This post is part of Marc H. Ellis’s “Exile and the Prophetic” feature for Mondoweiss. To read the entire series visit the archive page.
The interesting detail about Hillary Clinton’s incarnation as Secretary of State is that she traveled everywhere and then some but she rarely pretended to do anything.
Everyone knows she was waiting to see if President Obama tanked. When he didn’t, she was content to provide jobs for her entourage to ready her presidential rerun in 2016.
The difference between Hillary and John Kerry is that Kerry actually has something on his mind. He wants to do something – perhaps anything – if only to cap off his political career.
Since Kerry lost the Presidency in one if the most pathetic Presidential runs since his Massachusetts soul mate, Michael Dukakis – if you can imagine being so compared – he’s been out to redeem himself.
So Kerry is traveling the world, appearing twice in the Middle East in a week, and what does he offer the Palestinians as his career capstone? An economic package for the West Bank that isn’t funded and has no details available. Reporters who want to know more are referred to Tony Blair and the Quartet!
I doubt the American foreign policy establishment, including the soon to be droneless CIA, even keep tabs on Blair – he’s that insignificant. And now the Quartet is in the lead?
Kerry is hopping along in marked squares and trying to pick up large objects. Anyone who’s played hopscotch knows even small objects are hard to pick up while you’re trying to balance yourself on one foot.
What should Kerry do? He should get real.
President Obama has already thrown in the proverbial towel on Israel and the Palestinians. Either Kerry should quit grandstanding or defy his boss and offer the Palestinians – and the Israelis – something they can sink their teeth into.
A three-year economic package isn’t real and everyone attending the World Economic Forum knew it. So, instead of the fake trial balloon, Kerry should get on the Presidential hotline and hatch a plan for American military intervention in Jerusalem that would force Israel back to the 1967 borders.
If you’re laughing at the thought, that says it all. Whether you are for American intervention or not, or if you prefer the multilateral fig leaf, coming to Syria soon, know that it’s American intervention 24/7 anyway. Why not in Israel/Palestine?
The recent interventions by NATO and France in Libya and Mali were heavily dependent on American capability to refuel planes in midair, coordinate missile strikes and alike. Much of the necessary material and intelligence was supplied by the United States.
And, if truth be told, it’s hard to argue that America hasn’t militarily intervened in Israel/Palestine already. With all the armaments, security arrangements and special training of both Israel and the Palestinians, the United States is conducting an ongoing military intervention there. We simply need to change its direction from supporting an unjust status quo to promoting security and justice for both parties.
So since everything’s been tried and reducing unemployment by a third in the West Bank – again that perky three year plan – isn’t going to push Israel anywhere but over the last Palestinians hills, why not trot out the big “international” guns?
Unless Kerry is planning a Secretary of State Library and needs donors to line up outside the Heinz Ketchup’ corporate headquarters, what he’s waiting for?
If you think I’m the first American Jew to suggest American military intervention to stop Israel, you should get real, too. Check out the first Chancellor of Hebrew University, Rabbi Judah Magnes, a homeland Zionist, who lobbied Secretary of State Marshall and President Harry Truman to declare an American trusteeship in Palestine which would have maintained a unified Palestine and prevented the emergence of the state of Israel.
Yes, like John Kerry, Zionism has come a long way. But if Kerry wants a capstone to an interesting Senatorial career – if he wants a marker in the text books of the next generation and beyond – he’ll have to get real fast.
Everyone knows that the window on Israel/Palestine has already closed. If he wants to open it one last time, Kerry’s going to have to call on the troops.
Hefty words, that will ‘shock’ many, but are very, very true. It starts with someone writing this down. Here it is. Thanks Mr. Ellis.
ha it would be interesting to see how fast israeli extremists would become fanatical terrorists in western mainstream media if there was an American intervention. yet saying the same terrorists would probably run away at the first sign of trouble realizing they haven’t the idf to back them, not the same fun shooting at someone if they can shoot back.
I would laugh it this was not so ridiculously dangerous. You want the US military to turn on an ally and illegally invade a sovereign country. An invasion that due to Israeli opposition would require tens of thousands of troops and forward attacks to destroy their air capabilities.
All to achieve what exactly? Not what the Palestinians demand, which is not only their territorial ambitions but the “right” to enter Israel with millions of their citizenry.
Words of wisdom.
The U.S. wouldn’t really have to use military force to bend Israel’s arm. Rather, to force Israel to cease and desist from all settlement activity, the U.S. would simply be able to state that for every new settlement structure built on Palestinian soil, $10 million would be deducted from Israel’s annual aid package.
It would be that simple.
Attack a nuclear capable (so they say) nation (forget the allies and the special relationship).
I do want some of the stuff you have been taking.