What is so special about the US-Israeli relationship?

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?

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