What NCIS Tells Us About Obama and Netanyahu
If you want to understand the state of the U.S.-Israeli relationship, I suggest you look at some recent episodes of NCIS, the Navy crime drama on CBS, a show that has risen to #5 in the TV rankings this season. Apparently, for a long time, a peculiar arrangement has existed between the NCIS and Israel in the storyline, in which the brilliant daughter of the head of Mossad (Ziva David) has been embedded in the American NCIS. The lesson seems to be that the United States and Israel have an unusual relationship to the point where an Israeli agent can assist American specialists with the uncovering of crimes inside the United States and elsewhere.
Suddenly, however, the message has changed. Ziva has a lover, Michael Rivkin, an Israeli operative who also works for the Mossad. He happens to be temporarily in the United States. To the frustration of the NCIS agents, he is killing off terrorists operating in America before they can be reached by the Americans, sometimes reaching them minutes beforehand. Somehow he seems to know more than the entire American team and can get to the target first. He also demonstrates a different philosophy of fighting terrorism. The Israelis simply want them dead; the Americans want to capture them so they can find out further information about additional threats.
This is not heading in the direction of a happy ending and it is clear from other developments not described here that this special U.S.-Israeli cooperation is about to end. The message seems to be that the Israelis are extremely capable and their cause is just, but they're trigger-happy and too affected by their tragic past.
The NCIS writers seem to be telling us, whether they realize it or not, that there are two Israeli types symbolized here -- two Israels American policy makers have faced over the years. Ziva is the cooperative and quiet Israeli, who has the technical and personal skills to be of enormous assistance in achieving the mission -- in this case capturing criminals and terrorists. Michael is another type -- like Ziva bright and pro-American, but in this case tough, aggressive, thinks he knows what is best for the United States better than the Americans, is sly and wily, and he doesn't heed the advice of his American counterparts.
Ziva is someone who the American team respects and admires, a friend applauded and appreciated. Michael is regarded with suspicion and concern; the American agents know he has the same objective as they do, but they wonder openly whether his methods are helpful or productive. They beg him to go away; he is, in short, seen as more of a devious obstacle than an asset.
She is Shimon Peres or Yitzhak Rabin or even Ehud Olmert. American leaders like doing business with these leaders, and their own faith in the American-Israeli partnership is reinforced when they are dealing with people across the table with whom they feel they have a basic and fundamental consensus and understanding.
Michael is a different story; he is to some extent Yitzhak Shamir or Bibi Netanyahu. Michael is regarded with suspicion, because being on the same side isn't enough. When allies pursue similar tactics and strategies, that is often more important than just having the same objectives.
And, today, Bibi Netanyahu seems to be in a different place than Washington on a host of issues including Iran, Palestine, and Syria. It's almost as if just as Americans rejected Bush and his legacy, the Israelis voted for a leader who epitomized the confrontational views that the former president represented. That won't work in today's Washington.
If Bibi comes to visit the White House, and he appears as Ziva, the US-Israeli relationship under the new Obama administration will be enhanced. But if he's Michael, then the highly celebrated Washington-Jerusalem connection is in for some tough times indeed.
The NCIS story teaches us that American-Israeli relations are not a straight line. One day they may seem perfect; the next day the characters change on one or both sides or new plot twists emerge, and crises can develop as if from nowhere. As they say in TV land, stay tuned for next week's episode.
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Dear bloggers, I am not 100% sure of the facts relating to The Middle East. Different stories emerge weekly. I only know that neither country wants to give up any perks. This has been going on since the 1940's - with no relief in sight. So sad, that an endless war, should be on such H O L Y ground - no matter what your religion. I am on the side of peace. That means that there must be good will, fairness, honesty, and faithfulness to keep the word, to each other. The two countries are definitely losing more than gaining. The international community is certainly tired of the 60+ year war. How long? How long? It is obvious to me that neither leader is mature enough to sit down and work out a fair peace. So silly - how the personalities clash, foolish. History needs to move forward, with real peace, decided by real men - mature and wise men. Not the present leaders. Sorry - but that is how I feel in my soul. Give peace a chance....
I remain prayerful.
I was gratified to read the piece because as I was watching this episode I thought to myself, "here's a subtle, but obvious change in policy &/or philosophy in how American-Israeli relationships are being shown in Hollywood.
Now, Hollywood doesn't make policy, but it has a huge audience and is a terrific way to test reactions.
I suspect the US is in the midst of changing course in its relationship with Israel, even if it is still in the country's subconscious (or Hollywood consciousness) and that the final episode next week might reveal some clues to that change, and possibly not differ to what might be made public after the President's meeting with the Israeli PM tomorrow.
And the plot line implied that the US would send a double agent as envoy to Israel. A remarkable idea--fantasy or reality.
You're kidding, right?
This is an interesting reading of the show, however, I believe it is faulty, mainly because you don't watch the show. Ziva is Michael. She is a Mosad Assassin who works with the team not only because she wants to, but because she has been ordered to by the Mosad. She entered the show with the last director of NCIS. She and the director were friends and the need for her skill set on the team dealt specifically with the multiple international run-ins the team had, especially with Ziva's half brother Ari who was a triple agent and also a Mosad trained assassin obsessed with Gibbs. What the audience who just started watching the show doesn't realize is that Gibbs did not kill Ari (though the sec Nav said that he did) Ziva killed Ari. Ziva is a killer, and she has killed for NCIS, but she is also friends with the team. Would she continue working for NCIS if she were assigned to a different team, no. She would go back to Israel. She is on leave from the Mosad, not gone from them. You need more context before you can read the show. In many ways NCIS is Ziva's home now, and Gibbs is her father. It is complicated.
J
What is this? The Entertainment thread? Who cares about this fantasy?
I do watch NCIS, but not avidly. This is the first season I've watched it, and I, too, thought the presence of Mossad was more than curious.
Israel's connection with Washington has made the top 10 of "America's Most Inappropriate Foreign Relationships" for many decades now. Just as they are a black hole for American tax dollars, weapons and technical support, they are also a backwash of financial influence peddling in our national politics.
It's like some kind of look-the-other-way kickback system where our elected official agree to foreign aid money for Israel - and then Israel, contributes money back to their campaigns. And despite this seemingly happy symbiotic relationship, several times a decade we find some Mossad agent aggressively engaged in espionage against the United States - who is then merely deported, rather than imprisoned as a spy.
In parallel to this comedy, we are constantly reminded that "Israel is our best friend and the only democracy in the region". Really? Do we have American military bases in Israel the way we have them in Kuwait, or other Arab nations? Well, if we're really friends - if we have such a close working relationship - ?? Why the spooks?
With friends like these ...
8
Wow, you came up with this by watching a fictional television show that's for ENTERTAINMENT? Steven, you fail. Try again with REAL sources, not tv scriptwriters who are trying to create compelling episodes of a show to keep their jobs!
I agree!
Part 3
In the most recent episode Michael (a Mossad agent and Ziva's pre-NCIS lover) is a guy, Steve seems to think, has Ziva's loyalty. Steve also seems to think the current NCIS storyline suggest that Israelis are "trigger-happy and too affected by their tragic past", awa Ziva being “cooperative and quiet”. He makes these points in an effort to use NCIS (the TV series) as a metaphor for the current U.S. efforts to achieve peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Steve may be correct in his assessment of the personalities of the real life Israelis but he has Ziva all wrong and probably Michael too. You see, the head of the D.C. NCIS team, Gibbs (Mark Harmon) is the quintessential American (just and loyal). He has the loyalty of Ziva (she killed her “bad guy” half-brother to save Gibbs’ life).The entire NCIS team knows that messing with Ziva may cause injury or death. She is also fiercely “just and loyal”, “in your face”, and brilliant, not to mention “hot”.
As for Michael, indications are he has motivations that are not completely understood by me or Ziva, but hopefully will be revealed in the season finale.
In conclusion, the NCIS story teaches us that the ideal of being “just and loyal” has an appeal that does not have borders.
Oh, so what!!!
Part 2
My take on the Israeli characters in NCIS is somewhat different than Steve's (the writer of this blog) but a "real-life/TV series" analogy may well be informative of many things, including but not limited to, the actions of characters of different nationalities. The following is a summery of some of my thoughts about how all three subjects (NCIS, politics, and religion) interface.
At the heart of the TV series fantasy (NCIS) is the ideal that the U.S. is "worthy" of respect (justice for all) and loyalty (patriotism). The actions of all the NCIS cast and guest characters, reflect the varying degrees that different people, foreign and domestic, adhere to these "respect/p
Israel (rabidly supported by "end-timers" – Bible literalists that believe the existence of Israel is a prerequisite for the second coming of Christ signifying the end of the world as we know it), is an ally of the U. S. and has a Mossad (the Israeli CIA equivalent) officer (Ziva) as a liaison (not necessarily "imbedded") in the D.C. office of NCIS. Ziva (Cote de Pablo) is a valuable member of the D.C. NCIS team that exemplifies respect for and loyalty to each other, as well as, all of the world's people and their countries. The story lines of the episodes are about solving crimes committed by people of many different nationalities and how NCIS "solves the case/s".
Part 1
Politics, religion, and NCIS (the CBS TV series) are three of my most favorite things to think about. Responding to this thread gives me an opportunity to express some thoughts about all three. Thanks Steve.
NCIS, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service is a spin-off of the excellent, successful JAG TV series and began with a JAG officer (Rabb) being accused of murder (Oct. 03). NCIS investigated.
As a rabid fan of NCIS (the best TV series ever), I have dvds of all 6 seasons, short of the finale of season 6, that is being aired this coming Tuesday on CBS. For the full effect of the series, I recommend viewing the episodes back to back (not at one sitting, ofc) to help avoid missing the many sub plots (encompassing multiple seasons) written into the script. Actually, multiple viewings with the aid of a pause feature helps too.
When we hear as much about Israel as we hear about Ireland, the media and congress will be free of Israeli influence.
Cheers to that however we hear about it not because Israel has any undo influence, but because so many are obsessed with Israel and Jews ie. the UN focus is on almost nothing else but Israel despite the clear fact that much much worse is going on in dozens of countries like Russia or China for example perfect example being the recent Geneva "Human Rights" Durban II meeting staring that great champion of Human Rights Holocaust denier Mahmoud Ahmadinejad himself or just take a look at the UK Guardian's "Comment is Free" interactive section on any thread about Jews or Israel to see that it always runs at least 4 times the usual activity of any other subject.
The Zivas of the world share American values. The Michaels do not. This is a critical distinction.
and the script writer's intention is that Americans identify Israeli interests as being equivalent to American interests. Stealth propaganda.
You obviously didn't see the last episodes of the show.
"American values" seems an oxymoron: http://x81
Ziva is by every stretch of the imagination her own woman...an
theres an old proverb that says ( you get what you accept.) the israelis elected bibi whose hateful rhetoric was directly related to the assassination of rabin. israelites like to remind the world with the ( never again) slogan . so what do they do? they again elect bibi who quickly sends a message to the world by appointing a foreign minister who is a known racist, bigot and has nazi tendencies. nice work israel. now that nancy pelosie and rep harman are under suspicion, it may become a little more difficult to kill investigations by the red cross and human rights inc. into the gaza tragedies committed by your govt. america is an equal partner in the continued occupation of another nations land. its beyond shamefull. there are millions of jews who are horrified and imbarassed by this sick relationship. for the first time in my life i have voted demecratic. if obama brings peace to the region, his legacy will be beyond measure. he appears to be the type who has no respect for the impossible and the world will be supporting him.
I am a bit concerned here that you think we might actually learn something from watching NCIS. I think of it more as entertainment and I enjoy it every time.
But it's true sometimes the episodes shed a light on events in real life. I guess the war against terror lends itself to inviting someone from the Mossad rather then the RCMP. If the war on financial crimes were the issue, than someone with a British accent might be more helpful.
'War against terror' is Orwellian doublespeak.
And '24''s Jack Bauer teaches us that torture works. Script writers are not a reliable source of knowledge about terrorism, or American interests in the Middle East..
Our obedience of Israel did not happen by luck. Israel worked on it very hard for a half a century. Today she practically finances and elects majority of our representatives and leaders. It is a huge hole that we appear to be sinking deeper and deeper as time passes and there is no an easy way out. Simply put it, we are all screwed!
"Only an engaged and informed citizenry can bring about a reversal of the neo-imperial foreign policy that has been foisted upon us in the post-Cold War era by the elites of both Beltway parties.."
~ Pat Buchanan
So I take it that the term "elites" has replaced "neo-cons" and "zionists" as the code word for "Jews"? Make a note of this, HufPost readers, for future "anti-elite" threads!
You have a very simplistic view of our relationship with Israel.
For one thing, you are completely overlooking the role of those evangelical Christians, whose mis-interpretation of the Book of Revelation has them thinking the parousia (the return of Jesus) is immanent, and that one of the keys to this is the founding of Israel.
They are FAR more numerous than the Israelis (or the American Jewish community for that matter) and (until recently) have exerted a great deal of influence in Washington.
They are also considerably more right wing than even most Israelis (For example, they support the tiny minority of Israelis who wish to re-build the Temple-- where the Dome of the Rock is--and thus ignite a huge religious war.-- This is someting most Israelis (by a large margin) oppose!).
Former President Bush was (very probably) a member of this group-- at teh very least they were his base. Certainly Gov. Palin is.
Don't get me wrong, Aipac has played its role. But Israel is hardly the only country to attempt to influence American foreign policy-- And the US does the same thing regularly in other nations.
But While Aipac does have influence, they do NOT have "control". You are imparting a power they do not have.
Any successful prosecution of AIPAC spies lately?
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