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What is so special about the US-Israeli relationship?Reader comment on item: The Solace of Poor U.S.-Israel Relations Submitted by Steve Klein (United States), Apr 13, 2010 at 08:19 There is much to commend this piece I think, with one or two exceptions. Dr. Pipes wrote: "More broadly, the U.S.-Israel bond has strengths that go far beyond politicians and issues of the moment. Nothing on earth resembles this bilateral, "the most special" of special relationships and "the family relationship of international politics.".....(W)hen Israeli leaders enjoy strong, trusting relations with Washington, they GIVE (emphasis mine) more to the Arabs.....Ariel Sharon (made "painful" concessions of precious land and security) to George W. Bush," "Israel's best friend ever." It seemed, virtually everyone (myself excepted) on the political right thought former President Bush a great friend to Israel. Why? Pipes: "Mistrust of Washington tightens Israelis and closes the willingness to take chances......Obama may expect that picking a fight with Israel will produce negotiations but it will have the opposite effect." I'm not sure negotiations are Obama's objective here. Currently we are speaking of indirect "proximity" talks as opposed to direct negotiations, which has been until now a US-Israeli prerequisite in the past. Yet the Palestinians are uninterested in proximity talks with the hated Jews. Imposed settlement appears to be Mr. Obama's game, in behalf of his PA clients. For Israel's part, what is there to negotiate, other than furthering the demise of a tiny, beleaguered Jewish state? Since Israel's founding, America's position has been to isolate the tiny country by means of a punitive arms embargo, thus assuring her annihilation at the hands of the Muslim-Arab armies; then seeing that was not successful, US position evolved into bribing Israel (with aid) while at the same time demanding concessions of strategic land, thereby leaving Israel's Jews nearly defenseless to mass-slaughter at the hands of the Arabs and their Palestinian allies. This is a friend? What is so special about this relationship? Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments". << Previous Comment Next Comment >> Reader comments (41) on this item
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All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2024 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes (The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998. For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.) |