Earlier this week Special Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell made a thinly veiled threat to Israel. Should Israel not immediately resume direct negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, America, it was implied, would with hold loan guarantees for the Jewish state.
The Israeli response was pleasantly surprising. “We can live without US money” replied Danny Danon, a member of the ruling Likud party. Ignore the fact that Israel HAS been bending over backwards to tempt the PA back into negotiations. This is a welcome change for Israeli leaders who have traditionally heeled to American administrations, particularly when the threat of withholding money is sounded.
This is yet another sign of the waning influence of America in Israeli politics. This is rooted in two developments; 1) the gradual strengthening (and capitalization) of the Israeli economy, and 2) the trend towards a more right-wing and independent mindset in Israel.
Compare the reaction in the early 1990s when James Baker, Secretary of State for then President George HW Bush, threatened Israel in exactly the same manner. The Bush Administration threatened then attempted to block loans to Israel to pressure it to end the expansion of settlements in the liberated territories of 1967. Though the move was ultimately blocked by Congress, it sent shock waves through Israeli politics, and aided in the 1992 takeover by Yitzhak Rabin’s Labor party.
After nearly two decades of suicide bombings and a total failure of the negotiating process, sentiments in Israel have changed, shifting to the right and away from dependence on foreign countries.
This highlights a change in Israel to the right; fiscally, socially, and foreign policy-wise; which mirrors the exact opposite movement in America.
America has, since Reagan left office in January 1989, lacked a truly conservative proactive leadership. At best there were watered down Neocons like George W, weak kneed leaders like his father who caved into every demand of the Democratic Congress, or Congressional leaders during Clinton’s Administration who merely reacted to Democratic initiatives. Today’s Republican party is even worse; capable of nothing more than symbolic resistance to Obama’s programs.
And Americans have, lacking a real alternative, really turned to the left. America and Israel truly are moving in opposite directions: America towards a more liberal, socialist, debt-ridden future (the debt is already 13 trillion dollars, or 100% of the annual GDP), while Israel grows more conservative and capitalist, with a booming economy and now a negative total debt (they owe 28 billion dollars and are owed 60 billion, mostly by the US incidently).
Just another proof that galus jews need to get off their butts and come to Israel already. No more excuses!
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