Nothing is going right for Israel these days. Friendly western governments are disappointed, to put it mildly, at the Jewish state’s callous snub of their sovereignty in the assassination, earlier this year, of a key Hamas leader in Dubai by a Mossad hit team which used British, German, Australian and other forged passports. And then there is the huge embarrassment over recent revelations that Israel offered to sell apartheid South Africa nuclear war heads and missiles back in the 1970s.
The exposure came at the worse time possible. The international community was debating ways to bolster the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and to agree on ways to make the Middle East free of nuclear weapons. Instead of focusing on Iran, as Israel and the United States had hoped, all eyes were turned to Israel, which refuses to sign the treaty or allow international inspection of its facilities. As a result it was the only regional country mentioned in the final statement issued in New York last week, in spite of US reservations.
And then, out of the blue, came the biggest fiasco of all; Israel’s commando raid on a Gaza bound humanitarian aid flotilla in international waters that ended in carnage. It was an utter and complete failure both politically and diplomatically; the biggest flop by Israel in recent years. The three-year-old Israeli blockade of Gaza suddenly became the hottest issue world-wide. It was not the avalanche of international condemnation, over the deliberate act of piracy, cold-bloodied murder and sheer arrogance that worried the stunned government of Benyamin Netanyahu, but the cumulative effects and the political aftershocks of its naval misadventure.
This was bigger than the Dubai Mossad scandal, more damaging than the publication of the South African nuclear documents and probably more enduring than the recurrent clash over illegal settlements in the West Bank. This was about Israel’s shaky standing in the international community, its ability to maintain Washington’s unconditional support and, more urgently, the future of its special ties with one of the most important regional powers; Turkey.
This was a tough assignment for Israel’s famed PR machine; one that many, even in Israel, believe was turning into an impossible mission. One of the immediate casualties for the Netanyahu government was the controversial siege of Gaza. Amid the shock and disbelief over the tragic outcome of the storming of the Liberty Flotilla, Egypt was the first to open the Rafah border crossing indefinitely. Even the toned down UN Security Council statement called for an end to the siege. Turkey demanded the immediate lifting of the blockade, and so did many European and other countries. Under such international pressure and fury it would be difficult to imagine the siege remaining intact for much longer.
As usual Israel responded to world condemnation with bravado and defiance. But that only added to its increasing isolation and despair. The aid ships were carrying supporters from over 60 nationalities, including parliamentarians, artists, authors, Holocaust survivors and journalists. The attack occurred in international waters, against civilians on a peace drive, and it was unprovoked and totally unnecessary. Long gone are the days of Israel’s maverick rescue missions of hijacked ships and planes. This was murder in the high seas.
Israeli commentators were quick to denounce their government for its poor judgment. For many, Israel was now lost at sea, facing its own Vietnam (the futile blockade of Gaza), becoming a burden on the US and quickly turning into a rogue state, a pariah. Calls were made demanding Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s head, but the noose was quickly tightening on Netanyahu’s neck as well.
And there were no signs that international pressure, led mainly by Turkey, was about to subside. More relief ships were at sea heading towards Gaza. Ankara was stepping up the pressure, demanding punishment befitting the crime. Washington, as Israel’s protector, found itself in a position where it had to defend an excusable act by a reckless ally.
Israel is now paying the toll of its Gaza siege. It has cornered itself by failing to find a way out of an unsustainable policy. The siege had failed to dislodge Hamas or turn Gazans against it. Instead Israel was guilty of foiling international efforts to rebuild the stricken strip which is suffering from a humanitarian catastrophe. By insisting on the blockade Netanyahu is fighting a losing battle. Even the PNA and President Abbas, who were hoping to see Hamas toppled, have revised their position. Egypt too is finally weighing in the benefits, if any, of helping Israel punish over 1.5 Palestinians.
The naval fiasco will almost surely bring the end of the Netanyahu government. The Israeli public will not appreciate the reality that they are the center of international condemnation. Besides, Netanyahu has nothing else to offer. He has delayed peace talks for as long as he could, played cat and mouse with the Obama administration to the extent that he had lost support in the White House. And now he is becoming a liability for all.
But the future remains unclear. If Israelis decide to get rid of their present government and opt for new elections, it will certainly be a decisive moment in the country’s history. With a shortage in historic leaders, Israelis will have to make a choice, between a seemingly moderate leader, Tzipi Livni or Ehud Barak, both of whom are now discredited, or decided to veer violently to the extreme right and elect a staunch fascist like Avigdor Lieberman. This will be the most dangerous call in Israel’s modern history.
There is a role for Washington to play in all this. Israel is now at a crucial crossroad and the US must step out of the shadow and mobilize its resources, building on the growing rift among America’s Jewry, especially the young who are becoming more critical of Israel, to influence the outcome of its ally’s next political enterprise. Else Israel will indeed become a liability and a burden and America can do little to protect it from a growing international tide that is increasingly hostile and unforgiving.
Osama Al Sharif is a veteran journalist and political commentator based in Jordan.
Politics
