Many Israelis feel that Israel is once more alone and that the Jewish state is
increasingly isolated in the international community. An August 2010 poll shows
that on the question of Israel’s current status in the international arena, a
majority of the Jewish public thinks Israel is moderately or completely isolated
(54%), compared to 46% who say it is not. A similar poll among Diaspora Jews
would likely reveal an even more acute feeling of isolation, because as a
minority Diaspora Jews are more exposed to anti- Semitic and anti-Israeli
attitudes. Taking into consideration the many examples of the negative media
coverage of Israel, such feelings in Israel and in the Diaspora are
understandable. Indeed, the infamous Goldstone Report and the “Gaza flotilla”
incident, among other events, provide ample evidence of a hostile international
climate regarding Israel.
Moreover, the Israeli Left argues vocally that
the continuation of the conflict with the Palestinians exacts a heavy price from
Israel; that Israel is becoming an isolated and less legitimate political
entity. Yet, this claim reflects a distorted view of reality. The hard Left is
influenced primarily by its reference groups – the Western Left and its radical
offshoots. Ascribing exaggerated importance to the Palestinian issue, and to
Israel’s isolation, they advocate an urgent deal with the Palestinians at a
heavy Israeli price.They are wrong. A closer look at Israel’s
interactions with many states in the world in which real power resides, and with
international organizations (not nearly as powerful), explains why.
TAKE
THE number of states that have diplomatic relations with Israel. This measure
clearly shows an improvement in Israel’s international status, particularly
since 1973. Then, with the energy crisis, the power of the Arab world was at its
zenith. Subsequently, Israel experienced an avalanche of severed diplomatic
relations. This has drastically changed, particularly after 1991, when an
increasing number of states decided to establish and/or upgrade diplomatic
relations with the Jewish state. For example, all states within the Soviet
orbit, in former Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, as well as most African and
Asian states, opted for diplomatic relations. Significantly, rising powers such
as China and India, and pivotal states such as Russia, Turkey, and Nigeria,
decided to have full diplomatic relations with Israel, which have been
maintained ever since.
Generally, states facing the challenges of
terrorism and/or radical Islam, mostly a post-1991 phenomenon, seek cooperation
with Israel. The Jewish state has much to offer in the area of intelligence and
tactical and doctrinal counter-terrorism. Because of the growing Islamist
threat, the number of states seeking security relations with the Jewish state is
on the rise.
Significantly, relations with the Muslim world have also
improved. Israel has peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan. Israel has
oscillating informal dealings with several Arab states in the Gulf and in the
Maghreb.
Most of the Arab world adheres to the Arab League Peace
Initiative. While this peace plan is not reasonable from an Israeli perspective
(it is a take-it-or-leaveit proposal), the Arabs are talking peace, not war, and
imply a de facto recognition of Israel – a historic change in their position.
The Arab economic boycott has largely evaporated. It is the Iranian nuclear
threat that puts any differences with Israel over the Palestinian issue on a
back burner.
Israel also has cordial and fruitful relations with Muslim
states that emerged from the dissolution of the Soviet Empire. Israeli presence
is felt in states such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and
Uzbekistan.
The Muslim identity of these populations and their elites
does not hinder relations with Jerusalem in areas important to their national
interests.
SIMILARLY, DIPLOMATIC ties with the most important country in
the world, the US, have greatly improved since 1973 and the strategic
relationship is still very strong, despite the misguided Middle Eastern policies
of the Barack Obama administration. For the past four decades, the level of
American public support for Israel has remained remarkably stable (about 65%).
This translates, of course, into congressional support. Israel is still popular
in the US primarily because of how it is perceived and not because of the Jewish
lobby. We have recently seen Obama bow to this popular sentiment and adopt a
friendlier posture toward the Israeli government of Binyamin Netanyahu.
A
high level of friendship toward Israel and the Jewish people characterizes the
two most populous and dynamic states on the world scene – India and China –
rising powers in every sense of the word. Both are old civilizations that have
not been burdened by anti- Semitic baggage, like Europe. They treat the Jewish
state with reverence as they see in it a similar old civilization that has had
remarkable achievements. Most Asian countries, even if they vote against Israel
in international forums, have a similar attitude. Likewise, countries on the
Pacific Rim, an area that has gained international significance, are usually
pro-Israel. South Korea and Australia are prime examples. Sub-Saharan African
countries also contain very pro-Israel circles for a variety of
reasons.
“OLD EUROPE” is indeed a different planet on this matter. Its
naïve strategic culture, where there is no threat perception and the use of
force is seen as anachronistic, makes Israel a difficult case to
swallow.
This is reinforced by latent traditional anti-Semitism that
singles out the Jews as responsible for the problems of the world. Belgium,
Ireland, Norway and Sweden, in particular, display anti-Israeli positions
bordering on anti-Semitism. Fortunately, none are core European states. Some
European universities have become unpleasant places for Israelis, and a large
portion of the European intelligentsia is intuitively anti-Israel, even denying
Israel’s right to exist. It is also true that much of the elite European media
is hysterically biased against Israel.
At the same time France, Germany
and Italy (the power centers of the European Union) are ruled nowadays by
leaders who have a soft spot for Israel. Influential pockets of strong
pro-Israeli sentiment are still present in all Western European states. Some
even view Israel’s struggle as a vanguard of their own beleaguered Western
civilization, threatened by moral relativism and Islamic fanaticism. The growing
fears of Muslim immigration in the Old Continent provide an important corrective
on the prism of Israel.
Then there’s the expansion of the European Union
that has worked in Israel’s favor. “New Europe,” the Eastern European states, is
very different from the Western part of Europe. Its strategic culture is
dominated by a historic threat perception from Russia; as a result, it is more
understanding of the dilemmas associated with the necessary use of force by
Israel.
Generally, most states are not ready to have their relations with
Jerusalem held hostage by the vicissitudes of the Israeli-Palestinian dialogue.
Some have even begun to realize that the Palestinians have a stake in not ending
the conflict and in propagating the victim image to continue to get financial
support from gullible Western donors.
Most international forums remain
rabidly anti-Israel and Israel continues to be singled out as the culprit of a
variety of “sins.” But as no real change has taken place in the anti-Israel
arena in past decades, it is difficult to conclude that Israel’s position has
worsened in such international organizations.
This year Israel was
accepted into the exclusive club of the OECD, which is a significant diplomatic
feat.
A growing and real problem for Israel is the phenomenon of
“lawfare,” whereby anti-Israel groups exploit the legal system of Western states
to criminalize Israel and Israeli officials in these states and in international
forums. Several states have been sensitized to this issue and have taken
legislative actions to remedy the situation. Another growing challenge to
Israel’s legitimacy comes from NGOs that single out Israel for alleged human
rights abuses. The real impact this has on Israel’s international status is not
yet clear.
ISOLATION IN the international community, the literature
shows, is more often than not connected to the international power
configuration. Obviously, normative considerations have little impact on the
decision making of the authoritarian states that deplore the human rights
“abuses” of Israel. Indeed, the growing weakness of the US, particularly since
the advent of Obama, has exposed its small ally, Israel to somewhat harder
times. Nevertheless, taking into account that Israel cannot benefit from an
association with a big international bloc, such as the developing countries or
the Muslim bloc, or with regional blocs such as Latin America, Europe or Asia,
Israel is doing quite well on the international scene. Moreover, the world has
shown that it can live with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for many
years.
Jews are historically conditioned to sense isolation and
delegitimization. Already in the Bible, the prophet Balaam called the Jewish
nation “a people that dwells alone.” Today, according to a recent poll, 56% of
the Israeli Jewish public believes that “the whole world is against us.” Yet, a
larger majority (77%) thinks it makes no difference what Israel does and how far
it may go on the Palestinian issue; the world will continue to be very critical
of it. While the Jewish prism on international relations could amplify this
sense of isolation, the realistic outlook on international relations can prevent
unwarranted fears and lead to a balanced Israeli position on issues of war and
peace.
The writer is professor of political studies at Bar-Ilan
University and director of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies on whose
Web site this article first appeared. Reprinted with permission.
Join Jerusalem Post Premium Plus now for just $5 and upgrade your experience with an ads-free website and exclusive content. Click here>>