To Bibi or not to Bibi
By Dovid Efune
What a momentous event. The annual AIPAC policy conference in Washington DC is an awesome flexing of pro-Israel political muscle. Six-thousand five hundred concerned Israel supporters gather from all corners of the country and many from overseas to discuss their concerns, analyze threats, learn the facts and lobby their respective representatives on behalf of the Jewish state.
And it seems that this year may be the most pivotal AIPAC policy conference in recent history.
Reason being, that the new Israeli and American administrations appear to differ with each other somewhat, specifically on two key points. Firstly with regard to Iran’s nuclear aspirations, Netanyahu would like to see immediate harsh sanctions progressively Isolating Iran with strict timelines, if that doesn’t work a few bunker busters will be in order. Obama on the other hand seems content to take the time to charm the nukes off of Mahmoud the theocratic dictator, perhaps even find the opportunity to pose with an ear to ear grin shaking hands with the new and updated model of the old classic Hitler.
The second key point of departure is the “two state solution”. In short, Obama and co. would like to see a Palestinian state established pronto. It seems that currently Bibi’s government in principal doesn’t support the “two state” concept. As Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman outlined in his recent in-depth interview the refreshing new focus is on “economy, security, stability” as opposed to the rushed establishment of a 23rd Arab state. As Lieberman quite rightly points out, Obama’s path has been pursued for years with no significant results.
The big question is, as the man in the middle, how will AIPAC align itself in the face of these dichotomized agendas? the position AIPAC takes could either increase pressure on Israel to fall in line with the Obama administrations expectations, or it could ease Israel’s path in presenting its fresh approach to the Palestinian problem to a skeptical white house, and push for expedience on the Iranian issue.
On Iran it seems AIPAC is pretty much in line with Bibi, and with any luck AIPAC’s collective efforts will yield a result based timeline that concludes with a swift termination of Iran’s nuclear program as its bottom line
Alas with regard to the Palestinian problem, It seems like AIPAC has currently selected the former, in this year's lobbying effort, to take place on Tuesday, the AIPAC thousands will be asking their congressmen to sign on to a letter addressed to Obama that explicitly posits the need for a "viable Palestinian state." It is expected that the overwhelming majority of the congressmen will sign it.
In which case what will probably happen is this; on May 18th during Bibi’s visit to Washington he will concede and almost certainly will privately make plain to Obama his government's commitment to previous accords including a commitment to two states. Bibi may very well also publically announce a cleverly constructed statement that subscribes him to pursue this path. He will return home and go on to spend his time in office battling his own common sense and strong domestic opposition, leading him down a long winding path to nowhere, all the while crouching under the load of Obama’s weight.
Although all intentions may be pure, with 79% of American Jews approving of Obama’s Job in office it seems that American and Israeli Jews have divergent opinions on what is in Israel’s best interests.
But If it is progress we are after with the Palestinians, we need a to look at this with a fresh pair of eyes, AIPAC and American Jewry must fulfill its mandate and unite behind the holy land government and show Obama’s America that “yes we can” is not just a slogan.
