Keep Your Friends Close
By Mitch Berg
Young Israelis Ydon’t trust Barack Obama as far as they can throw him, according to an Israeli public opinion poll.
“This poll has revealed that Israelis make a distinction between the United States and President Obama and his policies. They have less fondness for him than they have for the US, and display a certain degree of mistrust in him,” the professor said.
Gilboa said the poll largely resembled a similar survey carried out in 2007 during former President George Bush’s tenure. Only 38% of the respondents in the new poll said they believe that Obama’s attitude towards Israel is a friendly one, compared to 73% in the 2007 poll regarding Bush.
Good to know that our staunchest ally is nervous about Obama’s commitment to them, huh?
May 5th, 2009 at 8:14 am
Israel is NOT our staunchest ally.
May 5th, 2009 at 9:15 am
I would have thought our staunchest ally was the UK.
I like Israel, I’d like to go back there for another visit sometime, although I am afraid it has been long enough since the last visit that I would have to entirely relearn those language skills. (They made a difference there greater than most places I’ve traveled.)
That Israelis are distrustful of the US (and not just the leadership) is not new. They have always on the one hand appreciated our aid, while disliking what they perceived as strings or conditions intended to influence their decisions. On the other hand – who else is as significant an ally as the US? They don’t have any other country that provides similar benefits, so too bad if they are not entirely happy. We don’t jump to their wishes any more than they jump to ours; but we are still firm allies. IF they really are a little more nervous now – and I question that – it works for me.
I would bet that most of us in the US object to theocratic governments like Iran, even when they are nominally democratic – like Iran, like Israel. Theocratic countries create privileged groups on the basis of religion, while disadvantaging all those who do not belong to the privileged religion.
Israel does that. We don’t bring it up; I’d bet that most americans, jewish or not, are not aware of the extent of that religious preferential treatment in Israel. That kind of inequality creates tensions and instability; something Obama has spoken in favor of them addressing.
When I was there, there was a substantial segment of the Palestinians and other non-jewish population that supported the Israeli government, even to the point of volunteering to serve in their armed forces. That was because they viewed the Israeli government as more progressive in economic development, health care, education and other areas than their neighboring Arabic countries. That support has declined steadily since then, particularly in the percentage of non-jewish members of their military. There are also sizable segments of the Israeli population that favor better treatment for the Palestinians.
It incorrectly frames the debate to assume that the US cannot encourage Israel to address the status of the Palestinian population, possibly with a two-state resolution, certainly with more fair and equal treatment, without the US failing Israel as an ally. Too often we get only the Jewish viewpoint, not even that in full spectrum, and are not as well informed as we should be.
May 5th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Dog Bone and Uncle Dave are right. Israel is a U.S. client state. The U.K. is our staunchest ally.
May 5th, 2009 at 9:35 am
I should elaborate; Israel is the staunchest ally we haven’t had to fight two wars with.
Whew. Good thing I caught that.
(Nah, it’s a fair cop).
May 5th, 2009 at 9:48 am
To be fair, we’ve been at peace for a good 194 years now.
May 5th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Hopefully Pres. Obama’s crack team will find an appropriate gift that can be presented to PM Netanyahu when they meet; otherwise he might end up giving away Floyd of Rosedale or a book of Famous Dave’s coupons.
May 5th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Hopefully Pres. Obama’s crack team will find an appropriate gift that can be presented to PM Netanyahu when they meet; otherwise he might end up giving away Floyd of Rosedale or a book of Famous Dave’s coupons.
Nah, for a “client state” we have a little more casual protocol; President Obama will just have Bibi over for a nice bacon cheeseburger.
May 5th, 2009 at 10:53 am
And if it comes with the expected check for $3 billion in aid, I’ll bet Bibi will eat that nice bacon cheeseburger. With mayo.
May 5th, 2009 at 11:08 am
I’ll bet Bibi will eat that nice bacon cheeseburger. With mayo.
Well, yeah. But that ain’t mayo.