While Washington Applauds, Some In Israel Despair

Jon Karl reported this evening that Bibi received more standing ovations than Barack Obama did in his State of the Union address and comments on Google revealed Congressional Republicans tweeting messages of pure hate for Obama and love for Bibi. This siding with a head of a foreign power over the President of the United States is the subject of a current Foreign Policy piece , which traces how far the Republicans have gone in subverting American strategic interests by the full embrace of Bibi's and Israel's regional policy. That article quotes the American military about the difficulties they face with this situation. As we saw from today's speech, the problem is not just with Republicans but also with leading Democrats, who also seemed to have downed the Kool-Aid.

One of Israel's leading journalists and writers, Gideon Levy wrote in today's Haaretz that "Netanyahu' speech to Congress shows America will buy anything."

His comments are worth repeating at length:
"It was an address with no destination,filled with lies and illusions, heaped on illusions. Only rarely is a foreign head of state invited to speak before Congress. It's unlikely that any other has attempted to sell them such a pile of propaganda and prevarication, such hypocrisy and sanctimony as Benjamin Netanyahu did yesterday.

"The fact that Congress rose to its feet multiple times to applaud him says more about the ignorance of its members than the quality of their guest's speech."

Levy burns at Bibi's comments on the Arab Spring, noting his embrace of authoritarian Arab leaders, and almost shouts off the page at the lies Bibi told about freedom of worship in Jerusalem, citing the restrictions on young Palestinians. He said,"Netanyahu's 'speech of life' was the speech of the death of peace.

One American Jewish commentator noted that the American Congress gave a standing ovation to Bibi's line that the "Jewish people are not foreign occupiers", when in fact under international law they are occupiers of the West Bank and even Ariel Sharon said so. So this commentator noted the irony of the entire American Congress giving a standing ovation to a violation of international law. I didn't. After all most of these same characters approved on a bipartisan basis torture.

Herb Keinon at the Jerusalem Post said, Netanyahu could only dream of such a reception in Israel."

Josh Marshall writes,"(Bibi's) clear aim is to perpetrate the status quo indefinitely--something that simply is not compatible with israel's security, America's security or the Palestinian need for a state."

In its editorial Haaretz addresses the American Jewish community under the headline,"U.S. Jews Must Support Obama's Mideast Vision". The editorial praises President Obama for not turning his appearance at AIPAC into a political rally but instead addressed the urgent questions facing Israel. They emphasized that Obama stressed that only a peace agreement can ensure that israel will continue to be a Jewish and a democratic state and prevent a unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state by the United Nations General Assembly. They noted that yesterday, the European Union's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, backed Obama's plan as did other members of the Quartet. The core of which was that the 1967 borders must be the basis for a negotiated peace with land swaps.

The editorial goes on to say that Bibi's refusal to agree to this leads to a dead end. "From there the Road is short to a violent confrontation with the Palestinians, diplomatic isolation and perhaps even economic sanctions."

Haaretz concludes," The time has come for the Jews of New York and Illinois to stand beside their worried brethern in Jerusalem and Sderot who have welcomed Obama's message and are hoping for it to become a reality. Between loyalty to Obama's way and loyalty to Netanyahu's way, they must choose loyalty to the future of the state of Israel."

Today was a Pyrrhic victory for Bibi. As he has always said,"The Americans are easily manipulated to go right." But the concerns of the Haaretz writers are very serious. Israel already exists in a precarious balance and an Israeli leader playing brinksmanship jeopardizes more than his own political career.

For instance, given what we heard today, what will be the international reaction to the upcoming Gaza Freedom Flotilla. Over 15 flagged vessels--under the British, American, Greek, Swedish, Irish and Turkish registries--will be heading to Gaza. What happens--in light of the Arab Spring--if the Israeli raid them like last time? What will be the reaction? How doe you think the United Nations will respond? Does anyone really think American influence is going to hamper the anti-Israeli reaction in Europe and in the Middle East?

Hopefully, some saner heads in Israel will prevail for their own national interest.