Okay, so we are an American-based news agency. But surely that gives me the right to be critical of American foreign policy.
For years the Jewish/Israel lobby on Capitol Hill has urged the U.S. to back Israel no matter what. Seemingly with considerable success. But that has led to many problems, including the accusation in the Arab world that the United States is run by the Jews and is merely a puppet of the state of Israel.
It has also made the United Nations Security Council something of a joke. Each time the Arab bloc brings forward an anti-Israel proposal it is almost always vetoed by the U.S. Now I am not saying that the U.S. should not be supportive of the only democracy in the Middle East, but that does not mean Washington must back Israel almost willy-nilly.
However, when the Israeli cabinet approves a foolish measure (at best) that does not mean it should be automatically aided by Washington.
On September 16, the U.S. vetoed an Arab proposal to the council that would effectively have prevented Israel from exiling or eliminating Palestinian Authority Chairman Yassir Arafat.
The United States rather feebly explained its reason for not backing the submission. It objected to the lack of “a robust condemnation of acts of terrorism, an explicit condemnation of Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Al-Aq’sa Martyrs’ Brigade as organizations responsible for acts of terrorism, and a call for the dismantlement of an infrastructure which supports these terror operations wherever located,” as Ambassador John Negroponte put it.
But Israel deserved to have its knuckles rapped for an almost childish plan.
True, Israel says its desire to remove Arafat as an “obstacle” is only “in principle,” but it is flawed nonetheless.
Exiling Arafat would not prevent the man who has effectively ruled the Palestinians for 40 years. In fact quite the opposite. At least with Arafat stuck in his Ramallah compound under an effective Israeli house arrest, he is somewhat restricted in his activities, relying heavily on his telephone.
However, in Tunis, Riyadh or ‘Sana Arafat would be a free agent. Look at Hamas and Islamic Jihad. A considerable proportion of their leadership, including the supreme leader in the case of Islamic Jihad and the political head of Hamas, are based overseas.
The Israeli policy-in-principle of exiling Arafat has also succeeded in knocking Israel’s public relations effort once again. No matter which government is in power, it seems Israel has no idea of the meaning of damage limitation.
If America really is a true friend of Israel, as it claims, it should have voted with the Arabs in the Security Council and ensure Israel not only does not make a mockery of itself, but also keeps Arafat under lock and key.