I24 News..
02 November '13..
I was in Europe when the scandal concerning phone tapping by the US National Security Agency broke out. Leaving aside the fact there's a lot of hypocrisy involved in this matter -- as nowadays everyone is spying on everyone else -- it was interesting to observe the immediate reactions from France and Germany, two countries that are friends of the US and are hugely indebted to it since WWII, each for its own reasons.
The anger was palpably felt on both banks of the Rhine, and indignant declarations have poured in rapid succession: "shocked," "unacceptable practices," "broken trust," requests for "clarification," demands that "these processes" should be terminated post haste and so forth.
Being flooded with these reactions for two or three days, I could not help but feel a certain admiration for these two countries that, feeling offended or betrayed, did not hesitate to stand up to the US and demand a little more respect from the greater power, which is moreover their ally.
With all this talk of national honor, I couldn't but make an immediate link between the courageous stance of European leaders, and the ever-timid attitude of their Israeli counterparts -- in all governments alike -- against the United States or other countries that spend their time lecturing us or interfering in the internal affairs of our country.
A recent article in the Times of Israel cited intelligence specialist Ronen Solomon as saying that the US Embassy in Tel Aviv includes an intelligence unit (this was confirmed by Dany Yatom, the former Mossad chief). But no official Israeli reaction has thus far been forthcoming, and we prefer not to irritate the American big brother, citing as we always do the so-called "best interests" -- so elevated that we seem to have lost sight of them.
As far back as my memory goes, I have no recollection of any instances of open criticism by Israeli officials of the sometimes paternalistic, intrusive or authoritarian -- even when delivered through diplomatic channels -- stance of the US toward Israel.
Submitting ourselves to American whims and edicts has become a tradition in Israel; the media is on the lookout for any statements or policy decisions that could "cause a damaging crisis between Jerusalem and Washington," a veritable mantra with local journalists.
The opening of the archives of the Yom Kippur War revealed the tragic aspect of this state of mind: I'm referring to Moshe Dayan's refusal to launch a preemptive strike against Egypt and Syria, though he was fully aware of their intentions, "in order not to antagonize the Americans."
And with regards to the immediate present, it is clear that the acquiescence of the Israeli government to the freeing of terrorists -- with all the pain and sense of betrayal felt by the families of the victims of terrorism, and by the entire country -- was the product of Israel's inability to stand firm and say "no" to the American patron.
The stated rationale for this decision, couched in terms of "greater strategic interests," as well as the fanfare surrounding the announcement regarding the launch of new construction projects, designed to appease the Israeli right, are mere decoys: at the crucial moment, the hands of Israeli government will again be bound, and the Americans will veto any decision taken by the sovereign Jewish state through a simple phone call in the middle of the night, should said decision contravene the interests of Washington.
Neurologically speaking, this attitude has entrenched itself in the backbone of Israeli leaders. The massive US aid to Israel does not imply an obligation on the side of Israelis to bend and prostrate themselves before Washington, which is after all pursuing its own interests.
France and Germany were able to tell the mighty America to "stop there" after far less than that, and other countries followed their trail. This resulted in the US backtracking and pledging to review its practices of spying on allies; but its pressure on Israel will remain such as it has always been, since the Jewish state is vulnerable to this kind of attitude -- as can also be seen in its response, or lack thereof, to the arrogance of Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan or the insolent interference of the European Union in Israeli politics.
Relations between countries work as follows: Those who demand respect will be respected and those who bow down only expose themselves to constant pressure. Contrary to claims by the Israeli left, respect for national honor does not represent a child's whim or an excess of pride. It is an essential component in the complex game of international relations. The fear of displeasing one's "friends" by saying "no," or the renouncement of hope in the name of gaining future hypothetical benefits are often the sources of cruel disappointment.
Having languished in a dungeon for the last 20 years, Jonathan Pollard is in no disposition to laugh at the US Administration getting caught spying after friendly countries. Yet the time is ripe for Israeli officials to man up and ask Obama, the big spy, to set the tiny spy Pollard free.
Link: http://www.i24news.tv/en/opinion/131102-israel-needs-to-have-some-more-backbone
Shraga Blum is an independent journalist. He publishes a weekly press review in the "P'tit Hebdo" and political analysis on Israeli-French language sites.
Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh.
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