America and Israel: The Inevitable Confrontation

The most important pro-Israel lobby in the United States is working to mobilize members of Congress to pressure the White House about its public confrontation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Guardian, a British newspaper, states that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has persuaded more than three-quarters of the House of Representatives to sign a letter calling for an end to the public criticism of Israel and urging the United States to strengthen its relationship with the Jewish state.

The letter has circulated Congress for more than a week and, while it acknowledges that there will be differences of opinion between America and Israel, it states that these differences should not be aired publicly. Instead, it calls for any differences to be resolved quietly, confidentially and with mutual trust. Moreover, it states that Obama’s disagreements with Netanyahu are embarrassing to the Israeli prime minister, who stands accused of damaging the relationship with Israel’s most important ally, the United States.

AIPAC’s letter describes Obama’s criticisms of the Israeli government as provoking “deep concern” and demanded that the administration take immediate steps to ease tension with Israel.

Although AIPAC has influence over U.S. policy toward Israel and has pressured members of Congress who criticize Israel, the effectiveness of the organization is not what is used to be. Robert Malley, assistant to former President Bill Clinton, says that the administration’s decision to turn a disagreement over settlements into a confrontation reflects the determination of the Obama White House to make progress in the peace process. The disagreement also represents an accumulated frustration with and lack of trust of the Netanyahu government, and lends credence to the idea that the relationship between America and Israel is heading toward collapse.

A source advising the U.S. administration on its policy toward Israel stated that Obama has targeted Netanyahu, and now cannot back down without risking his own credibility with Israel and the Arab world. Netanyahu is mistaken if he thinks that he will benefit from humiliating the American president by refusing to freeze settlements.

It seems that the Israeli prime minister may be feeling overconfident about bypassing Obama by relying on strong support for Israel in Congress. Despite AIPAC’s letter, Congressional leaders have remained silent over the essence of the struggle, and their positions are in part due to a lack of enthusiasm for Jewish settlements. In addition, the White House played a strong card when it suggested that Netanyahu’s actions increased the threat to U.S. interests in the Middle East, and the lives of American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Malley adds that he has been surprised by the limited response from Congress up until now and that, if the administration is able to portray the issue as pertaining to the national interests of the United States, this will further reduce the effectiveness of Congressional support for AIPAC’s aims.

It is too soon know if Barack Obama is in fact ready to confront Congress about the issue of Israeli settlements. This confrontation will end only if the Obama administration is truly determined to continue challenging Israel until the end.