By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO – There are two questions that I think need to be debated within the American Jewish community, and both are quite painful.
First, do you remember the St. Louis, the ship filled with refugees from Hitler’s Germany, which was turned away by the United States as well as other countries of the Western Hemisphere? The Middle East is seething, and I have a feeling deep in my bones, another, far more calamitous war is being brewed by Iran and its Arab allies against Israel. If, heaven forbid, Israel loses this war, where can the refugees go? Is the United States prepared to accept Jewish refugees who might be driven from the Historic Homeland? Or will it be the St. Louis and a Holocaust all over again?
The second question may sound counter-intuitive, in light of the first question. But it grows from a consideration of the overall dynamics of the region. Given America’s mounting debt, should its foreign and military aid programs be rethought, restructured and rationalized? We saw how weapons given to the Shah of Iran later wound up in the hands of anti-American Iranian revolutionaries. Are we witnessing the same phenomenon in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Bahrain and other Arab countries now in turmoil? In our efforts to bribe dictators for their “friendship,” are we arming ours and Israel’s future enemies? If the United States undertakes a massive reevaluation of the foreign aid program, in the interest of its security and its economy, how willing should Israel be to give up some aid in the process? Is the vaunted Israeli economy strong enough to forego some American aid—especially if reductions to Israel can pave the way for reductions as well in the Arab world?
I have a feeling that many American Jews have been quietly thinking about these questions, but have felt constrained by political correctness from discussing these ideas publicly. Publicly discussing such ideas may sound defeatist, or give comfort to an implacable enemy. “What?! Israel lose a war? Unthinkable! The very idea….!” “What, change the pattern of American foreign aid in the Middle East? Irresponsible!”
And yet, we would all have to be blind not to recognize that momentous changes are afoot in the Middle East, with the balance of power, especially under President Obama, seemingly shifting away from the Western democracies to the forces of jihad, revenge and bloodlust in the Middle East.
Israel has a strong military and can respond to any threat, and may this always be so.
However, we ought not to let our pride—or political correctness – preclude us from having contingency plans. We know all too well that catastrophes indeed can happen, and evil really does exist in the world. So let us, the American Jewish public start the process of considering what needs to be done to help our brethren.
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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted at donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com
Don, not “politically incorrect” at all to raise these questions.
Yes, they are intertwined. But, my take is different from yours at least in this respect: US aid is primarily in defense matters (most of which gets spent in the US) which provides the margin of safety for Israel to defend itself. The funds that had gone to Egypt were to buy a peace, which if that is no longer bought can be trimmed or cut off. Yet, that does provide some influence over the Islamist-leaning Egyptian military, which is still in control, although like in Turkey will have their influence trimmed by more radical elements. As to other Arab countries, it’s a case by case business.
Not “politically incorrect” Don, just incorrect.
Bruce Kesler ChFC REBC CLU RHU
BNKSD1@aol.com
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