BY YORAM ETTINGER—
President Obama pressures Israel to adopt his initiative, which is based on the 1949 ceasefire lines, including the repartitioning of Jerusalem and land swaps. He implies that Israeli rejection of his initiative would undermine US-Israel relations, while advancing Palestinian maneuvers at the UN.
However, Obama lacks the domestic backing to effectively pressure Israel, which has recently gained in bi-partisan support on Capitol Hill and among constituents, while Obama lost the “Bin Laden Bump” and is struggling with a less than-50% approval rating.
Obama’s power constraints are derivatives of the Federalist system, which is based on limited government with a complete separation of powers and checks and balances between Congress and the White House, Congressional “Power of the Purse” and the centrality of the constituent in a political system of bi-annual elections. Therefore, legislators are more loyal to – and fearful of – their constituents than to their party or to the president. Moreover, the loyalty to constituents constitutes a prerequisite for re-election.
Obama’s constraints in pressuring the Jewish State emanate from the unique attitude of Americans – as early as the 1620 landing of the Mayflower, as well as the Founding Fathers – to the idea of reconstructing the Jewish Commonwealth in the Land of Israel. The solid and sustained support enjoyed by Israel in the US derives its vitality from the American people and from their representatives on Capitol Hill and in the legislatures of the 50 states more than from the president.
While the president plays a major role in shaping US-Israel relations, constituents and legislators laid the foundations to this relationship and they continuously codetermine its direction, tone and substance. They can also initiate, suspend, terminate and amend policies, direct presidents and overhaul presidential policies.
The results of the November 2010 Congressional elections revealed that Obama’s policies had lost the support of most constituents.
According to a May 26, 2011 poll by CNN – which is usually critical of Israel – most Americans do not share Obama’s attitude towards Israel. Some 82% consider Israel an ally and a friend, compared with 72% in 2001. Some 67% support Israel, while only 16% support the Palestinians, compared with 60%:17% in 2009. In fact, the Palestinians (16%) are as unpopular as are Iran (15%) and North Korea (17%).
These CNN findings exceed the February, 2011 Gallup poll (68% considered Israel an ally), the April 2011 Rasmussen Report (most Americans opposed foreign aid to Arab countries but supported foreign aid to Israel) and the April 2010 Quinnipiac Polling Institute (66% expected Obama to improve treatment of Israel).
But, the “Poll of Polls” is conducted daily in Congress – a coequal branch of government – where hard-core support of the Jewish State has been bi-partisan, robust and steady. Majority Leader, Senator Harry Reid and Minority Whip Congressman Steny Hoyer publicly criticized (fellow Democrat) President Obama’s focus on the 1967 ceasefire lines.
Other key Democrats – whose cooperation is critical to Obama’s reelection campaign – have clarified that they expect him to veto any anti-Israel UN resolution. Just like their constituents – most Democrats value Israel as a unique ally, whose alliance with the US is based on shared values, mutual threats and joint interests.
Will Prime Minister Netanyahu leverage this unique American support, defying pressure and solidifying Israel’s posture of deterrence in the face of an unpredictably violent Middle East, where concessions breed radicalism, terrorism and war? Or, will he succumb to the psychological warfare launched by the White House?
Besides encouraging my elected representatives to support Israel and certainly give no money to any Islamic entity, what can I do to let my government know my position. I will not vote for a person who does not support Israel.
Where can I get a support Israel sticker for my car?
http://americanelephant.com/category/store/support-israel-store/
I AM A PROUD AFRO AMERICAN IAM ROOTED IN THE SEED OF ABRAHAM. THE FATHER OF NATIONS INSPIRED BY GOD> . I know who winat the end. Weshare a common bond; YOU ARE THE TREE I AM THE BRANCH >ISRAEL IS THE APPLE OF HIS EYE > THE JEW IS HJS COSEN PEOPLE> MY PEOPLE WERE ENSLAVED FOR ASHORT TIME AND IFEEL BLESSED TO BE AN AMERICAN> BUT YOUHAD BEEN THERE MUCH LONGER.YOU BECAME WANDERERS ABUSED MURDERED> YOU ARE NOW HOME AND THEY ARE TRYING TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOU. GOD SAID I WILL BLESS THOSE WHO BLESS ISRAEL: I WILL CURSE THOSE WHO CURSE ISRAEL
The most powerful “tool” a man of faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has, is the power of prayer. When we pray, God works. Pray for the leadership of your country. Pray for the future leadership race as it heats up. God has a plan; He picked a land, He chose a people, He gave His Word (Who became flesh and dwelt amongst us). This plan moves irrevocably towards fulfillment.
God has placed into positions of leadership, at this point in time, people like Obama, Sarkozy, Campbell, Merkel, Harper, Netanyahu & etc. because they, too, are part of how His plan will progress. We are instructed to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and to pray for those whom He has placed into positions of authority. Let us be faithful in this task.