In a speech delivered December 28th, 2016, following a UN decision to declare Jewish settlements in East Israel illegal, Secretary of State John Kerry blasted Israel for endangering the possibility of a two-state solution. In his speech he proceeded to outline what he sees as the future of peace in the Middle East. This speech and America's lack of action to defend Israel against the United Nations are failures of American foreign policy and mark the end of the fiasco known as the Obama administration's policies in the Middle East.
In many ways, the actions taken by the United States in recent weeks have angered millions both domestically and abroad. Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East and, historically, one of the United States' friendliest allies feels betrayed. It began with the US abstaining from the vote on UN Security Council Resolution 2334, inserted below. The resolution condemns Israeli settlements and makes continued expansion in territories held by Israel illegal. This resolution also gives the UN the authority to drag Israelis before international courts and make them answer for the crime of building a home in a place that they have deep, historic roots in. But what else can be expected from an international body whose Human Rights Council was chaired by none other than Saudi Arabia? The same international body averages about 20 resolutions attacking Israel every year, almost 6 times what it doles out to the rest of the world. I mean, it's not like there are multiple nations out there breaking some form of international law ranging from condoning female genital mutilation to building nuclear weapons to genocide. Oh, wait- Russia, Syria, China, North Korea, Libya, Venezuela. Do I go on?
But this was only the beginning of the trouble for American-Israeli relations. Kerry's speech outlining peace rubbed salt in the wound. It abandons the fact that Israel has always been willing to trade land for peace and that it is often their Arab counterparts who refuse a two-state solution. His speech showed unprecedented support for the Palestinians and decried Israel's government as extremist - again, ironic considering it is extremists who enter Israel, murder little girls as they sleep in their beds, and then become martyrs in the eyes of Palestinians upon death.
Kerry legitimately just dropped the term "Nakba," which is the ultimate tendentious Palestinian buzzword condemning Zionism itself.
— Josh Hammer (@josh_hammer) December 28, 2016
This week, I had the opportunity to talk to Ron Feingold, an Israeli-born activist and Director of Israel Engagement and Outreach for Turning Point USA. Ron's grandparents were survivors of the holocaust and he himself was raised in an East Jerusalem settlement, Pisgat Ze'ev, which the UN resolution now deems illegal. Feingold recently published his opinion of the UN resolution in an article published in The New York Observer. For Feingold and other Jews with ties to Israel, the blow dealt by the United Nations and the Obama administration was a personal one. "It makes no sense that I can own a home in Chicago or New York, but not a home in Judea or Samaria where my people have actual roots." Ron says he's optimistic about Israel's future with the incoming Trump administration but that steps will have to be taken to undo the damage the Obama administration has done over the last 8 years, likening Obama's actions to those of President Jimmy Carter. Feingold voiced concerns over the tenuous alliance that has resulted from the President's foreign policy- one where Arab countries align with Israel against their common nuclear enemy Iran. He says that while he'd love "nothing more than to have peace and go out for lunch with his Arab neighbors," the tensions are too strong and too present making hope for peace uneasy.
Yes John Kerry, if only this orange sliver was smaller there would be peace. pic.twitter.com/afvRO0O9Kq
— Dave Rubin (@RubinReport) December 28, 2016
The fact remains that Israel has been one of our greatest allies for close to 70 years. Our common values and hopes for progress make that possible. It seems to me that the direction we've taken is not one that is representative of the bond that we've shared with our Middle Eastern counterpart. Our actions last month were an abandonment of our principles and it saddens me that we've reached that point. And, like Ron, I find it hard to believe that building a house is somehow comparable to terrorism as Mr. Kerry would have us all believe. Here's to hoping for a better future for ourselves and Israel as we start this New Year.
Shalom and Tikvah to Israel and Good Luck America.
