The joy in Israel over the inauguration of a friendly president as leader of the world's most powerful power is natural, and there is certainly a basis for optimism. However, we should not delude ourselves that from now on we will not have to stand our ground against the American administration.
Personal friendship is a nice thing, but a country in general, and a world power in particular, are not governed by 'pretty eyes.'. A country is run within a set of interests.
This is a small lesson that Charles de Gaulle, the President of France, taught David Ben-Gurion, the Prime Minister of Israel, in one of their meetings. Ben-Gurion spoke of "France as our friend and ally," and de Gaulle replied: "France has no friends and no enemies. France has interests.".
Jewish determination
The United States has its own interests in the Middle East, and these are not the same as Israel's interests.
Therefore, even the friendliest administration may take positions that are not in our favor, not out of hostility to Israel, but out of concern for America's interests.
But a friendly government would express more understanding of Israeli determination and not confront it.
The key word is therefore Jewish determination. Positions can be coordinated, it is highly desirable not to embarrass a friendly government, but Israel is still required to stand its ground and determine its policy according to its needs and interests. If we do not do this, no one will do it for us.
In the past, we paid an unbearable price for the desire to please the Americans. That is why we avoided a preemptive strike and the mobilization of reserves on the morning of Yom Kippur, 1973, when it was clear that Egypt and Syria were preparing to attack us on the holy day. How many victims would have been saved if we had done what the Chief of Staff demanded, out of security considerations, and rejected other considerations!
Sometimes, in our eagerness to please the Americans, we surprise them with proposals that they never even dreamed of.
This was the case fifty years ago, after the brilliant victory in the Six-Day War. The Israeli government made a decision (which was then secret and kept from the public) to withdraw from most of the territories that had been liberated in exchange for peace.
Foreign Minister Abba Eban was asked to update the American administration. He met with Secretary of State Dean Rusk and the American representative to the UN Arthur Goldberg and informed them of Israel's decision.
He later revealed in his book that the administration officials were surprised: "I saw that Rusk, Goldberg and their colleagues could hardly believe their ears. Here, the day after its victory, Israel expresses a willingness to give up most of its achievements.".
To establish facts
Even after this decision by the Israeli government, there were still elements in the American security establishment who believed that Israel was prohibited from withdrawing from Judea, Samaria, the Golan Heights, and parts of the Sinai Peninsula, because these territories were essential to its security.
However, as the voices supporting withdrawal grew in Israel, those elements were forced to retreat from their position.
Now we are required to reverse the process – to act in our own interests and present the world with a fait accompli.
If we hesitate to build in Jerusalem, the American administration will also hesitate to move the embassy. But if we are determined, with a firm belief that this is our country, given to us by the Creator of the world and its leader, the world will be forced to recognize reality and our friends will also be able to act on our behalf.
Join the Haredim 10 Facebook page >>
Join the X page of Haredim 10 >>
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
