[Ha'aretz] Ari Shavit - Certain opinion leaders in Washington and New York have begun to speak with shining eyes about the need to administer a dose of tough love to Israel: to train it, wean it, set boundaries for it. To force it against its will to do what is good for it. The results can be seen almost every day on television screens: a diplomacy comprised of public reprimands. Even as it bows and scrapes to Saudi Arabia and is scrupulously careful of Iran's honor, the new United States humiliates Israel. But the question the White House ought to be asking itself is whether riding roughshod over Israel serves its goals. The answer is unequivocal: no. Already, Israel's public humiliation is hurting America. It is making even moderate Arabs unwilling to contribute anything to advancing the diplomatic process. And without a significant Arab contribution, there will be no diplomatic process. A continued tough love policy toward Israel is liable to do damage that is far more serious - and irreversible. Without a strong Israel, a Middle East peace can neither be established nor survive. Without a strong Israel, the Middle East will go up in flames. Therefore, instead of playing games taken out of a basic training manual, Americans and Israelis must work in harmony. They must think outside the box and come up with a creative solution, based on listening to each other and mutual respect. They must jointly advance a genuine regional peace. The time has come to replace tough love with sensible, grown-up love.
2009-07-02 06:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive