Our closest ally:
A newly released video of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could add some additional strain to the sometimes tense relationship between him and President Obama.
In the video, which is from 2001, Netanyahu — who reportedly did not know his speech was being recorded — speaks frankly in Hebrew about relations with the Clinton White House and the peace process.
As noted in Haaretz, Netanyahu seems to boast of his knowledge of the US by saying, “I know what America is. America is a thing you can move very easily, move it in the right direction. They won’t get in their way.”
He also boasts of manipulating the U.S. in the ongoing peace process, as the Washington Post points out:
“They asked me before the election if I’d honor [the Oslo accords],” he said. “I said I would, but … I’m going to interpret the accords in such a way that would allow me to put an end to this galloping forward to the ’67 borders. How did we do it? Nobody said what defined military zones were. Defined military zones are security zones; as far as I’m concerned, the entire Jordan Valley is a defined military zone. Go argue.”
Meanwhile, fanatics in the Knesset are trying to make American right-wingers look sensible:
It’s very rare for members of Congress to criticize a law under consideration by the Knesset, particularly in the form of a senatorial letter. But American Jewish officials who have been in touch with members of Congress on the issue attributed the reaction to the depth of consternation.
“It is somewhat unusual and unprecedented, and I think the reason is because of the nature of this particular issue, touching on the very essence of being Jewish and not just in Israel, but beyond,” said Stuart Weinblatt, who heads the Israel advocacy office of the Conservative Movement’s Rabbinical Assembly.
The bill includes a provision to put conversions under the control of the Orthodox chief rabbinate, anathema in any case to non-Orthodox Jews but particularly raising concerns that those who have undergone Conservative and Reform conversions abroad would no longer be eligible for Israel citizenship under the Law of Return.
Crazy.
Alex S.
I guess I can’t really criticize Netanyahu’s policies. If politics is the art of the possible, then Israel has got a LOT of possibilities, because of the unconditional support of the USA. And Israel itself is moving further and further to the right, because of orthodox immigrants who have been promised land in the West Bank and because of the control of conservatives over the media.
The Dangerman
Kinda OT, but speaking of crazy and suckers, I awoke to some dick on Fox News (argue amongst yourselves as to whether or not this is redundant) arguing that Obama stole the election…
…from Hillary in the nominating process. He was pushing a documentary called “We Will Not Be Silenced”. I think the fuckers name was John Siebel.
Smelling the stench of a PUMA, I googled him and the documentary…
…and found astroturfing here and there, where this supposed theft is wrapped up with the New Black Panther bullshit and, of course, ACORN.
Now, I understand that the rats can’t fuck themselves, but when the known mouthpiece for the Right starts up with a Vast Conspiracy in support of a CLINTON, presumably to push for Obama being primaried by Hillary, I think we are well and truly fucked.
me
If Jeff “Israeli Prison Guard” Goldberg is critizing Israel, you know it’s bad.
Svensker
The DH got stuck on a train out of NYC yesterday because of a track fire. While he waited underground in the dark in 100 degree heat for a half hour he chatted with a Port Authority employee who was also on the train who told him to expect a lot more of this because the P.A. is running out of money.
Now explain to me why we should be sending billions of dollars of American tax dollars to Israel again?
Brachiator
Damn. I can understand how elements of this rankle Palestinians, and I think I can understand more why some Palestinians insist so vehemently on a “right of return” being part of peace negotiations.
Aside from this, I can see how American Jews object to this power play by Israeli fundamentalists, who want sole control over deciding who is a Jew.
The Netanyahu thing is also an interesting power play. American conservatives like to crow about the warm US/Israel relations under Republican administrations, and contrast Obama’s supposed anti-Israel bias, naivete or just plain lack of foreign policy chops.
But now, the GOP has a lots of splainin’ to do as they look like rubes who have been manipulated by Israeli hardliners.
Can you say XYZ affair? Americans in the young United States thought that the French loved us. But the French government thought we were a bunch of rubes who could be suckered into paying bribes.
Americans never learn. We always think we are the smartest, strongest, toughest guys in the realpolitik room, while our supposed allies and clients treat us like the unsophisticated hicks that we so often are.
On the other hand, these revelations about Netanyahu, which someone may have been sitting on for a while, don’t add strain to relations between Israel and the US. They strengthen Obama’s hand and knock conservative critic’s off balance.
Mark S.
@me:
Yeah, Goldberg was where I first read about the conversion bill and I was shocked to see him criticizing Israel. Now if Joe Lieberman comes out against this, the earth might stop spinning on its axis.
Does this Bibi speech go down the memory hole? I’m guessing it does.
ppcli
What the hell? How is it any business of the U.S. Senate *as such* how Jewishness is understood, for the purposes of Israeli citizenship or for any other reason? (The senators in question are of course entitled to their personal opinions, and even to express them – I’m speaking only of the official character of this response – senatorial letter, distributing something among senators for signature, etc.) Am I the only one who finds this insanely out of line?
Svensker
@ppcli:
It’s all about the Special Relationship. What will happen to that if moderate American Jews are told they aren’t really welcome in Israel?
Davis X. Machina
In twenty years, Haredistan.
Doctor Science
I’ve made some comments around the blogosphere which I collated at my blog. Basically, I think American Judaism has to face the fact that we’ve been in an abusive marriage to Israel, and if this bill passes it’s a get.
The divorce would not be for political reasons, but for *religious* reasons, and Diaspora Judaism has to think about what it means religiously, in every sense.
There’s still time for Israel to back away, to say “Oh baby, I never meant to make you *cry*.” But I don’t know how reparable the marriage is, at this point.
I invite my Israeli or Orthodox friends to persuade me I’m wrong.
Brachiator
@Doctor Science:
This is as useless an analogy as the one which compares Israel to a crazy ex-girlfriend.
Relations between nations are more complex, and trying to substitute slap-dash pop psychology for political analysis will only lead you down a blind alley.
Doctor Science
@Brachiator:
I’m not talking about a relationship between nations, I’m talking about a *religious* relationship. Marriage is a central metaphor in the Jewish religious tradition (as it is for Christians), and that’s why I’m using it.
Brachiator
@Doctor Science:
I got that. Still not meaningful, either historically or politically.
I mean, if the US and Israel are divorced, do we have to pay alimony? Who gets custody of the kids? Do US presidents still get visitation rights to the Wailing Wall?
And are the Palestinians the bad boy on a motorcycle that Israel has been resisting, but destined to end up with?
Hey, we could always try to compare the US and Israel to the new Twilight film.
eemom
Isn’t it counter-productive from the Israeli POV to do something that would reduce the universe of people who qualify as Jews that can move to Israel, considering they’re already losing the demographic advantage over Israeli Arabs?
debbie
Israel: More like Iran every day.
Kryptik
@eemom:
But don’t you see that Israel will be a purer state for it?!
…huh. That sounds vaguely problematic and somewhat like historical hypocrisy. But no matter! Not like anyone who would complain about this is REALLY Jewish anyways, right?!
liberal
@ppcli:
It’s our business because of all the aid we give them.
liberal
@Mark S.:
That’s an interesting issue…IIRC Leiberman himself is orthodox.
Bill Murray
@Brachiator: and ever since “Millions for defense and nor one red cent for tribute” has ruled our treasury
Doctor Science
@liberal:
Lieberman is Orthodox, but denomination isn’t enough — only Diaspora rabbis on a list prepared by the Chief Rabbinate (currently under haredi [aka “Ultra-Orthodox”] control) will qualify to oversee conversions.
MattR
@me: Is Goldberg really against it on its merits or because it could backfire and hurt Israel? I can’t really tell.
Doctor Science
@MattR:
Goldberg is a Conservative Jew. This is a slap in his personal face, and he knows it. I don’t know if that counts as being against it “on the merits”, but he is having to confront the fact that Israel is willing to alienate *him*. Israel is Just Not That Into You.
MattR
@Doctor Science: Thanks for the info. I still find it interesting that his argument is that Israel needs American Jews rather than the fact that discrimination of that nature is wrong.
grumpy realist
Given the increasing dominion in Israel of the Haredim and the Ultra-Orthodox, I wonder at what point the whole schmeer will come crashing down, economically? After all, sitting and reading the Talmud might be great for one’s soul, but it isn’t doing squat for the economy. At some point I expect the secular section of the population to totally revolt.
me
@grumpy realist: and becuase of that dominion, it’s politically advantageous for the government to pass this bill. I’ll bet they don’t even care about the worldwide diaspora’s reaction to it becuase they will still have the unwavering support of the “jews must be exterminated to herald the return of Jeezus” crowd and thus most of the Republican party and a large chunk of the Democratic party.
Mark S.
@grumpy realist:
According to this article, the bill is the result of horse trading between ultra-rightwing factions:
eemom
This only applies to conversions, right? As I understand it anyone whose mother is Jewish is considered Jewish no matter how nonobservant they are, and those — many — people would still be protected under the Law of Return. Therefore it won’t actually “purify” anything.
Feh. Israel does do a lot of really stupid shit.
Davis X. Machina
@grumpy realist:
Hence the need for the Russians. Avigdor Lieberman’s piece of the puzzle fits in here. But the hemorrhage of talented Sabras and what’s left of the old left-Labour Israel will have long since emigrated by the time it crashes.
Josh
Footnote: “a get” in Doctor Science‘s commentary is a Jewish divorce contract. Took me forever to figure that out, because it’s unitalicized up there: I thought it was one of those neologisms by which a verb becomes a noun (“Hm, maybe a ‘get’ is like a giveaway but from the other side . . . “).
Jon H
I’m trying to figure out why, if I were to convert to Judaism tomorrow, I’d have a “right of return” to a place none of my family or ancestors, to my knowledge, had any connection to.