There are two holidays that I absolutely love, that I eagerly anticipate each year: Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July. This past summer was the first time in my life that I was not able to celebrate the American Independence Day within United States’ borders. As a second semester junior, I chose to study abroad. After a long and careful search for the right program, I discovered that the Hebrew University of Jerusalem appositely fit all of my wants and needs. Consistently esteemed in world rankings, in the heart of a land that I love and a region I wanted to learn more about, and equipped with easy access to Europe for vacation getaways, H.U.J.I. appeared as an easy choice for the place I would spend my semester. But as my travels there extended until July 9, I was forced to celebrate the Fourth of July there.
With some of my friends still in town, we journeyed over to a local bar to engage in Fourth of July-related festivities. As we entered into the basement of the bar, American flags ubiquitously draped from the ceilings and walls. We ordered pitcher after pitcher of Samuel Adams Boston Lager. A band played country music on a stage near where we were seated. In between songs, I requested to hear “Sweet Home Alabama,” and minutes later my wish was granted. Many patrons in the crowded basement blithely sung along. After departing from the bar, we went to a nearby eatery to get hot dogs. Lady Gaga emanated from the loudspeakers.
The point I am trying to make by relaying this anecdote is this: Israelis love America. They love our culture, they love the tourism we provide, and most of all, they love the support we give them and the inextricable link we have with them because of shared beliefs and values. They also love the fact that the Iron Dome air defense system, which the Obama administration greatly assisted in funding, has intercepted hundreds of rockets fired from Gaza and prevented countless casualties in southern Israel.
Because he is perpetually dealing with a nuclear threat from Iran, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been adamant about setting red lines on the Iranian nuclear program, something that President Barack Obama has been unwilling to do thus far. As the Iranian threat coincides with the upcoming presidential election, several U.S. congressmen and pundits have recently accused Netanyahu of attempting to sabotage Obama’s chances of re-election in favor of Gov. Mitt Romney, who has often used stronger rhetoric than Obama regarding the Iranian threat. I would like to say that these allegations against Netanyahu are baseless and nonsensical for a multitude of reasons.
One of Netanyahu’s most recent remarks regarding the current Iranian situation and global support for a preemptive Israeli strike was that “Those who refuse to put red lines in front of Iran do not have a moral right to put red lights in front of Israel.” Some members of the media believe that this was an attack on the U.N. and the Obama administration; however, with the Israeli elections also coming up in the near future, this was actually a call to rally people behind him if he should ever feel pressed to resort to military force against Iran. Many in Israel are scared of the Iranian threat, but they are also scared of starting a war in which their allies are not fully behind them. By claiming that Israel is the sole possessor of its own destiny, Netanyahu is in fact trying to establish credibility with his own citizens should he feel it necessary to use force because he knows how much Israelis respect the United States.
Furthermore, regardless of their political differences, Netanyahu knows that the U.S. is his greatest ally, and he would never want to do anything to hinder ties between him and the Democratic party, which currently runs the White House and has a majority in the senate. Moreover, the Romney campaign recently admitted that their red lines on Iran would be the same as those laid out by the Obama administration, namely that Iran simply cannot have nuclear arms. Lastly, even if Netanyahu was strongly pulling for Romney to win the election, he would never gamble on it and thus jeopardize Israel’s relationship with the U.S.
To allege that Netanyahu is tampering with the presidential race is to accuse a close ally of selfishness and petulance. In the frenetic and precarious world in which we live, estranging yourself from your friends should not be on your to-do list.
Zac is a senior majoring in philosophy and communications. What do you think about Netanyahu’s actions? Let us know via email at opinion@dailycardinal.com.
