Uncommon Thoughts About U.S.-Israel Relations

By Prof. Paul Eidelberg

Again and again it is reported that Washington will impose on Israel the Road Map to a Palestinian state.  The truth is Washington cannot force Israel to do anything—not even by withholding spare parts for its fighter aircraft.  Only weak prime ministers genuflect to Washington.

There are many things a wise and courageous prime minister can do.  First, he must address the nation on television and explain why a Palestinian state cannot but lead to Israel’s decimation and destruction. 

Second, he must tell the people that the Road Map violates the principles and practices of America’s own government in Afghanistan and Iraq.   Here he can cite resolutions passed by the United States Congress against the Road Map.  And he can point out that, according to a recent poll, 71% of the American people oppose a Palestinian state.

Third, he must call upon the people of Israel to rally behind him in opposition to the Road Map.  He must tell them that those who beg for peace only want slavery.

Fourth, he must then set forth a viable alternative to the Road Map and call to its support the American Zionist organizations.  These, in turn, will to galvanize the tens of millions of American Christians who know that a Palestinian state would represent a fundamental victory of Islam over Christianity as well as Judaism.  It would entail the loss of access to the Old City and the Temple Mount.

Fifth, he must announce that if the U.S. cuts off military aid to Israel($1.8 billion), tens of thousands of Americans will lose their jobs because 85% of this aid must be spent in America.  And here he must explain that U.S. military aid is less than 2% of Israel’s Gross Domestic Product, indeed, that economists say that this aid actually undermines the country’s productivity.

Sixth, he must state that if the U.S. cuts off military aid to Israel, Israel will cut off all scientific and technological aid to the United States, as well as Israel’s unequalled Intelligence services.

Seventh, a wise and courageous prime minister could give the Israel Defense Forces the order to swiftly and utterly destroy the Palestinian Authority and its terrorist infrastructure—a fait accompli.

Eighth, Israel has solid grounds for attacking the Hizbullah in Lebanon, hence Syria, and even Egypt, which, in violation of its treaty with Israel, has been supplying the Palestinian Authority with arms via tunnels into Gaza.  A veiled threat to attack one of these countries would persuade Washington to shelve the Road Map.

Needless to say, I do not expect Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to do any of these things.