July 25, 2006

An American Honey-Trap?

Yossi Ben-Ari:

Israel has never enjoyed such broad American support for both its policies and military actions as it does today. It began with an explicit presidential objection to international calls for an immediate cease fire that could disrupt the attaining of certain goals (with Bush's call in the background 'to do battle with an organization that initiated terror attacks and with the countries that support it'); all the way to the emergency shipment of "smart bombs" meant to help the effort that refuses to end.

It may be a comfortable feeling to have US backing, but we must be careful of this "honey trap." It's a strange paradox.

Israel has always refused to sign a strategic agreement with the United States, for fear that such a treaty could inhibit Israel's freedom of action. But even though no such agreement exists, America has hinted at expectations that Israel act as an active partner in America's campaign against world-wide terror.

This could even stand in contrast to Israel's interests and bog Israel even further down than it is bogged down today: Lebanon continues to exact a heavy price every day, mainly amongst Israeli civilians but also from the IDF.

And–voila! –even senior IDF officials are signaling that they won't be able to finish the military conflict without a diplomatic arrangement. In other words, it would appear that a quick ceasefire and significant entry of an international force on the ground, could very well be in Israel's interest.

Indeed. There are a lot in the Beltway right now hankering for Israel to fight Hezbollah for months towards glorious, total "victory," but wiser Israelis know well it would likely be a Phyrric one indeed (thus the reluctance to go in on the ground, in large number, of course). Still, it's fun to be more Catholic than the Pope, especially when you live in far-away Chevy Chase, or Bethesda, or whatever. This won't stop those like BD, of course, who dare to recommend moderation to the Israelis during this ongoing offensive, from being tarred as appeasers in the GWOT or such. But the reality, of course, is that true friends of Israel realize well that a cease-fire in the relative short-term is likely in her interests, all things considered, despite the loud chest-beating in the usual quarters for Israel to march to the Litani (or the southern suburbs of Beirut!), and the US to start striking Damascus and Teheran, the better so a pan-regional solution 'appears', as if by divine inspiration.

Posted by Gregory at July 25, 2006 04:09 AM