Go through the motions

Submitted by Julius O'Malley (Australia), Feb 9, 2014 at 08:03

For over a decade now I have watched with bemusement as Western magic wand wavers try to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict. John Kerry's dozen trips to the region since taking office are just plain conceited ignorance.

It is good that Israel's Defence Minister is calling a spade a spade. Of course Israel is diplomatically obliged to go through the motions, then chortle when the lantern-jawed hubby of the Heinz heiress flies away. To digress somewhat on your "Happy Israel" list you omitted to mention the importance of Israel's burgeoning relationship with India. Only 20 odd years old, the links that nation of 1.2 billion people with an English speaking middle class of 400 million is forging with Israel have profound consequences.

Public approval and support for Israel amongst the Indian populace is the worlds highest, So what if countries like Greece and Spain loathe Israel, they are minnows in world affairs and getting less and less relevant. India by contrast is a rising world player. India is Israel's biggest arms customer by a huge margin, and military cooperation is proceeding in leaps and bounds. Other bilateral trade is booming with Israeli horticultural prowess and irrigation innovation especially useful to India.The scope for Israeli technological partnership with India is vast, especially in IT and medicine. If Israel needs guest workers to.replace hostile Arabs in low-skilled jobs, there are millions of Indians who would gladly jump at the chance to work there, make their money and return home. Without any of the "attitude".

Cultural and educational exchanges between the two nations are deepening. Significantly the Hindu & Sikh Indians understand only too well Israel's existential need to be vigilant and firm against its Islamic enemies. No Hindu or Sikh is ever going to side with a Muslim against a Jew. India is only going to get more and more powerful and prosperous and an alliance with Israel makes excellent sense for both nations. Another reason to be cheerful.

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