President George Bush is singing his swan song.
There are several verses to that song. One verse has decidedly Middle Eastern overtones. And that explains the president’s trip last week to the Middle East, occasioned by Israel’s 60th anniversary.
The trip was motivated by several objectives. One objective was, truly, to celebrate Israel’s 60th. There is no doubt the U.S. and Israel have a special relationship and special friends share special occasions. There can also be no doubt about the impact President Bush has had on that relationship. He has strengthened and deepened and made it more significant and more unabashedly public.
At the same time, another objective of the trip was to apply pressure on Israel to make concessions to the Palestinians in the name of advancing the peace process. For the president, that would be the perfect closing stanza of his song.
George Bush wants to create a lasting legacy and he does not want it to involve Iraq or Afghanistan. Condi Rice wants to create a position for herself as the next vice president of the United States. But Israel should not be forced into being the springboard for either of those noble aspirations.
Israel has sacrificed enough in the name of friendship. Asking Israel to totally abandon borders that keep Israeli citizens safe; asking Israel to take down roadblocks that prevent terrorists and tools of terror from entering their country; asking Israel to stop arresting terrorists – all this is asking too much.
Asking Israel to abandon the methods that have proved effective in safeguarding the lives and property of Israeli citizens is to take too much advantage of friendship.
The verses missing in this stanza of Bush’s song are the lines asking the Palestinians to stop the flow of terror and to – of their own volition – arrest the terrorists. Missing is a demand that Palestinian leadership clamp down on Hamas and issue a cease and desist order on the activities emanating from Gaza. Missing is a plea from the president of the United States to the Palestinian people to place their values and their future on the line by challenging Hamas, the real threat to Palestinian dreams.
The special relationship between the U.S. and Israel is not a secret – not to the Western world, not to the Palestinians, not to the rest of the Arab and Muslim world, not to anyone with the possible exception of Jimmy Carter. It is an obvious fact on the ground. To quote President Bush, “America is proud to be Israel’s closest ally and best friend in the world… our alliance is unbreakable.”
He’s right. The relationship, the alliance, will neither be broken nor changed, but it can be tried and sometimes – like right now – it is tested. Israel does not often challenge the relationship. Israel knows that, friendship aside, first and foremost the U.S. looks out for the best interests of the U.S.
When it comes to American requests, Israel is often a diplomatic Yes-Man. In some way that aspect of the relationship has strengthened the bonds of friendship. The U.S. knows it can depend on Israel for diplomatic support. Israel knows it can rely on the U.S. for financial aid.
The U.S. and Israel share values, history, and respect for human life and freedom. With George Bush at the helm, the two countries even share an understanding of the importance of the Land of Israel as the Holy Land. The U.S. wants to protect Israel because of these values, but, most important, the U.S. realizes its own interests are served by a strong Israel.
There is no doubt that the pressure to have Israel and the Palestinians come to an agreement is based on regional needs and the benefits of coexistence. There is no doubt that Washington believes resolving the conflict will make for a more stable Middle East. And there should also be no doubt that a calm, stable Middle East better protects the larger interests of the U.S. and effectually marginalizes extremist elements that use the conflict as a tool to foment anti-Western anger.
George Bush was moved by his participation in Israel’s 60th anniversary celebration. He saw Israel at its best and he was witness to the unfortunate, horrific reality of daily life in Israel – the wanton terror that impacts upon every Israeli every day. He was sincere when he said, “You have worked tirelessly for peace, for freedom. When Americans look at Israel we see a pioneering spirit, talent and determination of a free people refusing to let any obstacle stand in the way of their destiny.”