The answer is, yes. And the real issue is how supporters of Israel understand what it means to "support Israel". Is it a function of pressuring the State of Israel to do what it "should do" from the perspective of those who do not live there? Or is it about supporting the decisions of the only real democracy in the Middle East and our best ally in the region, even if it makes decisions that some of us see as too much to the left or too far to the right? Frankly, I could make a case for going either way, but we should be honest and clear about what we are doing when we make claims about which side in this election would be "better for Israel".
This situation is further complicated by the fact that the Democratic and Republican candidates have different understandings of what it means to support Israel, as recent comments from each campaign indicate. In fact, it may be that the candidates don't even agree with their own running mates, let alone those against whom they are running. During last night's Vice Presidential debate, Sarah Palin said that peace between Israel and the Palestinians would be at the top of the McCain/Palin agenda. But recent comments by top McCain advisors indicate otherwise.
Of course, it's not like Obama and Biden necessarily agree either. Senator Obama has been clear about both his commitment to bringing peace and to the fact that he has a vision of what that peace would look like. But last night, Senator Biden suggested that the American policy should not insist on specifics about negotiation, but should back Israel. So which is it, senators? Frankly, it probably doesn't matter and both sides should stop making political hay out of this issue.
Former Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Ayalon writes persuasively about the fact that there is ample reason to believe that both Senator McCain and Senator Obama will continue America's commitment to Israel's safety and security. He is almost certainly correct, and not because of lobbying or pressure, but for the only reason that America should i.e. it's good for America.
So rather than hide behind broad and often meaningless claims about which candidate is better for Israel, I suggest separating the debate about which candidate is likely to support the specific policies we endorse about issues like borders, Jerusalem, negotiating with Syria, etc. from the importance of Israel as one of this country's most important allies. Confusing those two issues may prove effective at mobilizing one side or the other in the short term, but may actually prove detrimental to the long term relationship between Israel and the United States. I hope that both sides think about that in the coming weeks. Whichever side wins the election, the American-Israel relationship is too strategically, politically, and morally vital to confuse with partisan politics, American or Israeli.
Add to Del.icio.us
Add to Technorati
Add to Digg
Add to Newsvine
Add to Facebook
Add to StumbleUpon
Subscribe
Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of 
The first comment posted is an outrageous lie, quoted from McCain's propaganda: Obama has never suggested he would "side with" Muslims. Obama is a Christian but actually believes in separation of religion and the state. His approach to Israel is the same as his approach to all of our strong allies: we are with you forever but no blank check on every decision you make! Justice for Palestinians and security for Israel are BOTH critical to the future of peace in the Middle East and indeed throughout the world. Obama will be loyal to Israel, and will balance the interests of that state with the development of a second stable and peaceful democratic state of Palestine.
To David Goldstien -
Do you actually believe that REV. DR. JEREMIAH WRIGHT, TRINITY UNITY CHURCH OF CHRIST is mainstream Christian?
Barack Husein Obama's family is Muslim on his father's side (both of his fathers) Do you also believe that he does not have strong sympathy with Muslims.
Wake up people. This man is a con artist.........but then he is a Democrat, and Jew must vote for Democrats
James,
And his "fathers" are Muslim. So you're suggesting what? That he must hate Jews, want to harm Israel, be a bad American? Do what Lori said. Go to the AIPAC site. He's a friend of Jews.
Yeah, we do vote Democrat. If you think Democrats are bad, lok at what the Republicans did from the 30's on, refusing any sanctuary for Jews from Hitler (Y"S). Why? Because they're the CHRISTIAN PARTY!
P.S. Telling people to wake up is so condescending and a sure conversation stopper.
Dovid, why are you anti-Christian? Views like yours are why we will never have peace.
Post a Comment
By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.