On Trump and the Middle East

It is good for a leader to have a cordial working relationship with every world leader. Such relationships can lead to predictability, a more harmonious atmosphere and, hopefully, civil discourse; maybe even winning an ally. Since the six day war in 1967, Israel has been our only strategic ally in the Middle East and our support is seemingly bottomless. Since its inception we have provided some $300B in government aid, most of which was outright grants. We have also had Israel’s back politically – –  routinely and pretty much automatically vetoing any UN resolution critical of any Israeli action, no matter what it is. In the 1973 Yom Kippur war we rushed massive military aid from Europe to avert a defeat by the invading Egyptian forces, earning the wrath of the Arab world and an oil embargo that led to a recession in the U.S. and for many of our allies. Since the beginning of the Gaza war on October 7th 2023 we have provided $12.5 B in military aid. These were things we rightly did for Israel but at some point I would hope that our own national interest be factored into Israeli actions. 

One has to wonder if there are any bounds to our protective blanket and whether there is a strategic U.S. national interest to this policy. The dilemma is this: we have become directly associated with Israeli actions in the region. We are their great enabler and we are therefore complicit in their policies whether we agree with them or not, whether we were consulted on them or not, whether they serve our own national interests or not. Allies have an obligation to one another.

Of course Israel has the right to defend itself and our assistance, given willingly, is crucial to that end. While we cannot and will not let Israel be vanquished, it would be prudent to ask why it is that Israel seems to be under constant and unending attack. What is the root cause of attacks on Israel? Is it just ingrained hatred? But why the hatred? The question is seldom asked. There are two ways to deal with this conflict: Military force to ensure the status quo and to defend domestic expansionary policies, or to try to peacefully resolve the issue that gives rise to the conflict in the first place. Israel has chosen the former. Contrary to popular belief the offer put to Arafat in 2000 by Prime Minister Barak was deficient in many critical areas.

It is quite hard to justify aiding in actions that are expressly in conflict with our own national values, in violation of accepted international law and contrary to the precepts of the United Nations to which both we and Israel have signed on to.

Trump’s policies during his first administration were somewhat worrisome. He recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and granted U.S recognition to Israel’s control of the occupied Golan Heights. These were negotiating points, bargaining chips, to be tabled and agreed upon in a final settlement. These were given away with nothing conceded from Israel in return. With great hype he unveiled a two state plan that was so one-sided and so laughable that no one has ever mentioned it again. The upcoming Trump administration is in position to broker a realistic and balanced plan that will promote peace and security for Israel and grant the Palestinians an economically viable, sovereign nation. He is respected by Israel and has the leverage to make that happen. 

To me, Israel has two choices:

1. Peace and security for its people, within the borders of Israel proper.

2. Continued occupation and suppression of Palestinians, and continued expansion into the West Bank and Gaza with the never-ending resistance and discord that we have seen for the last 50 years, and which is growing more menacing, more bloody and more destructive.

Since its creation in 1948, Israel has dug a giant hole for itself that is becoming harder and harder to get out of. We are finding ourselves in that same hole. The longer the conflict, the deeper the hole. Both the U.S. and Israel will have to deal with the consequences of that. For 57 years this unresolved conflict has brought Israel constant insecurity and international condemnation, it has inflicted widespread suffering on Palestinians, and it has cost the U.S. vast treasure and loss of much international political capital. Yet peace and harmony is still a dream. 

It’s time to try something else. It’s time for some tough love.

– – –  Just the view of a common man.