The Economist’s latest cover was Please Not Again and showed a contemplative Obama (that might be redundant). Other headlines, including “US, Israel and the Arabs,” warned of yet another war in the Middle East. The package included this piece called, “Great sacrifices, small rewards Has America’s obsession with this region been worth it?” which speaks bluntly of the political power of the Israel lobby:
America¹s pro-Israel lobby shows no sign of losing strength. Jonathan Broder, foreign-affairs editor of the Congressional Quarterly, discerns an effort by Republicans to woo Jewish voters, long more supportive of Democrats, by outbidding the administration over Israel. Eric Cantor, the incoming House majority leader, has proposed moving the $3 billion annual military grant to Israel from the foreign-aid budget to the Pentagon, in effect shielding it from spending cuts. “Not only would this remove a lever for American pressure,” warns Mr Broder, “it would make us silent accomplices in the settlement process.”
That’s amusing. As if we’ve been opposing it!
However, other Washington observers lament that the lessons of failure in the Middle East have yet to be learned. “Obama said that we had not only to change the war in Iraq, but to change the mindset that led to the war, and this has not happened,” says Brian Katulis of the Centre for American Progress……..
… The Obama team may have underestimated Mr Netanyahu¹s ability to resist. The White House was outfoxed in Washington, where the Israeli leader used the mid-term elections for Congress and pro-Israel Republicans to cow the administration. The effort to coax Israel with American gifts, say Mr Obama’s defenders, was a recognition that action was urgent. “They saw a risk”, says Robert Malley of the International Crisis Group, “that if things don;t happen in the next few months, they may lose two years in the run-up to the next US election, and have to kiss the whole Obama peace agenda goodbye.” This hiatus could affect a range of Middle Eastern issues, from Iran to Lebanon.
By this logic, the administration¹s willingness to pay to keep peace hopes alive can be seen as admirable commitment rather than feebleness. Israel may have outbluffed America, using the power of its supporters in Congress, but it stands increasingly isolated in the world. The next time America asks Mr Netanya……. …………
