by Bernie Quigley
For The Hill on 12/28/12
A day of
destiny approaches in Israel; January 22, when the Knesset reforms to new
cultural contours. A critical article by Lisa Goldman and Mairav Zonszein reveals
the ascending paradigm: “The settlement movement registered major victories
this year on various fronts. Its representatives are reaching new heights in
politics, the judiciary and the media. One out of five residents east of the
Green Line is a settler. The expansion of settlements continues unabated, and –
most importantly – settlers are in full control of the Israel national
narrative. In 2012, as more and more observers declared the death of the
two-state solution, the settler became the new normal.”
Unless Bibi falls, and Israeli pundits say he is weakening,
it may go unnoticed in America and in the MSM that a systemic change is
occurring in Israel.
Obama is sure to repudiate this change inside the most
sacred heart of western antiquity. But the century ahead could be seen to have
already taken shape last May with President Obama’s stunning claim – a wish
really – that Israel repeal 50 years of history and return to its indefensible
1967 borders. It was followed by an address by Israel Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu that shook the halls of Congress. Obama then, travelling in Europe,
where he feels most comfortable, brought forth an op ed in The Times of London
with England’s Prime Minister David Cameron, calling the “Arab Spring” a
situation similar to the fall of the Soviet Union, and comparing themselves to
be the modern day Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan. Possibly this helped
Netanyahu. His speech to Americans was greeted with roaring applause and dozens
of standing ovations. For the first time in my memory, an Israeli leader
appeared as an authentic American patriarch; a strong and ancient Father
Abraham here to speak – to intervene, perhaps – on our behalf.
Netanyahu’s speech in Congress in spring this year showed a
deep psychological need for and link to Israel in America for Jews and non Jews
alike. In a most primary way since 9/11 we have come to look to Israel for our
Father Abraham and to experience in this Israeli leader the patriarch we cannot
find among ourselves.
When George H.W. Bush passes, and it appears and it may not
be long, there will be a feeling here that the post-war era has passed and the
balance, sincerity, seriousness and even-handedness that the senior Bush
brought to America and the world is now out of our reach. But it has long been
gone as Congress, the President and their press foster ennui today with fantasy
benchmarks like the “fiscal cliff.” As Sarah says (quoting Ron Paul) we went
over the fiscal cliff long ago. Then we may look elsewhere for strength and character;
England perhaps, as we did with Churchill. But my hunch today is that America’s
world will start again; will lurch forward, maybe, in Israel and very likely in
2013.
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