Leon Panetta’s panacea

Editorial

Israel is becoming increasingly isolated diplomatically, according to U.S. Defence Secretary Leon Panetta, who was traveling in the Middle East this past week.

The isolation Panetta warned of is obvious to anyone with the slightest familiarity with the news. Israel, diplomatically isolated for most of its 63-year history, is now more isolated than at any time. But Panetta’s panacea seems destined only to reinforce the isolation of America’s Greatest Ally in the Region™.

“Is it enough to maintain a military edge if you’re isolating yourself in the diplomatic arena?” Panetta asked. “Real security can only be achieved by both a strong diplomatic effort as well as a strong effort to project your military strength.” Isolating yourself? Israel, according to Panetta, is isolating itself and must restart negotiations with the Palestinians and mend fences with Turkey and Egypt.

There is something at once surreal and naïve in Panetta’s pronouncements. It is characteristic in much of the world – and a trend manifest at the United Nations – that everything from the Mideast conflict to the troubles of global capitalism can be traced back to the Israelis. While some wise observers acknowledge the fallacies of such conspiracies as those presented to the General Assembly last month by Iran’s leader, it seems even the official voice of Israel’s Erstwhile Best Friend™ cannot divest himself of the global tendency to blame Israel.

A fair review of regional events makes clear that Egypt’s cool peace with Israel is at risk not because of anything Israel has done, but because of a revolution in Egypt. (It is fair, of course, to note that Israel stood steadfast with the deposed dictator Hosni Mubarak, but this is not the real root of the current uncertainty between the two countries; the cause is internal to Egypt.)

The relationship between Israel and Turkey is on the rocks not because of Israel’s actions 16 months ago during the Gaza flotilla debacle. If that had been the case, the conflict would have arisen more publicly then, not now. Turkey’s leader is exploiting the developments of the Arab Spring to try to wedge his way into a key regional role that has always been just out of reach to a country that is, among other things, not Arabic in language or ethnicity. Recep Tayyip Erdogan sees an opening that was never there before and, having been rebuffed in his attempts to draw his country more toward Europe, is now responding by seeking a greater role to the east. And like every successful regional leader before him, he knows that hating on Israel is a superb way to find common cause among disparate potential supporters.

Finally, and most importantly, the breakdown in negotiations leading to Palestinian statehood took place 11 years ago when Yasser Arafat may have believed that the day of his “phased strategy” to destroy Israel had come. His successors, facing Israeli leaders both hawk and dove, hardline and conciliatory, Labor and Likud, have rejected every olive branch Israel has offered.

Israel’s isolation is due to one factor alone: the hatred and intolerance spawned by its mere existence as a Jewish state. Of course, recognizing this fact won’t necessarily bring harmony either, but it will make for a more honest place from which to strive for peaceful coexistence. Until the world, including Israel’s supposed friends, recognizes this, there is probably no chance for peace.

^TOP