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| Harry Truman with Israel’'s first President, Chaim Weizmann |
I am still reveling in yesterday’s announcement by
President Trump – recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. This is one of
those times where – at least among Orthodox Jewry, there is Achdus – unity. It
is a rare occasion when Achdus occurs when there is good news. Unfortunately
Achdus is more likely to happen when there is tragedy.
First there is the reaction of Israel. Just about
every politician there left to right (with the possible exception of Arab Kneset
members) have expressed Hakaras HaTov to the President for his courageous
decision. Courageous because it went against the conventional wisdom of a State
Department which has guided Presidents about ‘the Jews’ all the way back to the
Truman Era. Advice to not rock
the boat of the Middle East status quo – unless it was to pressure Israel to
make ‘concessions for peace’.
Conventional wisdom that his top 2 cabinet
members, Tillerson of State and Mattis of Defense urged him to follow. President
Trump decided instead to do what he believed was right and recognize the reality
of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, against that conventional wisdom.
Much the same
way Harry Truman did when he was urged by his then Secretary of State, General George
C. Marshall not to recognize Israel. It took a lot of courage for Truman to reject Marshall’s vehement opposition. And it took a lot of courage for Trump to recognize the obvious in the face of all the advice he received against it.
One can say whatever they wish about the President
or his ulterior motives. But one cannot deny the significance of what he has
done for the Jewish people. To just cite one reaction, here in part is what
Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks said:
I welcome today’s decision by the United States to recognise as the capital of Israel, Jerusalem, whose name means “city of peace.” This recognition is an essential element in any lasting peace in the region.
This sentiment has been echoed by virtually all of
the Orthodox Jewish establishment. From Lakewood... to the OU... to Religious
Zionist rabbinic leaders like Rav Shlomo Aviner.
Not surprisingly the reaction of the rest of the
world has not exactly been favorable. European leaders have either condemned
the President or in other ways panned his decision. They feel the ‘peace process’ has
been exploded.
One might agree with that assessment if one listens to comments from
much of the Arab world. Or even some of the more liberal Jewish groups like Reform whose
leader, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, said it undermined
the peace process. Or the radical Jewish Voice for Peace whose Deputy
Director, Rabbi Alissa Wise said ‘(T)his is a reckless, deeply irresponsible
decision: for Palestinians, Israelis, and all of us.’
The reaction on the Arab street is just as
predictable. There are protests going on right now although they are not as intense
as I expected them to be. But it’s early. Palestinians are being asked to react
violently by their leadership again - declaring 3 days of rage beginning tomorrow,
their ‘sabbath’. By their reaction - you would think US just approved Israel rounding
up all Palestinians and marching them into gas chambers instead of simply
recognizing a reality of the last 70 years. One that does not change the possibility
of East Jerusalem becoming the capital of a Palestinian state through negotiations
with Israel.
What about the claim that this killed the peace
process? I have to ask, What peace process? There has been talk of a peace process for
decades with no results. Peace process?
Really?
The policies of the past have gained nothing
towards a Palestinians State. Just more bloodshed. It’s time to think ‘out of the box’. It’s time
to try something different. The peace process needed a jump start. The conventional
wisdom being bandied about right now is based on the failed policies of the
past.
I think Chicago’s Ray Haninia said it best. Ray is a Palestinian American journalist and sometime comedian who was asked to respond to this
event by the mainstream media. He said it will either explode the Middle East
or create a jump-start to the peace process with a realization that game is now changed.
What the
President did yesterday might actually clear
some heads once the smoke clears.
Yes, the immediate response by Palestinians is to be
violent. I expected that. Which was why I had some misgiving about this. But maybe this will indeed spur some clear thinking by Palestinian leaders. Maybe they will see the wisdom of
the changed conditions and proceed from there instead of relying on the thinking
of the past.
It’s either that or maintain the status quo. The US will no longer
back their every complaint about Israel. Maybe they will realize that with
compromise - peaceful relations between a new Palestinian State and Israel will have a chance of happening with an American President determined to make the ‘ultimate deal’.
That might eventually some day bring an era of cooperation between Israel and the Palestinians. One
that would be friendly rather than antagonistic. Contrary to popular belief
Israel has no interest whatsoever in making life miserable for Palestinians. I
am 100% certain that – would it not be for their security needs - they would
prefer to treat them with the dignity that every human being deserves.
If Palestinian
leaders are wise and take advantage of the President’s desire to make peace and
actually come up with peace agreement with Israel - it might result in Israel actually helping Palestinians
build their new country – instead of seeing them all as security risks. Maybe
someday we can even see the same relationship between Palestinians and Israelis
that we see between Canada and the US.
That day isn’t here, yet. It might be a long way off… or never happen. The world might see what happened yesterday as a
setback for peace. But this new reality should force them to rethink their current
approach.
That said, it doesn’t help that the world
sides with the failed policies of the past. That just fuels Palestinian animosity
towards Israel. It also doesn’t help that Arab children all across the Middle
East are taught to think of all Jews as blood thirsty Nazis – to be despised
with all their might. That has to change before anything else does.
Where all this leads is anybody’s guess. One thing
is certain, though. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and
over and expecting different results each time. That insane policy is what the I
would call the conventional wisdom upon which the State Department and the rest of the
world has relied. Which is why they are all so upset by what the President
has done.
I think that instead of expressing all this angst
and condemnation they ought to instead listen to the end of the President’s
speech yesterday and take note of the fact that he did not change US policy with
respect to the Israel and Palestinians one iota. America is as committed as
ever to making peace between them. With the improved relations between Israel
and countries like Saudia Arabia, there is no better time than now. Once we get
past the initial reactions – this may be the jump start the world has been waiting
for.
