We do not need to explain ourselves anymore. True, there is a danger of losing the support of the U.S., but we would be amiss if we were not planning on a future wherein the U.S., by choice, no longer plays a leadership role in the world order. We need to concentrate on solidifying our relationship with India, Africa, the Gulf States and…
We do not need to explain ourselves anymore. True, there is a danger of losing the support of the U.S., but we would be amiss if we were not planning on a future wherein the U.S., by choice, no longer plays a leadership role in the world order. We need to concentrate on solidifying our relationship with India, Africa, the Gulf States and Saudia. Unlimited capital, and Jewish and reborn Arab and African genius working together to define a new center of cultural, economic, and spiritual vitality--a renewed Fertile Crescent--that will by sheer force of momentum breathe new life into the failed states of the Middle East, and provide a platform for African friends to reach their full potential.
Ehud, I wish I shared your apparently constitutional optimism; instead I see real dangers ahead. We always need to explain ourselves, and if we didn't do it even to the limited extent that we do, things would be much worse. I'm not saying we should count on US support forever, we shouldn't, but in the near future, we really don't want to be left facing Iran without their backing--but that's what's now happening.
"but that's what's now happening." And do you think that more and better explaining would have brought us to a different junction? I don't believe it. Israel is a litmus test. Tell me where you stand on Israel and I will know your world-view. The world-view of today's Democrats is not a result of failed Israeli public relations.
Today's Democrats' attitude toward Israel--still far from totally negative--would be considerably worse if we did no explaining, and the attitude of today's Republicans would be considerably less good than it is. Israel is the world's most lied-about country. Considerable numbers of Israelis, Diaspora Jews, and non-Jewish Israel supporters stick up for Israel in world media and counter the lies and distortions. You're saying they shouldn't bother, it achieves nothing?
Up until a few years ago I was totally in line with what you are saying here. Today, who do you see us convincing? It's even irrelevant. Iran is a few minutes away from a bomb. The US is either with us or not. We do not have a choice in the matter. It has to be done and soon.
For instance, Noa Tishby's pro-Israel book is a big seller and has almost 1400 comments/rankings on Amazon with an average ranking of 4.8 out of 5. She shouldn't have bothered?
She's a private enterprise, and probably because of that she is effective. She's in the ring fighting above her weight and is winning big. More power to her, and to Daniel Gordis too. The government should stay out of it.
It was a tailor made appointment. After the fact. She had already done all of the heavy lifting on her own. Kudos to the Foreign Ministry for adopting her (and hopefully supporting her with a budget).
We do not need to explain ourselves anymore. True, there is a danger of losing the support of the U.S., but we would be amiss if we were not planning on a future wherein the U.S., by choice, no longer plays a leadership role in the world order. We need to concentrate on solidifying our relationship with India, Africa, the Gulf States and Saudia. Unlimited capital, and Jewish and reborn Arab and African genius working together to define a new center of cultural, economic, and spiritual vitality--a renewed Fertile Crescent--that will by sheer force of momentum breathe new life into the failed states of the Middle East, and provide a platform for African friends to reach their full potential.
Ehud, I wish I shared your apparently constitutional optimism; instead I see real dangers ahead. We always need to explain ourselves, and if we didn't do it even to the limited extent that we do, things would be much worse. I'm not saying we should count on US support forever, we shouldn't, but in the near future, we really don't want to be left facing Iran without their backing--but that's what's now happening.
"but that's what's now happening." And do you think that more and better explaining would have brought us to a different junction? I don't believe it. Israel is a litmus test. Tell me where you stand on Israel and I will know your world-view. The world-view of today's Democrats is not a result of failed Israeli public relations.
Today's Democrats' attitude toward Israel--still far from totally negative--would be considerably worse if we did no explaining, and the attitude of today's Republicans would be considerably less good than it is. Israel is the world's most lied-about country. Considerable numbers of Israelis, Diaspora Jews, and non-Jewish Israel supporters stick up for Israel in world media and counter the lies and distortions. You're saying they shouldn't bother, it achieves nothing?
Up until a few years ago I was totally in line with what you are saying here. Today, who do you see us convincing? It's even irrelevant. Iran is a few minutes away from a bomb. The US is either with us or not. We do not have a choice in the matter. It has to be done and soon.
For instance, Noa Tishby's pro-Israel book is a big seller and has almost 1400 comments/rankings on Amazon with an average ranking of 4.8 out of 5. She shouldn't have bothered?
She's a private enterprise, and probably because of that she is effective. She's in the ring fighting above her weight and is winning big. More power to her, and to Daniel Gordis too. The government should stay out of it.
She's not a private enterprise, she's been given a position to fight antisemitism by Israel.
Really? She's a government representative? That's news to me. Interesting.
https://www.gov.il/en/departments/news/special-envoy-noa-tishby
I just interviewed her and wrote about her last week, a piece I'm working on developing a post about this week - https://www.jns.org/a-day-in-the-life-of-noa-tishby/
It was a tailor made appointment. After the fact. She had already done all of the heavy lifting on her own. Kudos to the Foreign Ministry for adopting her (and hopefully supporting her with a budget).
What exactly are you even arguing with me about?