Gilad Atzmon argues that the rift in US-Israeli relations may be seen by the hawks who dominate Israeli politics as an opportunity to free Israel from what they see as a US bond that holds them back from ethnically cleansing Palestine of all Palestinians and from attacking Iran.
The current crisis in US-Israeli relations may lead to some devastating consequences as far as Palestine, Iran and the Middle East are concerned.
“Netanyahu and Obama are at a point of no return,” claimsHaaretz writer Akiva Eldar. “As far as President Barack Obama and his senior advisers are concerned, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is to blame for nothing less than damaging the standing of the US in the Middle East and the Muslim world.”
It may be possible that the Americans have started to understand that there is no partner for peace in Israel. America clearly has had to shun its “kosher ally”. The American military and political elite have already acknowledged that Israel is a strategic burden on the US. Seemingly, the only people who genuinely believe in the American-Israel strategic bond are those of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and its list of obedient “Sabbath goyim congressmen”. But, unfortunately, this is just one side of the story.
"Netanyahu’s political allies ... understand that unless the Jewish state implements measures that would push the entire Palestinian population out of Israel, the Zionist dream will come to an end pretty soon."
A deeper reading of recent events would suggest that the latest American-Israeli rift is actually led by Netanyahu’s political partners. Interestingly enough, as much as America is showing growing disapproval of Israeli policy, the anti-American attitude of Netanyahu’s allies at home is overwhelming. It doesn’t take a genius to grasp that some of Netanyahu’s cabinet members are doing everything in their power to fire up a storm between Israel and its “closest ally”.
Interior Minister Eli Yishai, the man behind the decisions that sparked the recent diplomatic crisis, has said that “Israelis voted for this government's path, according to which there will be no compromises on [the] Jerusalem issue”. He also used the opportunity to thank his creator for giving him “the privilege to be the minister who approves the construction of thousands of housing units in Jerusalem". During his latest disastrous visit to Washington, Prime Minister Netanyahu found time to consult with his foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman. According to Ynet, Lieberman advised his prime minister “not to capitulate in face of American pressure”.
I guess that most political analysts fail to understand the depth of the Israeli right wing expansionist and racist conviction. Unlike Ariel Sharon, Shimon Peres, Tzipi Livni, Yitzhak Rabin, Ehud Olmert, Ehud Barak and even Netanyahu himself, who over the years has paid limited respect to the West and the US in particular, Netanyahu’s cabinet is dominated by right wing Zionist hawks. They follow David Ben Gurion’s old mantra: “It doesn't matter what the Goyim(Gentiles) say, the only thing that matters is what the Jews do.” Netanyahu’s political partners are not willing to compromise or acquiesce to American conditions.
"Israeli hawks who currently dominate Netanyahu’s government and Israeli politics believe that a bond with America can only restrict and even jeopardize their sinister plans for the region."
Netanyahu’s political allies are convinced that at least momentarily they will do better without Uncle Sam. They realize that the days of the “Jew-only state” are numbered unless some radical moves are put into action. They understand that unless the Jewish state implements measures that would push the entire Palestinian population out of Israel, the Zionist dream will come to an end pretty soon.
Those hawks also realize that once Iran acquires a nuclear capability, Israel’s ability to maintain its status as a “regional terror-inflicting power” would disappear overnight. Netanyahu’s cabinet members know that if Israel wants to survive as a Jewish ethnocracy and a regional superpower, Israel must confront Iran soon and ethnically cleanse Palestine of its indigenous population, in an act that will complete the objectives of the 1948. Nakba. Israeli hawks who currently dominate Netanyahu’s government and Israeli politics believe that a bond with America can only restrict and even jeopardize their sinister plans for the region.
It is obviously hard to predict Israel’s next move. However it is crucial to remember that at the heart of the Zionist collective narrative we find Biblical stories like that of Samson, a tale of a suicidal, genocidal character. Samson is the Jewish Hercules. He was granted some tremendous strength by God to combat the Jew’s enemies and to perform some “heroic” feats unachievable by ordinary humans. He wrestles a lion, he slays an entire army with only a donkey’s jawbone and eventually when the time is ripe he commits mass murder. Single handedly he crushes a Philistine temple killing thousands, including the elderly, women, children and himself.
I do not know whether Lieberman regards himself as the new Samson. Looking at his recent pictures, he is probably not fit enough to fight a lion. However, the genocidal tendency together with suicidal inclination is absolutely there.
Gilad Atzmon is an Israeli-born musician, writer and anti-racism campaigner. His latest jazz album, "In loving memory of America", can be purchased here.
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