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Noah Flood 2011

 

The story of Noah’s Flood – which is featured in this week’s portion of the Torah – highlights the deep historical roots of US-Israel relations, the shared-values which bind the two countries and the opportunity of enhanced US-Israel relations, which is hidden in recent geopolitical and economic deluges.

Both Noah’s Ark and the Columbus expedition arrived at their destinations – 4,400 years apart – during the Holiday of Tabernacles (Sukkot), hence the annual celebration of Columbus Day around Sukkot.  In fact, Columbus arrived on the shores of America on October 12, 1492, the last day of Sukkot, the day of divine deliverance, Hosha’ana Raba, according to Judaism. 

Moreover, Noah’s Flood ended with the initial Covenant between God and mankind, symbolized by the rainbow. The flood swept away the immoral old world, but was succeed by the Tower of Babel, which represented the threat of absolute power, especially when in the hands of megalomaniac rulers. On the other hand, the new world introduced “unity through diversity” as a challenge – and a prerequisite – to free societies.

The Founding Fathers of the USA, who considered themselves “the modern people of the Covenant,” rebelled against the absolute power of the British monarchy Tower of Babel. They introduced a modern version of political diversity and liberty: checks and balances, separation of powers, federalism and the centrality of – and accountability to – the constituent. Instead of the Tower of Babel-like “divine” autocracy, they laid the foundations for modern day Judeo-Christian liberty: freedom of religion, education, press, expression, association, movement and competition.

 Judeo-Christian values of liberty have been the flagship of the unique ties between the US and the Jewish State. These Shared values constitute the foundation for a US-Israel strategic alliance in the face of mutual threats posed by recent geopolitical deluges.

For example, enhanced US-Israel strategic cooperation followed the 1989 collapse of the USSR, which triggered a global geopolitical deluge in the form of intensified uncertainty, fragmentation, warfare and terrorism and more aggressive rogue regimes, which were relatively restrained and deterred by the Soviet Union. Against the background of such a new world disorder, and in view of the weakened strategic threat posed by Moscow, the US recognized the unique merits of  Israel’s capabilities and posture of deterrence in the face of mutual tactical threats, such as Middle East rogue regimes, Islamic terrorism and ballistic missiles.  Hence the upgraded cooperation in the areas of military intelligence and joint exercises, the expanded prepositioning – in Israel – of US ammunition and medical supplies for American use, the surge in defense industrial cooperation and the increased use of the port of Haifa by the Sixth Fleet.

The 2002 crash of NASDAQ and the 2008 economic meltdown forced American companies to emphasize economies-of-scale. It highlighted the mutual-benefit of the increasing synergy and cooperation between American and Israeli companies in the areas of medicine, healthcare, telecommunications, defense, the Internet, computer technologies, irrigation and energy alternatives. American and Israeli companies have leveraged the competitive edge of each other – technologically and operationally – bolstering their respective employment, exports, research and development.

The 2011 Arab Deluge from North Africa to the Persian Gulf, and the pending US withdrawal from Iraq – which could trigger further geopolitical inundation – occur at a time when Russia and China deepen their involvement in the Middle East, while all pro-US Arab leaders are desperately fighting for survival, and when American economic and national security interests in the Middle East are extremely vital. Once again, Israel emerges as the only stable, capable, reliable, democratic and unconditional ally of the US, able to snatch hot chestnuts out of the fire without the use of a single American boot. Both the US and Israel would benefit significantly from dramatically-expanded cooperation, including the prepositioning, in Israel, of US combat aircraft, missiles, tanks, UAVs and homeland security systems, which could avert the demise of pro-US vulnerable Arab regimes.

Modern day Noah’s Floods sweep away rogue and corrupt Arab regimes, introduce heightened threats and shed light on the modern day US-Israel Noah’s Ark, which sails through the deluge toward the modern day rainbow.

 

 

 

 

 

 




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Open letter to Prime Minister Bennett ahead of visit to USA

(Hebrew edition in “Israel Hayom,” Israel’s largest circulation daily)

During your first official visit to Washington, DC, you’ll have to choose between two options:

*Blurring your deeply-rooted, assertive Israeli positions on the future of Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), which would be welcome by the Biden Administration, yielding to short-term political convenience and popularity inside the beltway;

or

*Tenaciously advocating your deeply-rooted, principle-driven positions, which would underscore a profound disagreement with the Biden Administration and the “elite” US media, while granting you and Israel long-term strategic respect, as demonstrated by some of your predecessors.

For example, the late Prime Minister Shamir honed the second option, bluntly introduced his assertive Israeli positions on Judea and Samaria, rebuffed heavy US pressure – including a mudslinging campaign by President Bush and Secretary of State Baker – suffered a popularity setback, but produced unprecedented expansion of US-Israel strategic cooperation. When it comes to facing the intensified threats of rogue regimes and Islamic terrorism, the US prefers principle-driven, reliable, patriotic, pressure-defying partners, irrespective of disagreements on the Palestinian issue.

Assuming that you shall not budge on the historical and national security centrality of Judea and Samaria, it behooves you to highlight the following matters during your meetings with President Biden, Secretary of State Blinken, National Security Advisor Sullivan, Secretary of Defense Austin and Congressional leaders (especially the members of the Appropriations Committees):

  1. The 1,400-year-old track record of the stormy, unpredictable, violent and anti-“infidel” Middle East, which has yet to experience intra-Arab peaceful-coexistence, along with the 100-year-old Palestinian track record (including the systematic collaboration with anti-US entities, hate-education and anti-Arab and anti-Jewish terrorism) demonstrates that the proposed Palestinian state would be a Mini-Afghanistan or a Mega-Gaza on the mountain ridges of Judea and Samaria.

It would dominate 80% of Israel’s population and infrastructures in the 9-15-mile sliver between Judea and Samaria and the Mediterranean, which is shorter than the distance between RFK Stadium and the Kennedy Center.

Thus, a Palestinian state would pose a clear and present existential threat to Israel; and therefore, Israel’s control of the mountain ridges of Judea and Samaria is a prerequisite for its survival.

  1. The proposed Palestinian state would undermine US interests, as concluded from the Palestinian intra-Arab track record, which has transformed the Palestinians into a role-model of intra-Arab subversion, terrorism and ingratitude. Arabs are aware that a Palestinian state would add fuel to the Middle East fire, teaming up with their enemies (e.g., Iran’s Ayatollahs, the Muslim Brotherhood and Turkey’s Erdogan) and providing a strategic foothold to Russia and China. Consequently, Arabs shower Palestinians with favorable talk, but with cold and negative walk.

Hence, during the October, 1994 Israel-Jordan peace treaty ceremony, Jordan’s military leaders asserted to their Israeli colleagues that a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River would doom the pro-US Hashemite regime east of the River, and lead, subsequently, to the toppling of all pro-US Arab Peninsula regimes.

  1. There is no foundation for the contention that Israel’s retreat from the mountain ridges of Judea and Samaria – which are the cradle of Jewish history, religion and culture – is required in order to sustain Israel’s Jewish majority. In reality, there is unprecedented Jewish demographic momentum, while Arab demography – throughout the Middle East – has Westernized dramatically. The Jewish majority in the combined area of Judea, Samaria and pre-1967 Israel benefits from a robust tailwind of fertility and migration.
  2. Israel’s control of the mountain ridges of Judea and Samaria and the Golan Heights, bolsters its posture of deterrence, which has daunted rogue regimes, reduced regional instability, enhanced the national security of all pro-US Arab regimes, and has advanced Israel’s role as a unique force-multiplier for the US. An Israeli retreat from Judea and Samaria would transform Israel from a strategic asset – to a strategic liability – for the US.
  3. As the US reduces its military presence in the Middle East – which is a global epicenter of oil production, global trade (Asia-Africa), international Islamic terrorism and proliferation of non-conventional military technologies – Israel’s posture of deterrence becomes increasingly critical for the pro-US Arab countries (e.g., Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan), who consider Israel to be the most reliable “life insurance agent” in the region.

Contrary to NATO, South Korea and Japan, Israel’s defense does not require the presence of US troops on its soil.

  1. Sustaining Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge is a mutual interest for the US and Israel, which serves as the most cost-effective battle-tested laboratory for the US defense industries and armed forces. Thus, Israel’s use of hundreds of US military systems has yielded thousands of lessons (operation, maintenance and repairs), which have been integrated, by the US manufacturers, into the next generation of the military systems, saving the US many years of research and development, increasing US exports and expanding the US employment base – a mega billion dollar bonanza for the US. At the same time, the US armed forces have benefitted from Israel’s military intelligence and battle experience, as well as joint training maneuvers with Israel’s defense forces, which has improved the US formulation of battle tactics.

Prime Minister Bennett, your visit to Washington, is an opportunity to demonstrate your adherence to your deeply-rooted strong Israeli positions, rejecting the ill-advised appeals and temptations to sacrifice Israel’s national security on the altar of convenience and popularity.

Yours truly,

Yoram Ettinger, expert on US-Israel relations and Middle East affairs

Support Appreciated

 

 

 

 

 




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