Obama and Israel

The above video, a montage of Israelis and American Jews showing their support for Barack Obama, is likely to evoke emotion in many supporters of the state of Israel.  My mother said that it brought tears to her eyes.  It made me reflect a bit, and for the first time in a while, I considered a genuine peace between Israelis and Palestinians more likely to be possible in an Obama administration, aka “the American re-engagement with the rest of the world.”

My hopefulness doesn’t reside in a thought that Obama could wave a magic wand or use his charm and soaring rhetoric to bring peace to the region.  It comes from imagining a post-Bush world, where America could establish a presence as an example of not only freedom, but peace as well.  I will gladly relinquish our status as a military and economic superpower (though we seem to have reached that point already) in pursuit of becoming a leader towards more just causes.

According to a fact sheet on Obama’s website, he is a stalwart supporter of Israel.  Among all of the points in this policy outline, the following is what matters the most to me:

Work towards Two States Living Side by Side in Peace and Security: Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe in working towards a two-state solution, with both states living side by side in peace and security. To that end, Senators Obama and Biden are cosponsors of the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006. Introduced in the wake of Hamas’ victory in the Palestinian elections, this act outlaws direct assistance to any entity of the Palestinian Authority controlled by Hamas until it meets the conditions of the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations to renounce violence, recognize Israel, and agree to abide by all agreements signed by the Palestinian Authority. Obama signed a letter urging President Bush to make it clear to Palestinian leaders that terrorist groups must either disarm or be barred from the political process. Since the elections, Obama has stated that Israelis must have a true Palestinian partner for peace. He will encourage the strengthening of the Palestinian moderates who seek peace and work to isolate Hamas and other extremists who are committed to Israel’s destruction.

In my humble opinion, the two-state solution is the only way that peace is possible.  There’s no other way around it.

If the United States and our global partners work to isolate Hamas and other extremists as part of this peace process, there should be an equal effort to reign in bad behavior on the Jewish side.  Those Israelis with Manifest Destiny-like ambitions who continue to expand settlements and further marginalize Palestinians will undoubtedly prevent the process from working properly.  Another hindrance to peace is members of the Israeli Defense Forces subjecting Palestinians to humiliation, violence, and any other undue behavior at check-points.

Yes, I understand that suicide bombing attempts have been thwarted at these check-points and lives have been saved because of these actions.  This cannot excuse any human rights violations perpetrated in the name of security.

The point is that both sides have blood on their hands.  Both sides have done horrible things to each other.  Both sides have people committed to lasting peace and others who want total control of the land and destruction of the other guy.

Therefore, my sincere belief is that support for Palestinians who seek conciliation should be equal to that shown towards Israelis with the same vision.  Behavior detrimental to the peace process should not be tolerated on either side.  Full dedication to the peace process trumps the United States’ undying allegiance to a fellow democracy, which has helped fuel anti-Americanism due to a seemingly unconditional support to Israel.

I recognize the need for a Jewish state in the wake of the Holocaust.  I know what Israel means to my fellow Jews.  My father was born and raised there, and I have many family members still living there.

In spite of all this, if the Jews and the Arabs continue to fight, maim, and kill each other over this land, then I don’t think it’s worth having.  How can the holy land be appreciated in all of its holiness if the fighting continues?  How can the beauty of its history and culture be truly enjoyed when rocket attacks are still being launched and homes are being bulldozed?

I can only hope, no matter how much of a long-shot it may be, that a re-enactment of the following photo could happen during an Obama administration, and more importantly, a lasting peace could follow: