I guess what I didn't state outright, but was assuming, was that the change has to be political. The agencies and Pentagon may get sick of Israel quicker, but the decision is in the president's hands. And the lobby's moves - I agree there is some element of panic to them - nonetheless buy them a lot of extra time. The compulsory trip all but 3 people in Congress have have made to Israel right after getting elected, plus the money, plus the serious media, and everything else I mentioned - I think these bonds are deeper and more personal for US politicians than, say, US-Egypt. AIPAC spending more money on a single primary, than both UK parties will spend on the entire election, to defeat one vulnerable Congressman, shows there is no political future in staking out an anti-Israel position. On the bottom-up side, censoring universities will reduce public pressure on politicians too.Moving away from the culture wars, you yourself have posted examples of past times when Reagan and Carter felt comfortable taking a relatively hard line against Begin’s excesses. Going further back, from 1949-1967 the State Department was not exactly a bastion of Zionist sympathizers, the Arabists were a major element whose loss of influence was a result of the overwhelming Israeli victory in the 6-Day War. After which mass American support for Israel really commenced, consolidated by the 1973 war. So history has shown that events and shifts of power in the region can play a role in defining the nature of the American commitment to Israel.
Which brings me to Chomsky’s (and others’) argument that ultimately, American support for Israel is dependent on Israel’s strategic value:
"the evolution of America’s relationship to Israel 'has been determined primarily by the changing role that Israel occupied in the context of America’s changing conceptions of its political-strategic interests in the Middle East'...it would be an error to assume that Israel represents the major U.S. interest in the Middle East. Rather, the major interest lies in the energy reserves of the region, primarily in the Arabian peninsula......Had it not been for Israel’s perceived geopolitical role—primarily in the Middle East, but elsewhere as well—it is doubtful that the various pro-Israeli lobbies in the U.S. would have had much influence in policy formation, or that the climate of opinion deplored by Peled and other Israeli doves could have been constructed and maintained. Correspondingly, it will very likely erode if Israel comes to be seen as a threat rather than a support to the primary U.S. interest in the Middle East region, which is to maintain control over its energy reserves and the flow of petrodollars." (from Fateful Triangle)
It’s quite easy to understand American support in the context of the Cold War, and the resurgence in that support in the context of the War on Terror. Going forward, however, it’s much harder to foresee how Israel will continue to be perceived as such a valuable regional client, even if boring status quo “centrists” in the mold of Gantz or Lapid were to recapture Israeli politics. As it is, a full-blown Kahanist Israel will likely prove an absolute nightmare for broader American policy in the Middle East, not to mention self-destructive as pretty much all analogous ideologically-driven states tend to be.
This is certainly true. I should state that I don’t fully accept Chomsky’s argument laid out above - I don’t see the cultural attachment of America to Israel quickly withering in significance in the event of a strategic fall-out between the two countries. Take two regional allies with arguably more raw strategic value to the US - Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The alliance with the US shields them from much scrutiny they might otherwise receive. And they have their own lobbies, and think tanks which they fund, to be wielded in certain contexts where their policies raise eyebrows in Washington. But while they could each spend a gazillion dollars a year flying US politicians to their cities (the Saudis already do), their cultural, historical, and emotional appeal is limited and simply does not resonate for most Americans at this moment - America just doesn’t care all that much about them.I think these bonds are deeper and more personal for US politicians than, say, US-Egypt.
Just to add, we may be thinking in terms of different timeframes. I certainly had “decades” in mind rather than “a decade” when I wrote that post.many decades.
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You might find this interesting.Maybe it's because I was born in the 90s and only have followed this since the mid or late-00s, but I've never understood the optimism of the Palestinians, or the non-Palestinian peace process people, or now the western one-staters. They all have a belief that this nuclear-armed state is going to collapse or yield...maybe it's religion, or maybe one had to live through the fall of the USSR to believe in that?
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Harbouring a war criminal. International law and everything.
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In Gaza, hunger is taking a toll on the bodies of children. The impact can last a lifetime.
Even when children survive, nutrition experts say food deprivation in the early years can do lasting damage.
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The Jefferson picture in the background would almost be considered too much in a movie.Harbouring a war criminal. International law and everything.
The comments too.
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Ooo think of the poor "scripture scholars" living off the state without any contribution...Tweet
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What did Haniyah's 80 year old sister do? Did she plan the October attacks with Sinwar?Displaced people were burned alive in some shelter schools last night and 51 have been murdered since morning because of Israel's bombing.
Another starved kid was killed today by Israel because of malnutrition and aid distribution centres keep getting bombed.
They also killed Haniyah's 80-year-old sister along with her son and 7 grandchildren.
The US: "There is no genocide"
Damn, didn't realize Ronay was a fecking zionist.Guardian writers brain is incredibly stupid
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I've seen it, I would not want to post it here. It is disgusting and these IDF soldiers are just depraved of anything human. If anyone want to see it, google it or twitter it.Just seen a video released by AJ showing leaked footage of the IOF using a dog to attack an elderly woman in her home. They really are brazen and sick.
There will be thousands of murderers living happy lives throughout europe when this is over.Does anyone work with any IDF cnuts here in the UK?
I've read reports about some returning from Gaza after taking part in the genocide, and they just blend back into society.
I work with a few former IDF guys, but given the industry I'm in that's hardly a surprise.Does anyone work with any IDF cnuts here in the UK?
I've read reports about some returning from Gaza after taking part in the genocide, and they just blend back into society.
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I'd hesitate to attribute political ideology. It's more to do with fecklessness.Damn, didn't realize Ronay was a fecking zionist.
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Takes one genocidal country to know one.The Jefferson picture in the background would almost be considered too much in a movie.
“They have seduced the greater part of the tribes within our neighborhood, to take up the hatchet against us, and the cruel massacres they have committed on the women and children of our frontiers taken by surprise, will oblige us now to pursue them to extermination, or drive them to new seats beyond our reach". Thomas Jefferson
Could have been word for word said by an Israeli politician. While there are military and economic reasons as to why America has a close relationship with Israel. There is also a very fundamental connect between the two countries which is one form of colonisation recognising and helping another.
Remove that, please. Or at least hide behind a spoiler warning.Heavy trigger warning
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Because they are one of the few countries in the world responsible directly for 2 genocide and complicit in a third. They have to back colonialism by enforcing it into laws.wtf
1) about as effective as asking if you're a terrorist on those visa application forms
2) why the feck is this a requirement to be german?