Routledge Handbook on Israeli Security by Stuart A Cohen & Aharon Klieman

Author:Stuart A Cohen & Aharon Klieman [Cohen, Stuart A & Klieman, Aharon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781138217300
Google: I2nKtAEACAAJ
Goodreads: 40830799
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2018-10-24T00:00:00+00:00

Assessing Israel’s record

Contemporary Israel’s diplomacy disappoints in several senses. Despite the many threats to the country’s security, no treaty binds any great power to its defense. Israel continues to be one of the most censured countries in the world. It remains isolated in the Middle East where most countries still refuse to grant recognition. Although Egypt and Jordan signed treaties with Israel, in each case the peace is “cold,” tourism is limited and popular hatred of Israelis widely manifest. In Europe, both the extreme right and left have little in common other than their desire to see Israel destroyed. Support for Israel remains strong in America, but there are fears that over time only Orthodox Jews, conservative Republicans and Evangelical Christians will continue to back the Jewish state. Whether this support will suffice to sustain the special relationship with the United States needs to be a central concern for Jerusalem.

Israeli diplomacy has also missed opportunities that might have brought a peace settlement with the Palestinians, thus normalizing its existence in the region and within the international community. It is impossible to know how history might have evolved had different decisions been made, other paths chosen. Nevertheless, at several junctures Israeli diplomacy might reasonably have taken an alternative and more beneficial direction.

Anwar Sadat made several overtures to Israel before finally going to war in 1973, and one is entitled to wonder whether the October War might not have been avoided had Israel been less confident of its ability to deter an Egyptian attack and more forthcoming in responding to those feelers. The 2002 Saudi peace initiative recognized Israel’s right to exist, albeit with stringent conditions. Instead of welcoming the plan and negotiating with the Saudis (and others) about these conditions, Israel chose largely to ignore it, possibly missing yet another opportunity for a broader Mideast peace.

Similarly, Israel’s insistence that the Palestinians recognize it as a Jewish state, while understandable, may have foreclosed an opportunity to reach a deal with Mahmoud Abbas, the flawed Palestinian leader who nonetheless may be the most reasonable negotiating partner Israelis will have for quite some time. Persistent settlement activity, including settlements established beyond the established blocs, has poisoned relations with the Palestinians, Israel’s Middle Eastern neighbors and the world at large. To be sure, much of the blame for the failure to reach a peace deal lies with the Palestinian leadership’s support of incitement and terrorism. Nonetheless, it is difficult to ignore the possibility that Israeli diplomacy might have made inroads into achieving peace and acceptance but for continued and expanding occupation.

Nevertheless, despite an unpopular global image and some missed opportunities, Israeli diplomacy on the whole has proven remarkably successful. The first indication of its success is what distinguishes it from its ancient ancestors: namely, modern Israel has not only survived but also thrived.

Israel today maintains diplomatic relations with over 160 countries – a nearly two-fold increase over the past 30 years. Countries throughout the world seek Israeli expertise in fighting terrorism, developing advanced agricultural techniques and advances in information technology.

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