Cut Israel Some Slack

 It's time to cut Israel some slack.

Israel is no stranger to criticism. Indeed, those of us who follow Israel on a regular basis are rightly horrified by the amount of criticism regularly directed at it from various quarters, criticism that that often veers into anti-Semitism. That's an important issue and concern, one that I have addressed and will continue to address. But that's not what is on my mind this week.

What is on my mind is the amount of criticism leveled at Israel recently by its friends, its supporters, and its fervent backers. As I have shared on many occasions, I believe that in most cases it is the responsibility of Israel's friends and advocates to support the decisions of the democratically elected government of Israel, whatever that government happens to be. I say that because there will be governments in Israel that may promote policies in greater accord with our hope and vision for Israel, and at other times, governments that promote policies and ideas that concern us. The only exception to this rule is when a government in Israel promote policies that directly affect the inner workings of the American Jewish community, or appear as favoring one political party over another.

So I am surprised by the recent behavior of many of Israel's friends who ought to know better. For those of you who aren't exactly sure what I am talking about, allow me to give two examples.

Israel and Lebanon agreed recently to a maritime border that will allow each nation to develop resources in that disputed area. About thirteen years ago, tremendous deposits of oil and natural gas were discovered in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Israel has been developing some of these areas for years, which has tremendous implications for Israel's economy and its relations with its neighbors and Europe. (By the way, how many of you knew that Israel has been supplying Egypt and Jordan with natural gas for several years?) Given the turmoil in the energy markets as well as the oil crisis in western Europe which are the results of Russia's illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine, Israel's ability to export these resources have only grown in importance. But its development of these areas has brought additional tensions with Lebanon which, in the absence of an actual maritime border with Israel, threatened attacks on Israel's critical infrastructure there. As a result of intense negotiations over the past several weeks between Israel, Lebanon, and the Biden administration, a deal was reached.

Now there is no doubt that this is not a perfect deal. After all, Lebanon was never interested in establishing an internationally recognized border with Israel until this oil was discovered, and for all intents and purposes, the government of Lebanon is a front for Hezbollah. So, in a real sense, this is a deal with Hezbollah. And that is troublesome. This is not the deal that Israel ideally wanted. But the same could be said of any successful negotiations that Israel has ever conducted with any of its neighbors. Yet the government of Israel believes this to be in its interests. So I am both perplexed and annoyed by so many prominent American Jews and Jewish organizations who have been so aggressive and unfair in their criticisms of this deal. Do they really know better? Are they privy to secret details that the rest of us (who generally believe that our responsibility is to support the decisions of Israel's government) are lacking? Or is it another example of personal own ideology defining what is good for Israel? If Israel's diplomat’s military and security officials, and prime minister are praising this deal, why would anyone publicly try to undermine it? There could only be one reason: to promote the opposition and improve their chances in Israel's national elections scheduled for November 1st.

As we speak, Israel is involved in a very dangerous game with Russia. I have written at least two Shabbat messages since Russia's invasion of Ukraine about how both Israel and world Jewry would be affected negatively by this conflict. Russia is experiencing staggering losses in recent weeks that as freedom loving Americans we must celebrate. But at the same time, Ukraine's military needs are vast, and there is tremendous pressure on Israel to supply Ukraine with offensive weapons, which are currently being supplied by the United States and its NATO allies, as well as missile defense systems. It would seem to be a no-brainer.

But things are never so simple in the international arena, an arena historically hostile to Israel.  Israel conducts daily negotiations with Russia because closer to its own borders it seeks to prevent the buildup of Iranian forces in Syria where Russia maintains a vast military infrastructure and wields tremendous influence. The only way Israel can prevent southern Syria from becoming another southern Lebanon is by conducting regular (and by regular, I mean daily) military operations there against Iranian and Syrian forces under the watchful eyes of Russian units operating some of Russia's most sophisticated military systems. Indeed, recent public meetings between Iranian officials, as well as the leader of the Palestinian Authority with Vladimir Putin, as well as the recent closing of the Jewish Agency in Moscow, which facilitates immigration of Russian Jews to Israel are all designed to send a public message to Israel and its citizens to stay clear of Ukraine.  Yet even as I write this message, there is tremendous pressure on Israel from Ukraine, Congress and NATO nations for Israel to do more.  But Israel must maintain a working relationship with Russia to allow it to defend its vital interests far closer to home.  Israel has no good options.  That is the truth.  But that has not stopped many of its friends from weighing in and adding to pressure on Israel. 

What I am trying to say is that these challenges are among the most complicated international relations that Israel has ever engaged in.  Israel’s ability to maneuver is limited and all its options are terrible.  The stakes are high.  And there is no margin for error. 

My dear fellow supporters of Israel:  let’s admit that these challenges, and other life and death issues that currently are being faced by Israel’s leaders are far more difficult than anything we will ever experience.

Let’s cut Israel some slack.  Israel needs our support at this time, not our advice.