 |
Ellen W. Horowitz lives in the Golan Heights with her husband and six children. She is a painter, writer and political activist.
|
|
|
|
By Ellen W. Horowitz
August 29, 2004
OK, I was groggy -- it was before my morning coffee. But on the morning of April 10th, I accessed the BBC News Service and the first glimpse of the banner headlines catapulted me back 2000 years plus. I was a bit unnerved as I read, "US 'making progress' in holy city." The accompanying photo showed a row of fully-armed marines running past an ancient, crumbling wall. The text that followed clearly indicated that the "holy city" was in reference to Najaf in Iraq, and not Jerusalem. But as an observant Jew and Israeli with an acute sense of historic continuity, I was unsettled by what I pray is not a prophetic headline.
The modern State of Israel has, over the years, become a vassal-state subservient to the United States. We appear to be mimicking the ancient history of Judea in its relationship to Rome - which eventually led to destruction. Like our ancestors, we've created and invited a situation which has led to our domination by a superpower. Some people are actually advocating the idea that Israel become America's 51st state.
But mistakes need not be repeated, and with foresight and some wisdom we Israelis can choose to arrest and rectify a rapidly deteriorating situation. Although things may get worse before they get better, I have full confidence that, with a little effort, the people of Israel will see this distressing situation reversed.
The regression from being America's democratic ally with a shared security agenda to becoming a subservient state barred from making sovereign, unilateral decisions is a process worth reviewing. Indeed, Israel has relied on and benefited greatly from the tremendous military and economic assistance she has received from America, in addition to unprecedented support on the diplomatic front. But while we became secure and complacent with that relationship, the world was changing, as were Americaıs partners.
Israel was asked by former President George H.W. Bush not to intervene in the first Gulf War, so as not to upset the newly formed and very delicate US/Arab/European coalition. In recompense for our "remarkable restraint" we were firmly ushered to the Madrid Conference table. When then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir had the good sense to say "No" to unprecedented demands, including a settlement freeze, the United States and Israel's "peace camp" orchestrated a coup.
Ten billion dollars in promised loan guarantees, which were urgently needed to help absorb an influx of immigrants from the former Soviet Union, were suspended in a flagrant attempt by America to interfere in the Israeli election process. The maneuver succeeded, (although Bush did lose his election bid) and within months a new U.S. President and new Israeli Prime Minister graced the White House grounds alongside a beaming and "rehabilitated" Yasser Arafat. Are we idiots or what?
Some of us heard alarm bells back then and we protested vigorously both before and after the accords, but most people got caught-up in the euphoria of the times. And terror reigned and prospered among doves, balloons and pretty ceremonies. We Israelis traded our unique legacy of striving to be a light unto the nations -- a holy vessel -- for a rather pathetic place in a normalized new world order.
How had we forgotten that entry into the elite world community is restricted to non-Jewish nations only? Rather than leave the club, we decided to seek sponsorship and acceptance via a very established, amicable and influential member. America pays a price for having to shlep Israel along as her side-kick, but it's all worth it, because when it's tee time on the Gulf course, guess who gets to be the ball?
If President Bush is willing to turn a blind eye to natural settlement growth in larger and well-established Israeli Jewish communities in order to garner the Jewish vote and bolster Sharon, are we supposed to be grateful for the reprieve? Are we expected to say, "Thank you, Mr. President, for allowing us to grow this week."
And what about after the elections, when pandering for the Jewish vote is over? Regardless of who wins, America is committed to continuing along a foreign policy route which spells disaster for all of us.
Iım hardly an economic expert but it seems apparent that, as far as Israel is concerned, the laws of supply and demand work like this: Demands are made and pressure applied upon Israel in direct proportion to the availability and price of oil on the market. When the pipeline freezes, the heat is turned-up on Israel.
Under the current circumstances, will America eventually be compelled to sacrifice Israel on the altar of oil? And will Israel's leadership accept such a decree and dutifully bind the nation on that altar?
Israel, it's time we got ourselves some real leadership and re-established ourselves as a sovereign nation. It's also time that we severed some cords and re-established a working relationship with America based on mutual respect and mutual security concerns. Israel needs to stand on her own two feet, and a voluntary reduction in U.S. economic aid would be a step in the right direction. Land for oil or any other commodity is not a workable formula as far as the Land of Israel is concerned.
And on that note, the rallying cry of the settlers should be: "Hell, No, We wonıt go! We won't bend to Texaco!"
Views expressed by the author do not
necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
