Biden, Israel, and the Dangers of “Special Relationships”

            I think it was Thomas Jefferson who warned Americans to avoid “entangling foreign alliances” (i.e. “special relationships”). He was not preaching isolationism, only reminding us not to confuse our own interests with those of foreign states. In Israel a few days ago, Vice President Biden got a lesson in the kind of abusive entanglement a “special relationship” can become.

            First, Biden gave the Israelis a huge hug. He reiterated longstanding US policy by asserting America’s “absolute, total, unvarnished commitment to Israeli security.”  

            Biden then added that “progress occurs in the Middle East when everyone knows there is no space between Israel and the US.” This is sheer fantasy. Since 1948 our “Israel can do no wrong” policy has been supported by billions of US taxpayer dollars, scores of single US vetoes on security council resolutions, and endless assurances of our undying love and support. Yet Israel is now vastly more powerful than all her neighbors combined and still there is no peace.

            Why? Unconditional US support has created a vast sense of entitlement and lack of accountability in Israel.  It has enabled Israeli governments to defy world opinion, international law, American law, and even some of Judaism’s most treasured values: all for the sake of appeasing a few thousand “settlers” and their fundamentalist ideology. The current status quo is the direct result of a “special relationship” in which Israel’s actions, no matter how violent and counterproductive to peace, must always be put in a good light.

            So when Biden got around to restarting the peace talks that are vital to US security, there is little wonder that (in spite of his endorsement of Israel and the myth that goes with it) he got a slap in the face—America’s interests don’t matter.  Israel, knowing quite well it might derail any peace talks and set off a new explosion in Palestine, chose that delicate moment to announce large new building projects in the occupied territories. Such settlement projects make a mockery of peace. Secretary Clinton rightly called Israel’s behavior an “insult” and an “affront.”       

            Biden condemned Israel’s announcement, repeated our demand for a settlement freeze, and asserted that “sometimes only a friend can deliver the hardest truth.” Well that’s only true with real friends. Friendship is a two way street, but Israel has happily taken our money, paid lip service to our needs, and done whatever it wants—no matter how damaging that is to the US. The “special relationship” relieves Israel of all accountability. Zero accountability doesn’t work any better in foreign affairs than it does on Wall Street.

            Biden in Israel looked like a man trying to stop a friend from driving drunk. He got a slap instead of the keys. We should not let Netanyahu drive away. Remember, we bought the car, we gave them the keys, we buy their gas, and we have helped them cover up their previous offenses. Enough is enough. It’s time to recognize that we made a mistake. Our 3-5 billion dollars in annual aid to Israel has involved us in the shame of their hit and run crimes and fueled wider anti-Americanism and extremism that is costing us further trillions in misspent defense dollars.

            When PM Netanyahu stood in the West Bank recently and said, “we are here to stay,” he showed that he is out to seize the last remnants of Palestinian land by force. That is not a sane or humane policy. It is naked aggression. We should respond as we would to any other country: immediately cut off all US aid, impose further sanctions, and so on. When there is a just and comprehensive peace and a viable contiguous Palestinian State we should return to a normal, friendly (but never again “special” or abusive) relationship with Israel.

G. Schramm

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