Israel Turns Its Face Away from the United States

Published in Apple Daily
(Taiwan) on 24 May 2011
by Zun Nan Jiang (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Jou-Chi Ho. Edited by Mark DeLucas.
In mid-May, the riots in the Arabic world shifted to Israel as tens of thousand Palestinian refugees shouted “I want to go home”; meanwhile, Israel used weapons to scatter Palestinians fleeing from the three border areas, wounding and killing dozens of people. Israel worried that the shock from the Arab Spring might influence the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. However, President Obama later recommended that Israel and Palestine should consider reaching a deal based on the 1967 borders. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vehemently refused and accused America of putting the issue in jeopardy.

Retuning to the 1967 borders and allowing Palestine to establish a country of its own is an idea that has always been supported by Europe and the Middle Eastern countries. Influenced by lobbyist groups from Israel, the United States has always stood beside Israel. However, President Obama’s recent address symbolizes a dramatic change in America's Middle East policy.

The United States is one of Israel’s strongest allies. Having the United States at its back, Israel is never alone nor even faced with isolation. However, with the right wing constantly ruling the country, Israel becomes more and more isolated internationally. Similarly, America’s favoring and tolerating of Israel also became the primary reason for the rise of Arabic anti-Americanism. Obama openly put pressure on the Netanyahu administration, showing the Arabic world that change is coming.

Having gotten 70 percent of the Jewish American vote, President Obama will pay a huge price for offending Israel. However, if Israel loses the protection of the United States, the situation will become more dangerous. In fact, the moderate party in Israel has been criticizing the Netanyahu government for stirring nationalism, pushing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into a dead end.

“1967 borders” is an ambiguous term because at that time, Palestine was not established as a country, and East Jerusalem was still occupied by Jordan. To use this border as a foundation for peace talks is totally nonviable in political reality. However, Israel is constantly expanding in the West Bank, which not only violates international law and the U.N. treaties but also stamps on the human rights and dignity of the Palestinians. Israel controls the West Bank and blocks the Gaza Strip, setting wires and concrete walls along the barrier, but Israel’s security deteriorates. Netanyahu’s policies are now being attacked by the opposition party.

The 1967 border is unsafe for Israel, and its border and military power are incapable of ensuring security. Israel also does not get along with most European and Middle Eastern countries. Now, as Israel breaks up with the United States, the biggest threat is just arriving.


司馬觀點:以色列與美國翻臉(江春男)
2011年 05月23日
5月中旬,阿拉伯動盪突轉向以色列,成千上萬巴勒斯坦難民高呼「我要回家」的口號,同時從3個邊境地區湧向以色列,以國動用武器驅趕,死傷數十人。以色列 擔心阿拉伯之春衝擊以巴和平進程,想不到接著歐巴馬發表以巴和平應以1967年邊界為基礎,以國總理納坦雅胡不客氣地加以反駁,美以矛盾尖銳化,以色列處 境更為危險。
以色列回到1967年邊界,讓巴勒斯坦獨立建國,這種以土地換取和平的主張,一向受到歐洲和中東國家的支持,美國政府受猶太人遊說團體的影響,長期偏袒以色列,歐巴馬首次提出這個想法,象徵美國中東政策的重大轉變。
美國是以色列堅強盟邦,有老美撐腰,以色列再孤立也不覺孤單,結果右派永遠執政,國際上越走越孤立。同樣的,美國對以色列的偏袒與包庇,也成為阿拉伯反美情緒高漲的主要原因,歐巴馬向納坦雅胡政府公開施壓,無異於向阿拉伯世界表態,改變即將到來。
歐巴馬獲得7成美籍猶太人選票,得罪以色列,必付出昂貴代價。但以色列如失去美國保護傘,對以國更為危險。事實上,以色列溫和派都在批評納坦雅胡政府玩弄民族主義情緒,讓以巴和平一步一步走進死胡同。
「1967 年邊界」是一個曖昧用語,因為那時巴勒斯坦不是國家,當時東耶路撒冷仍是約旦佔領區,要以此邊界為兩國和平的基礎,在政治現實上幾乎無法執行,但是以色列 屯墾區不斷擴張,不僅違背國際法和聯合國決議,對巴勒斯坦人的人權和尊嚴更是嚴重踐踏。以色列人控制約旦河西岸封鎮加薩走廊,在屯墾區設置鐵絲網和隔離 牆,但以色列的安全卻更加惡化,納坦雅胡的強硬政策,備受以國反對黨的抨擊。
1967邊界對以色列不安全,但軍力和邊界均不能保證安全,以色列與大部分歐洲和所有中東國家的關係均相當惡劣,現在如與老美翻臉,這才是以色列真正的安全威脅

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