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My Review: The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy
Last week I made a brief trip with mum to the local library, which I pointed out to her was an institution verging on the edge of communism—a government sponsored system where people share books, and, increasingly more popular these days, movies, all for free—such outrage! Actually, libraries are very beneficial, and are one good example of how communist-like approaches aren’t all doomed to failure. Screw you Barnes & Noble, Borders Books, and Blockbuster! (such alliteration!)
Anyways, I’m glad I went because I happened to see a book there that I had wanted to read for quite some time. The book is called “The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy.” Needless to say it’s the kind of big thick book that everyone picks up to look at, but then sets back down--in order to prevent any serious muscle strain (or thinking strain, for that matter). The book is based on a shorter paper that was originally supposed to appear in the Atlantic Monthly (but they thought the subject was too controversial and scrapped it). Still, the paper appeared online and created immense buzz. In order to both expand on ideas presented in the paper, and at the same time address certain criticisms, the authors went on to write an entire book. I had heard of the paper when it first came out, and I was interested in reading it, but I never got around to it. Once the book was published, I put it in my head that it was a book I intended on reading, but I was busy with school, so I put it on the back burner.
The basic premise of the book is to explain how the influence of the pro-Israel lobby (which includes organizations like AIPAC and the ADL, political pundits, Neoconservatives, and Christian Zionists) in American foreign policy has, over the last 40 or so years (especially in the last 10), made things worse (security-wise) in the Middle East for both the United States and Israel. The authors address the U.S. policy of unconditional support to Israel, when Israel’s actions often go against America’s own interest (As Israel’s national interest does not always coincide with America’s national interest). They also explain how this unconditional support cannot be justified through strategic or moralistic claims. They also go into the affect the Lobby has on American discourse—how any form of criticism of Israel’s actions is labeled as anti-Semitic. This has led to the situation where it is more taboo in the U.S. than it is in Israel to question the policies of Israel’s government. This stunting of discourse is something I have seen myself; for years I have paid attention to Middle East issues and have always been open to hearing thoughts from all sides, and I have found that anyone who even has a little sympathy for the Palestinians is at risk of being labeled anti-Semitic. Ridiculous!
Why does this subject even matter to me? Why am I interested in the book? Well, I am a history buff, and what is happening right now in the Middle East is history in the making—important things are going on now that will be in history books in the future and will be widely studied, because they will greatly affect our future. At the moment, however, only a small amount of Americans actually pay attention to what is going on, which is unfortunate because I’m sure if more Americans paid attention, there would be more opposition to what is being done in our name in the Middle East. In addition to history, I am also interested in international politics, geography, demographics, religion, other cultures—all those things come into factor with what is happening in the Middle East. I also care because I see the ongoing injustice that has occurred and is occurring in the Middle East. I am sympathetic to the sufferings of the Palestinian people. I believe that the Palestinians have as much right as the Israelis to enjoy the right of self-determination, and that the Israelis right shouldn’t come at the expense of another nation’s. Because of this, I support a two-state solution. I’d love to go into more specifics, but I don’t have the time, so I may later if I get the impression that someone might actually read it. (in Cultural geography I have learned a lot about political geography, nations, states, and the past history of conflict that has arisen due to nations without self-determination, and multi-nation states where certain nations within a region have resorted to ethnic cleansing, in order to preserve their own right to national security—this information I intend to use later on).
What can I say about the book? I think that this book is extremely important; it is well written, easy to read, with extensive research to support evidence, and it makes it point well. I agree with many of the points that were raised in the book. While reading, I often found myself exclaiming, “I couldn’t have said it better myself!” or “That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking!” I think the information provided in the book is essential to understanding what is currently going on the in Middle East. I would recommend that you all (anyone who even would consider having an informed opinion on Middle East issues) should read this book. I think this book is one of the most important books of this decade.
What will you get out of reading this book? You will learn more about the history behind the conflicts in the Middle East. You will better understand the demographic makeup and how that affects the actions and motivations of different people in the region. You will better understand how much influence special interest groups can have in American politics, and how that whole process works. You will better understand much of what was going on behind the scenes in the lead-up to the Iraq war. And you will also better understand how international geopolitics works in a post-cold war era. With these understandings, you will gain a wider perspective of the world and be able to have more of an informed opinion about foreign issues.
After reading this book, I certainly won’t lay the issue to rest and declare a state of understanding for myself. I intend to continue my studies into Middle East affairs; next week I will be starting a class on American Military History, and I will be required to study and write a paper on the Iraq war. So that should be interesting. Also, I will be taking American political science, which will hopefully give me more insight into how special interest groups can become so influential.
To end my blog today, I would like to share something interesting I have found, which is related to the content of the book I just read. A few years ago Israel occupied the Gaza strip and had great sway over its Palestinian population. Israel did pull out of Gaza, but kept up a secure border around Gaza, so Israel controlled everything that went in or out. When those in Gaza acted out, Israel retaliated by punishing all the residents of Gaza. Israel did this in 2007 specifically by cutting off electricity to the residents. This act has resulted in great international criticism as a violation of human rights (but not from the U.S. [see the book]). In November 2007, Israel announced that it planned on launching a “massive military operation in the Gaza Strip.” This, in response to Israel not getting what it wanted with the Annapolis conference, and because Israel wants to stunt the control of Hamas in Gaza. The justification used for the operation was the retaliation to rockets fired into “Israel territory,” (which I should remind you, rarely kill anyone). In February 2008, Ehud Barak, Israel’s deputy war minister threatened the Palestinians with a holocaust of their own; he said that the Palestinians “will bring upon themselves a bigger holocaust because we (Israel) will use all our might to defend ourselves.” They did so in December 2008 and January 2009, where they used a disproportionate amount of force on Gaza, wish resulted in the deaths of 1,417 Palestinians (926 civilians) and 13 Israelis (3 civilians). Obviously there is something wrong with this situation. In response to this outrageous operation, William Robinson, professor of sociology at University of California at Santa Barbara, “likened the three-week Israeli war on Gaza to the Holocaust.” He had sent an email that showed pictures of both concentration camp inmates and of Palestinians in blockaded Gaza. (which was a comparison I made myself during the three-week war). In response to his email, he was hit with intense criticism, with many people labeling him an “Israel bashing anti-Semite,” and the ADL (anti-defamation league) is trying to have him prosecuted for alleged unprofessional conduct. The backlash against him just goes to show how powerful the Lobby can be to any criticism of Israel’s actions. And the allegation of likening what happened to the holocaust as being anti-Semitic is unjustified especially when Ehud Barak, who is also former prime minister if Israel, made the claim in Feb 2008 that the operation would be a “bigger holocaust.”
Even though there’s plenty more I can say concerning this issue, I have probably said enough. Perhaps if anyone actually read this whole thing, and actually cares about anything I have said, then I might write more concerning the issue. Until then, go check out that book, you might just find it at your library!
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