Israel could not have asked for a more positive beginning to U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s visit [last] week. … As Israeli Apartheid Week [drew] to a close, it seem[ed] that the only real friend Israel has in the entire world is the good old U.S. of A, and the Biden visit was confirmation of that partnership. … But then it happened. A three-year chain of bureaucratic events climaxed to spectacularly damaging effect. …
Such right-hand-not-knowing-what-the-left-hand-is-doing blunders strike a blow to Israel’s image, and a blow on more substantive levels too. For a start, the Netanyahu government looks completely incompetent. … [B]ecause of sheer ineptitude, the timing of the announcement immediately threatened the “proximity talks” in which Netanyahu has stressed Israel has a profound interest. It united the Palestinians, the Arab world and much of the international community in a chorus of anti-Israel condemnation. And most unhappily of all, it embarrassed our most important ally.
It seems fair to assume that, in the long run, the truly deep and significant bonds between our two countries will endure. The shared values and interests, many of them encapsulated in the commitment to freedom and democracy, plainly outweigh even significant missteps like this one. But to attain these common goals requires avoiding serious mistakes that embarrass our friends and strengthen our enemies. To attain these common goals requires profound trust between allies. Now Israel must set about rebuilding that trust. Access the full article>>
