Enough With Patience
Published in die Tageszeitung
(Germany) on 23 April 2010
by Ariane Lemme (link to original)
Israel’s Power Hungry Right Wing Has To Be Reined In
To speak of guilt in the Middle East conflict is difficult from the German point of view. Unconditional solidarity with Israel can’t be questioned — far too often, criticism of Israel serves as a Trojan horse for anti-Semitism. The United States acknowledges a special relationship with Israel and has tolerated nearly every Israeli boycott of the peace process. But now a change in attitude has finally come about.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to a minimum four month extension of the moratorium on settlement expansion in East Jerusalem. The opposition of Israeli politicians to this policy is nothing new. On the contrary: It merely perpetuates the disruptive and uncompromising attitude of Netanyahu’s predecessors. And because the situation appears to be so predictable and permanent, President Obama’s patience is obviously at an end.
Netanyahu’s refusal to accept American demands not only damages Israel’s image in the international community, but he may also find it increasingly difficult to justify his position domestically.
Not only Palestinians, but many Israelis as well would in fact welcome the equitable American peace plan. Therefore, Obama has to act — but in solidarity with Israel. An end to patience with Israeli leadership could well be the beginning of hope for peace in the Middle East.
Decisiveness is needed in this complicated conflict: There can be no taboos. For the welfare of those Israelis and Palestinians who have suffered during this decades-long conflict, the power-hungry Israeli right wing has to be reined in.
To speak of guilt in the Middle East conflict is difficult from the German point of view. Unconditional solidarity with Israel can’t be questioned — far too often, criticism of Israel serves as a Trojan horse for anti-Semitism. The United States acknowledges a special relationship with Israel and has tolerated nearly every Israeli boycott of the peace process. But now a change in attitude has finally come about.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to a minimum four month extension of the moratorium on settlement expansion in East Jerusalem. The opposition of Israeli politicians to this policy is nothing new. On the contrary: It merely perpetuates the disruptive and uncompromising attitude of Netanyahu’s predecessors. And because the situation appears to be so predictable and permanent, President Obama’s patience is obviously at an end.
Netanyahu’s refusal to accept American demands not only damages Israel’s image in the international community, but he may also find it increasingly difficult to justify his position domestically.
Not only Palestinians, but many Israelis as well would in fact welcome the equitable American peace plan. Therefore, Obama has to act — but in solidarity with Israel. An end to patience with Israeli leadership could well be the beginning of hope for peace in the Middle East.
Decisiveness is needed in this complicated conflict: There can be no taboos. For the welfare of those Israelis and Palestinians who have suffered during this decades-long conflict, the power-hungry Israeli right wing has to be reined in.