OPINION: On The Border

By Roger Madon

Over this Memorial Day weekend I had my first chance to digest the liberal Jewish defense of President Obama’s recent position on the Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative.  It starts with their belief that Israel is doomed.

It was approximately 2 weeks ago that President Obama stated in a speech at the State Department “We believe that the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps so secure and recognized borders are established for both states.”  This one line from a speech that most Americans were in agreement induced anger and concern both in Israel and the U.S.  

A bi-partisan Congress welcomed Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel who gave a rousing speech in Israel’s defense.  President Obama’s statement concerning Israel’s return to its 1967 borders created a bright line between those American Jews who continue to support President Obama and who constitute an overwhelming majority and those Jews who see in this President a person who has no intention of maintaining America’s historical support for Israel his soaring rhetoric to the contrary notwithstanding.

In warfare, the greatest enemy of victory is wishful thinking. And if there is any criticism to which President Obama is vulnerable, giving him the benefit of good faith, it is just that.  Truth be told many military strategists contend that the current borders of Israel are less defensible than those of 1967.  Moreover as long as Israel depends upon the U.S. or any third party country for its defense it will always be insecure.

The liberal Jewish view of Israel is unacceptable because it assumes that Israel is not a viable nation no matter what its borders.  And for those Jews that accept Israel’s existence based on the assumption that Israel will always have the U.S. prepared to rush munitions to the battlefield or help create costly sophisticated missile defense systems is simply wishful thinking. The time has come for Israel and its people to address the realities of existence.  Defend yourself.

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