Edwards: Israel is the World's Greatest Threat

Okay, so I parsed what presidential candidiate John Edwards really said. As reported by the National Review Online, Edwards commented that "Perhaps the greatest short-term threat to world peace was the possibility that Israel would bomb Iran's nuclear facilities."

As Jim Geraghty commented, "Really? Israel is the biggest threat? Not Ahmedinijad? Not al-Qaeda? Not a coup attempt in Pakistan? Not a complete breakdown in Iraq drawing in the Saudis, Turks, and Iranians?"

I enjoy Edwards' populist platform, and I think he's honestly a good guy. A few years back, when he was a first year senator, I saw him speak to an intimate crowd at the AIPAC convention in Washington DC, and he praised Israel for its open democracy and lamented that the Palestinians were no parter for peace.

But, unfortunately, now we have to monitor him. Did he meet lately with Jimmy Carter? Is he trying to court the ANSWER wing? C'mon, John, did you really mean that?

The Jewishness of the Jewish State

As recently reported, some Arab Israeli citizens have called for Israel to not be defined as a Jewish state but rather as a "consensual democracy for both Arabs and Jews."

The movement stems from the feelings of some Israeli Arab citizens who claim that Israel discriminates against its non Jewish citizens, from the nations symbols to disbursement of public services to overall opportunities.

I can sympathize with the Israeli Arabs. On the one hand, many live lives much better than there Palestinian brethren. Their quality of life on the whole is much better than most Arabs in the Middle East. Many more opportunities (jobs, education, exposure to the West) are afforded to Israeli Arabs than other Arabs.

That being said, Israeli Arabs often do feel as either being left out of the mainstream Israeli culture or, to a greater extreme, even as second class citizens, suffering from discrimination. Israel must rectify this.

But the basic premise of the "The Future Vision of the Palestinian Arabs in Israel", that the Jewish nature of Israel should be replaced with a model "akin to the Belgian model for Flemish- and French-speakers, involving proportional representation and power-sharing in a central government" is not the answer.

The Jewishness of Israel must be kept in perpetuity. Jewish critics have argued that this model "negates Israel's legitimacy and raison d'être as the realization of Jewish self-determination."

The Israeli Declaration of Independence promises full equality in social and political rights to all inhabitants, irrespective of religion, race or sex, and Israel's Arab citizens participate in the country's democratic process. It is through these existing documents that Israel must more fully integrate Israel's Arab citizens. She need not follow a new document that threatens Israel's Jewish character.

There's the Door, Chirac

On Monday, in front of reporters from The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune and Le Nouvel Observateur, French President Jacques Chirac claimed that if Iran had one or two nuclear weapons, it would not pose a serious danger because the launching of such a weapon would lead to the immediate destruction of Tehran.

Mr. Chirac said it would be an act of self-destruction for Iran to use a nuclear weapon against another country.

“Where will it drop it, this bomb? On Israel?” Mr. Chirac asked. “It would not have gone 200 meters into the atmosphere before Tehran would be razed.”

This statement flew in the face of official French, Western and UN policy (and general common sense) which has passed a resolution calling for sanctions on Iran for its refusal to stop enriching uranium.

Chirac immediately called the reporters back to his office in order to withdraw the comments.

What could be truly scary about this episode is the notion, running in some diplomatic circles, that with three months left in his term, Chirac is concerned about his legacy. I will waste no time in giving Chirac credit for opposing the Iraq War (even though he was largely concerned with protecting French trade interests). However, it would be sad to think that he will take unilateral actions that brazenly contradicts the international community, just so he can protect his position in history.

Another Sign of Weak Leadership

Former justice minister Haim Ramon was convicted yesterday for indecent behavior at Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court, for having kissed a young female soldier against her will. Ramon vowed to appeal.

I'm not going to debate the merits of the case or who is right and who is wrong. Rather, what concerns me most is the direction Israel is heading. Their have always been scandals in Israeli politics, from the PM on down. However, a good portion of the Israeli public was often able to look past the scandal because they believed in the individual politician at the helm, like in the case of Sharon.

I don't see that with the current administration. With Iran blustering to the East, with Gaza falling apart to the West, with Lebanon still an open wound to the North and a recent suicide bombing in Eilat in the South, Israel is more than ever surrounded by threats. And either by scandal or ineptitude, Israel's leadership has not earned the confience of the Israeli public, or the pro-Israeli community worldwide. Olmert, Halutz, Peretz, Ramon . . . when will it end? When will Israel right herself?

Israel needs all her strength when facing external enemies. A weak leadership, making self defeating mistakes, only hurts her cause.