I recently criticized the Obama administration for trying to micro-manage Israel. I argued that Israelis are better able to decide what is best for themselves than the American government.
A number of people put the note on their own lists. Among them was Naomi Ragan, who passed it on under the headline "Israeli Take on Obama's policies." In response I received a number of replies, most of them in support of what I had written, but many of them saying that I did not go far enough. Common to several was that Israel must stand up for its rights; tell the United States and other members of an anti-Israeli conspiracy where to get off; rely on its supporters and its own might. Some weighed in with their religious faith, both Christians and Jews, to assert the priority of Israel's claims.
I appreciate the moment of notice, but must respond with something essential for understanding Israel's situation.
Israel is not a great power.
There may be only two countries that qualify as great powers, the United States and Russia. We should not envy either of them. Both can do pretty much as they want to their own residents and others without fear of international sanctions. Both did well in World War II, but since then have not accomplished much in their international adventures other than killing many of their own soldiers, as well as many more soldiers and civilians in the countries they invaded.
Russia is far from a paradise. The United States is a decent place for those with resources, but is less desirable than much of Western Europe (and Israel) on numerous indicators of health, violence, income security, and the difficult to measure thing called quality of life. The problems faced by the Obama administration in trying to reform the health system illustrate why Americans in their large, wealthy, and democratic country, which spends more than others on health, cannot obtain world class service due to entrenched interests that profit from the status quo.
Like most countries of the world, Israel must play the political game of going along to get along. It cannot thumb its nose at a great power, or even at the middling powers that prevail in Europe. As long as Israel remains in their club, it will have access to economic and technological opportunities, cultural exchanges, and at least a minimum of political support.
More than the average country, Israel must tend to its relations with others. This reflects the madness of Muslim politicians and religious leaders, and their weight in the United Nations and other organizations.
As we read in the Bible that they composed, Israel's ancestors learned in ancient times how to preserve their community amidst powerful others. Jews have succeeded more often than not in a long and troubled history from the Philistines to the Americans. .
Currently the position of Jews--in their own country and elsewhere--is better than at any other time since the death of King Solomon.
When my late father-in-law was a young man in Dusseldorf, he thought that he was witnessing the height of Jewish achievement in Weimar Germany.
The rest of his story reminds us that Jews must consider likely pitfalls as well as opportunities.
In other notes I have described Israel's success in providing public services that match what should be expected from a country classified by the World Bank as one of the wealthiest, but not among the most wealthy. A disproportionate percentage of resources go for national defense. One can argue if the IDF has used too much or too little force, but the big picture is one of success.
Israel comes in for severe criticism, but much of that is either the blather of ideologues, usually impotent politically, or the lip service of government officials who are pursuing something from Muslim countries.
Coping is a skill described by many psychologists (many of them Jewish) for dealing with personal problems not likely to be solved completely. Its political equivalence is a skill essential to those who would lead Israel.
As I remind you occasionally, I welcome comments sent to my e-mail address, below.
Ira Sharkansky (Emeritus)
Department of Political Science
Hebrew University
Jerusalem, Israel
Tel: +972-2-532-2725
email: msira@mscc.huji.ac.il