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The Jewish Lobby?

(Foreign Policy) Aaron David Miller - There's simply no way 5.5 million American Jews can account for the support Israel receives. It is the image of Israel in the mind of America - as a democratic, humanistic, pro-Western state worthy of support - that drives the special relationship. The fact is, the pro-Israel community in America does have a powerful voice, particularly in Congress, but it doesn't have a veto over U.S. policy. Willful presidents with smart strategies trump domestic lobbies every time, whether it's on arms sales or peace initiatives. Indeed, I've long believed that the real Jewish lobby is the Jewish lobby of one - the effect that an Israeli prime minister can have on a U.S. president. When they can find a way to work together and respect one another's interests, good stuff happens for both America and Israel - and usually for the Arabs, too. The writer is a distinguished scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
2012-12-26 00:00:00
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