All Eggs in One Basket
Reading the current American press puts dampers on the Israeli press. Somewhere there is “fake news”.
For starters, the American State Department has denied that any conversation between its Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, recently in Lisbon, Portugal, with prime-minister Binyamin Netanyahu dealing with Israel’s proposed intention of annexing the Jordan Valley, in fact ever happened. Bibi, once again, has lied.
Pompeo vehemently denied that a conversation about the Jordan Valley ever took place. Who to believe?
Knowing the history of one of the two, for the truth my bet is on Secretary Pompeo.
Additionally, in a turn-about, the Democratic party (which Bibi has minimized) has now passed a new resolution re-confirming its support for a two-state solution and its opposition to any annexation under international law.
The current crisis is due to Netanyahu’s basket of eggs. He has put all of them in only one basket.
His allegiance and obliged gratitude to President Trump and the Republican party has alienated him from the good graces of the Democratic party, many of whose lawmakers very much dislike Netanyahu.
If the Democratic party should win in the 2020 national elections, whether impeaching or non-impeaching its sitting president, Bibi (if he is still in office) will feel the painful dislocation of relations.
He has gone out of his way to make sure that his eggs…hard-boiled, soft-boiled or scrambled, are all in the Republican basket, leaving no room for a Democratic egg. For this mistake, Israel will pay a steep price.
Politicians have long memories and they never forget good friends and poor enemies.
Right now, for Democrats, the two-state solution is back on the table. Under such a government, Israel can expect many criticisms in its treatment of its minority population, in its inability to find a common language with the Palestinians, and with its war-like tones concerning Iran.
Israel’s requests for additional military support may we weakened or even denied if it comes to a vote in a Democratic Congress. And if Israelis have not noticed, American Jewish support is diminishing. Oy va voy lanu ! (Woe is us). Most American Jews vote for Democrats.
If such unhappy situations occur, lay the blame on Balfour street and its resident-in-chief (hopefully not for too much longer) for counting his chickens before they hatched. Too many eggs in one basket.
If Netanyahu was wiser, he would make every effort to extend a friendly hand to both American political parties equally, showing favor not to one over the other.
The present Democratic party has among its lawmakers several anti-Israel members which include the two Muslim women who were mistreated on their visit to Israel. They have influence among their friends in the Congress and Israel can be sure to receive more “nays” than “yeas” if they win.
If Netanyahu is voted out and joins the company of a defeated Trump, where will Israel be looking for new friends and new supporters? Will it turn to Russia or China for defensive help? And at what price?
One solution could be the removal of Bibi from office and from all political life forever.
Men like Sa’ar, Barkat and Edelstein… men of good sound minds and blessed with the wisdom of governing well… could re-establish the hands of friendship to the Democratic party.
It would be a re-birth of cherished hopes and dreams for our secure future.
In the meantime, Chef Bibi who took out a few of his eggs from the basket should hasten out of the kitchen.
His omelette is burning.