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Judt Argues for End to ‘Special Relationship’
Prominent intellectual calls Israel ‘strategic liability’
By Marc Tracy | Jun 10, 2010 10:00 AM | Print | Email / Share
Tony Judt.
CREDIT: Charlie Rose
The historian and public intellectual Tony Judt published an op-ed in the New York Times calling for the elimination of the U.S.-Israeli “special relationship.” He would replace it with an alliance like those the United States enjoys with many diplomatic allies.
Judt has been one of the most prominent advocates of a so-called “one-state solution”—the establishment of a single, binational state in Israel and the Palestinian territories—since writing an attention-grabbing essay in the New York Review of Books in 2003. Which is why this op-ed will get more attention, from both right and left, than had Joe Anonymous penned it. (Shmuel Rosner, for example, has already responded.)
Judt bases his central contention around the thesis that the United States’s super-closeness to Israel, combined with ill will stemming from the continued irresolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, actually hinders the United States from achieving several important regional goals, such as managing Iraq and Afghanistan and reining in Iran. For example, for all those things it helps to have Turkey on one’s side:
Along with the oil sheikdoms, Israel is now America’s greatest strategic liability in the Middle East and Central Asia. Thanks to Israel, we are in serious danger of “losing” Turkey: a Muslim democracy, offended at its treatment by the European Union, that is the pivotal actor in Near-Eastern and Central Asian affairs. Without Turkey, the United States will achieve few of its regional objectives … .
In other places, this line of argument has been referred to (usually not in a friendly manner) as “linkage” thesis.
In his article, Judt makes six additional points, in the form of debunked “clichés”:
• Attempts to wish Israel away are wrong (“Israel is not going away, nor should it”), but Israeli attempts to counter “de-legitimization” are counter-productive.
• Though a democracy, Israel “discriminates against non-Jews” and strongly discourages dissent.
• Due to its long history of neighbors that deny its right to exist, Israel has adopted a “pathological” tendency to turn to the use of force. Eventually, though, it will have to negotiate, including with Hamas.
• Before 1967, the Arabs were the mostly intransigent ones; since 1967, the Jews have been. Though terrorism is “morally indefensible,” Israel, as the vastly more powerful actor, ought to be more conscientious of Palestinian grievances and demands so that it wouldn’t come to it.
• The Israel Lobby has done no more—in fact, has done less—“damage” to the United States than the gun, oil, and banking lobbies. Yet, it is “disproportionately powerful,” and not all criticism of it is anti-Semitic.
• “Criticism of Israel, increasingly from non-Israeli Jews, is not predominantly motivated by anti-Semitism. The same is true of contemporary anti-Zionism.” And in fact, attempting to conflate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism will backfire.
Israel Without Clichés
Related: Linked In [Tablet Magazine]
Israel: The Alternative [NYRB]
Earlier: In and Out of Love With Zionism
Iron Man
More in: Israel: The Alternative, linkage, Tony Judt, Turkey
4 Responses to “Judt Argues for End to ‘Special Relationship’”
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1. Laura Weakley says:
Jun 10, 2010 at 11:59 AM
The USA has a well known policy of not negotiating with terrorists. There is a good reason for this policy. Terrorists can’t be trusted. Yet at the same time, the US has for decades negotiating with the Palestinians. This has never worked. Why hasn’t it? Because they are terrorists, period. Are you offended at my political incorrectness? Check you historical FACTS. Do I believe there are some Palestinians who aren’t terrorists? Yes, this may be true, because these peace-loving people, anomalous to the way they have been brought up, are born with the ability to know evil when they see it. Good children who grow up to be responsible citizens, fair and honest have been born to evil parents, and visa versa. Still, as a whole, negotiations will never work. The proof is that negotiations haven’t worked. Israel understands what they are dealing with. Despite Israel’s efforts to appease the US by continually going to the negotiating table, they go knowing that nothing offered will ever appease the Palestinians. Not only that, but anything the Palestinians agreed to, they didn’t follow through with. As with all terrorists, what they say and what they do are two wholly different things. Cleverly, like all other anti-Semites, Judt couches his true feelings by the claim of intellectualism. Any true intellectual worth his salt bases his/her opinions on historical accuracy, research, observation, and reasoned argument. Any of the above mentioned items when checked out, will verify my statement about Judt’s Antisemitism. By the way, there are unfortunately many Jewish people currently and historically who due to efforts to be accepted by the larger populist, also speak out against Israel. As to the “pathological tendency to turn to the use of force” mentioned above, if that were true, that it is “pathological”, than the PLO would have already been wiped out. The only reason they haven’t is because Israel understands the need for friendly alliances. -
2. Susan Heitler says:
Jun 10, 2010 at 12:16 PM
This man is a traitor to the Jewish people. He does not merit publication. And I lose faith in Tablet seeing you give him legitimacy. -
3. Laura Weakley says:
Jun 10, 2010 at 12:24 PM
I’m continuing my comments. One reason, a big one at that, the US has tried diplomatic talks, is like Israel, the need for friendly alliances with other countries, who if you don’t actually realize it, either are indifferent to, or don’t want Israel’s Jewish existence. It is beyond naive to believe there will ever be “peace” with the Palestinians. These are the same people who were kicked out of Jordan, and other Arab nations long ago for being trash. While I realize I am as subtle as a tank, I make no apologies for being a truth-teller. People generally don’t want to know, or are afraid of and so don’t want to deal with the truth. So while I realize those of you who are of this ilk will think I am a radical, and/or a proponent of violence or war. I am here to tell you another truth. Do with it what you will. I want world peace, I pray for it, I myself am non-violent, and my writings and teachings, (see my website) promote love, peace, honesty, and real spirituality. Unfortunately, in order to achieve the above, we must first fight evil at every turn. In order to do that we must recognize evil, and then have the courage to stop it. This doesn’t necessarily mean death, it can take the form of prison, or some type of cutting off any way of enabling evil to spread. Sanctions are good theoretically, however due to black market type deals, they don’t work in reality. I truly wish every person in the world would become peaceful, loving, ethical, and wouldn’t allow evil to exist. As an example, the black market wouldn’t exist if there were no buyers. And please, please, please, open your eyes to the fact that the Palestinians as well as other terrorist organizations, teach hatred. What kind of way is that to raise a child? It is the very rare person who grows up in this type of environment and yet actually is a good, peace-loving, ethical, kind person. While some may find my forthrightness blunt, I do this to force you to think and learn. -
4. Laura Weakley says:
Jun 10, 2010 at 12:25 PM
Amen to Susan! Succinctness is not something I am good at! Kudos to you Susan for cutting right to the point!
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