Dennis Ross to TML: Israel Must Recognize the Longer-Term US-Israeli Relationship’s Well-Being

While tensions between Israelis and Diaspora Jews are strained, both governments are working on important projects together such as Saudi normalization, visa waiver

The State of Israel and its people currently face a range of challenges, opportunities, and complexities. The judicial reform issue, the in-process normalization deal with Saudi Arabia, the complicated situation of its ties with its strongest ally, the United States, the Iranian threat, and finally, the shift in the relationship with the Diaspora Jewry are some of the key issues concerning the Jewish state today.

Upon the release of the Jerusalem People Policy Institute’s “Annual Assessment of the State of the Jewish People,” Ambassador Dennis Ross and JPPI senior fellow Yaakov Katz discussed these challenges. Ross served as the policy planning director under President George H.W. Bush and as Middle East coordinator for President Bill Clinton. Katz is the former editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post.

Judicial reform, a contentious issue that has sparked prolonged protests, dominated the discussion. Ambassador Ross told The Media Line that the judicial overhaul has contributed to political polarization in Israel, affecting the country’s global perception.

Speaking about Israel’s diplomatic partners, Ross noted that the current situation raises red flags. “For countries considering doing business with Israel, this situation serves as a cautionary note.”

Ross added that for Israel’s adversaries, the situation conveys a sense of weakness. “Certainly, countries like Iran and forces like Hizbullah look at this and have no other way to see it except is something that weakens Israel,” therefore, reducing Israel’s deterrence in the region.

The situation strains the relationship between Diaspora Jews and Israel. “It creates enormous stress and concern. Certainly, the vast majority of American Jewry is very uneasy about what they see happening in Israel,” Ross said.

He argues that political turmoil raises concerns among Diaspora Jews about Israel’s future and its ability to maintain its democratic identity.

“What we found in the annual assessment is that American Jews in particular do not look fondly at this government that is in Israel. On the contrary, they think it’s extreme and not a positive government,” Katz told The Media Line.

This can contribute to what we already know to be a growing divide between the State of Israel and Jews around the world

He noted that the government’s ongoing efforts to implement judicial reform, along with persistent protests, led many Jews, especially in America, to perceive Israel as moving in a negative direction. “This can contribute to what we already know to be a growing divide between the State of Israel and Jews around the world,” he warns.

Ross believes that the current Israeli government’s policies could strain relations with American Jews, potentially impacting US-Israel ties.

He says that most Diaspora Jews, particularly in the US, find it difficult to identify with ultra-religious parties and Messianic nationalists.

Ross estimates that nearly 70% of American Jews harbor significant doubts and concerns about developments in Israel. This, he adds, can affect Israel’s long-standing relationship with the US.

“One has to understand that common values are really the underpinning or a pillar of the US-Israeli relationship and there is a role that the Jewish community plays in terms of its consistent support for Israel.” That is why he stresses that it is important that Israel recognizes the significance of the Diaspora community in the United States to the longer-term US-Israeli relationship’s well-being.

However, Ross highlights some positive aspects, noting that the 40 weeks of large-scale demonstrations serve as a reminder that Israel is fundamentally democratic. “When you have a grassroots movement that is able to do this, without violence and without being suppressed, it’s a reminder that there’s no other country in the Middle East where anything like this could happen,” he says.

To make his point, Ross mentioned the heavily suppressed demonstrations in Gaza by Hamas and the consequences for Iranians who protested in the context of the “Women Life Freedom” movement in the past year. “The contrast of Israel to the rest of the region is a reminder that this is a democracy and the only one that exists in the Middle East,” said Ross.

He believes that the peaceful grassroots movement and protests likely inspire most American Jews, as they represent an extraordinary commitment to preserving democracy.

Setting aside the topic of American Jews, Katz noted that relations between the current Israeli government and the American administration have been somewhat strained.

Ross stated that President Joe Biden took Israel’s best interests into consideration. “He is the only American President that has declared himself to be a Zionist,” he said. He believes the essence of the message President Biden gave in not inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House was that any changes his government enacts should be broadly agreed upon and not harm national unity. 

Katz acknowledged the tension but pointed out that both countries continue to collaborate on major projects, like Saudi normalization, visa waivers, and military and intelligence cooperation.

Although the Saudi normalization deal could be a milestone for the region, the negotiation process is complicated with numerous intersecting interests. Ross likened securing the deal to solving a Rubik’s Cube.

Katz explains that while America aims to help Israel normalize relations in the region, it also has its own interests, such as countering Chinese influence.

He pointed out that China facilitated the deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and that America aims to limit China’s expanding influence in the Middle East. 

He continued, saying that Israel seeks to establish normal relations with influential Muslim countries, aiming to set the stage for further normalization with nations like Indonesia and Malaysia, which could shift its geopolitical standing.

As for Saudi Arabia, the key advantages lie in the concessions it could receive from the United States.

Katz observes that Riyadh has maintained discreet relations with Israel for years, including technological exchanges, diplomatic coordination, and intelligence sharing. He adds that finalizing the deal would yield three primary benefits from the United States. 

Katz elaborates that these benefits are, first, a defense pact guaranteeing Saudi security; second, access to advanced American weaponry; and third, most controversially, the prospect of domestically enriching uranium for their own nuclear program.

“That is what has Israel’s most concerned when it comes to this deal. The only other country that has enrichment in the Middle East is Iran and we know how challenging and what a threat that is,” he said.

However, Katz points out that if the US doesn’t permit Saudi uranium enrichment, China may step in, leaving Israel without the safeguards that American involvement would offer.

Regarding the Palestinian issue, Katz claims, “The Saudis are looking to get more than what the Emiratis have gotten.”

Katz argues that this poses a challenge for Netanyahu in maintaining his coalition. “Israel’s government, because of how right-wing it is, will have difficulty making any serious concessions to the Palestinians. As a result, it will be hard for the government here to give the Saudis that benefit, or that success of getting something out of Israel,”

Katz noted that although Netanyahu has displayed the acumen of a “political wizard” in the past, navigating this issue will be particularly challenging for him. This, he says, “leads to speculation that he might shake up his coalition by trying to bring in, for example, Benny Gantz.”

Ross emphasized that a breakthrough with the Palestinians could significantly alter American perceptions of Israel that have emerged since the current government took office.

Ross contends that more action is needed: “This is not a light switch where you suddenly flip it, and everything’s fine,” he said.

“I think extremist voices in Israel need to be countered, and advocates for Israel’s traditional liberal values should be consistently highlighted,” he said, adding that laws undermining those values should not be enacted.