valentine to Zionist Lebensraum reads like the kind of racist garbage you'd hear from P.W. Botha and his fanwhore apologists circa 1983 Here goes:
"I believe I believe that an inspirational 35 birthday initiative to encourage Blacks to more fully embrace South Africa as a White state living side by side by a peaceful and demilitarized Bantustan is something that could set the stage for many happy returns for years to come."
No wonder this huckster got his panties in a wad when Carter likened Israel's ethnic cleansing of Palestinians to what South Africa did to blacks.
Wake up, Mr Ginsburg. A fellow Jew (me, American, veteran, 62 years old) is suggesting you not only wake up, but open your eyes. Israel has been a cancer. It keeps giving like herpes keeps giving. The double standard by which we treat Israel has been glaring for decades. It's simply unfair ... unjust, and it's understandable to most of the world, except Israel and Israel's puppet (the U.S.) that this double standard should upset and anger others in the Middle East and .... everywhere. When the policies of blind allegiance to Israel change, then ... perhaps ... other nations will feel that we are genuine, sincere brokers for peace.
Here's a link to an AP article from 5-8-08.
"Iran rejects nuclear inspections unless Israel allows them"
http://tinyurl.com/5uwhws
Well, ..... duh. That (article/link above) is the question that people have been (or should be) asking. Why is Israel permitted to have a secretive nuke program, when we are supposedly about peace. Why is israel not subject to oversight or inspections? I've got an email reply from the IAEA that asks that very question (of course, they're powerless to do anything about it). Why is Israel NOT a signatory to any NPTs ????
WHY ? Simply because of AIPAC. Israel dictates American foreign policy. You, Mr. Ginsburg ... and all of us Americans are Israel's puppets.
Calling "the only democracy in the Middle East" is a really, really bad joke. Racist, apartheid, hateful, dehumanizing policies do not belong in a democracy.
This iran issue is 100% Israeli. Make Israel adhere to the standards that it and the US want to impose on Iran. Israel refuses to sign the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty ,which Iran has done. Israel refuses to allow IAEA inspections of their nuke facilities, which Iran has done. Israel refuses to comply with any UN resolutions, which the US protects it from.
America's media silence about Israelis nuclear weapons and their lack of membership to the NPT while maintaining such harsh rhetoric with regard to Iran's nuclear program, which is legally allowed to enrich uranium as a NPT member, is an example of the kind of outright double standard that the United States has been following in its foreign policy.
And we try to get Iran -- an NPT member -- to stop enriching uranium and expect not to sound outright hypocritical? Iran has every right to defend themselves against Israel. The IAEA in Israel ? The reaction would be spectacular and filled with claims of persecution and divine right.
Unconditional, unquestioned, never ending financial support of Israeli is bad for the US. Israeli policies are no longer in line with US policies, and, as a result are making the US more of a target than ever in the Islamic world.The US arms Israel and shields Israel from international and UN repercussions which does us enormous harm in the eyes of the world.
Where you one of the Jews at the Holocaust denier conference that Mahmoud Ahmadenijahd hosted last year?
The truth is: right-wing supporters of the new, man-made Israel (Zionists, Christian right, Likudites, some Jewish Americans) have led the real Israel - the Jewish people, God's people - down a shameful, ruinous path, and have taken America and Americans with them.
A Zionist is a wealthy New Yorker who pays someone else to live in Israel.
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