Ha'aretz - A Warning From America

I have already stated my admiration for the way Ha'aretz newspaper has covered their reporting on the new article by Mearsheimer and Walt, "The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy."

In the US we have witnessed the expected neo-con attacks, the same dreary calls of anti-Semitism, the usual demands that this subject be deemed out of the realms of discussion.

I find it fascinating that, in Israel, the story is not being treated that way. They seem to see it, especially after 9-11, as I do. There's a very large elephant in the lounge. And, eventually, we will have to talk about it.

Two well-known American professors have released an
article that has aroused great interest in the American and Israeli diplomatic communities. In the article, called "The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy," Professors John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt write that the Israel lobby in Congress is causing a dangerous pro-Israel tilt in American policy and was a critical factor in the Bush administration's decision to go to war in Iraq. The writers' conclusion is that America's negative image in the Middle East stems from its overly supportive attitude toward Israel.

Even if the article involved an attempt to blame the Jews for developments that are unconnected to them, and even if the comments are rooted in increasing opposition to the war in Iraq and an attempt to search for hidden motives for what the writers see as an American foreign policy failure, it would be irresponsible to ignore the article's serious and disturbing message.

The conclusion that Israel can draw from the anti-Israel feeling expressed in the article is that it will not be immune for eternity. America's unhesitating support for Israel and its willingness to restrain itself over all of Israel's mistakes can be interpreted as conflicting with America's essential interests and are liable to prove burdensome.

Read the Ha'aretz article here.