|
By Shoshana Bryen
 WASHINGTON, D.C.—There was much parsing of the guest list, the questions or lack of questions, whether the President listened or talked, whether "the Jews" liked or didn't like what they heard. As veterans of meetings with Presidents - Democrats and Republicans with whom we agreed and disagreed - let us say, this meeting, like all others, was window dressing for a pre-determined policy.
No President needs input from the American Jewish community except to advance the course he has already determined. Is there anyone out there who doesn't think President Obama has a fully-fashioned plan for Palestinian-Israeli peace? Whether parts of the American Jewish community agree with the plan or don't, give the President credit for knowing what he thinks, or thinking he knows.
This is neither self-abnegation nor sour grapes (in case you didn't guess, JINSA wasn't there) - it is reality and it is appropriate. We in the American Jewish community have varied opinions about Israel, the threats it faces and the options it has to meet the threats. Most of us - liberals, conservatives and those in between - are passionately attached to the wellbeing of the Jewish state. But Israel has a government elected by its people in free and open elections. They choose their government, the government makes decisions and Israelis live with the consequences. We do not, and our government does not.
Go to top of right column
|
|
It would be a mistake for an American president to ask us what he should be asking the prime minister of Israel. It would be a mistake for an American president to tell us what he should be telling the Government of Israel. It would be a mistake for an American president to ask us to sell his program to the Government of Israel or to support him in pressuring the prime minister. We hope President Obama didn't make that mistake.
There are always people - "The Jews" or a new administration - who think they know better than Israel and think the "judicious" application of pressure "to do what is in Israel's own best interest," will result in "peace." It would be a mistake for us - or any group of us - to ask the President to pressure an Israeli government, or cheer when he chooses to. This is not a new position for JINSA and doesn't stem from policies of the current administration.
JINSA Reports of 2005 show us at odds with both the Bush Administration and Jewish groups who wanted the administration to "force" Prime Minister Sharon to abandon disengagement from Gaza. We had reservations about disengagement, which we expressed to the Government of Israel itself, but we declined to help invite the massive machinery of the American government to substitute its judgment for that of the Government of Israel. We were concerned that American pressure on Israel could become a habit. We still are.
"The Jews" who covet their invitation to this - or any White House - and think they know better than the Government of Israel, do a disservice to Israel, to the White House and to "The Jews."
But mostly to Israel.
|
|
