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Time to boost alliance

In face of global threats, Israel and US must boost strategic cooperation

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Washington's level of strategic cooperation with Israel has waned. New York Times political commentator Thomas L. Friedman even wrote, perhaps exaggerating, that the era of diplomatic ties between the two nations is over. America's support for Israel in the political and security arenas is still considered, and rightfully so, to be a stabilizing factor in the Middle East, but not beyond that.

 

Moreover, during the first Gulf War, when there was still an option that Israel might take an active part in the warfare primarily by use of its air force, the US did everything in its power to prevent this from happening. Friends of Israel, particularly in the Republican Party, continued to relate to Israel as America's "land-based aircraft carrier," yet it is doubtful whether they had any idea under what circumstances this "aircraft carrier" would move, if at all.

 

All this is now likely to change against the backdrop of the growing conflict between the free world, led by America, (even if the US has weakened in wake of its involvement in Iraq there is no viable alternative in the offing) and Islamic fundamentalism with its two heads - Shiite Iran on the one hand and Sunni al-Qaida on the other – and other factors such as Hizbullah, Hamas and the Shiite militias in Iraq with whom they are affiliated.

 

Undoubtedly, Israel's management of the second Lebanon War was perceived as a great disappointment to the American Administration, both in the political and military arenas. However, the IDF and Israel's defense establishment are still considered to be amongst the best in the world. Namely, Israel's reputation has only temporarily been tarnished in Washington. This of course is on condition that Israel takes reliable and effective measures to improve the ranks of its defense and civilian leaderships.

 

This new reality is clearly evident where Iran is concerned. In the situation that is emerging, Israel may under certain circumstances play an active role rather than just being an observer, whether it likes it or not.

 

Iran just part of problem

Israel is not eager to take up this role, but just like in a Luigi Pirandello play, it appears that it won't have much choice but to do so sooner or later.

 

But Iran is just part of the problem, because in the overall struggle against Islamic fundamentalism the free world doesn't have too many allies in our region. The regimes, although not necessarily the populations of the "moderate" Sunni countries (Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the Arab Emirates) indeed share the American concern, but at least one of these countries, Saudi Arabia, is also a source of inspiration and funding for the Sunni Jihadists, and there are several question marks hanging over the others as well.

 

In recent years, cooperation and strategic coordination between the Israeli and American establishments has eroded to a certain extent. Whether we are destined to turn into America's "aircraft carrier" or not, or whether we shall constitute just one of the elements in what has already been defined as the "third world war" - both sides, Israel and the US, must take immediate action to add new and relevant content to the term "strategic cooperation."

 


פרסום ראשון: 02.05.07, 16:07
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