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Part Seven - The Diplomatic Plan - Making Israel a Jewish State
Concerns about the diplomatic plan (1/2)
American pressure
Throughout the entire history of Israeli-American relations, the US has been able to align itself with Israeli policy, provided that it was a clear and principled policy that was prepared to bear the brunt of any pressure. Since the establishment of the state, which was accompanied by pressure on Ben-Gurion not to declare our independence – pressure that included an embargo on the supply of weapons at Israel's most difficult time, to American pressure to prevent the bombing of the reactor in Iraq as well as other cases, it has always been clear that when Israeli leaders place Israeli interests before American ones and are prepared to absorb the pressures, the American administration ultimately aligns itself with the new reality, and life returns to normal. It is inconceivable that when it comes to basic questions such as Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem, Israel would submit to American pressure or any other pressure.
American aid
For many in Israel, the assumption has been made that Israel is living off of the US This is a completely baseless assumption: the amount of aid, which today is entirely military, amounts to $ 3.5 billion a year – about 3 percent of the state budget. – only 1% of GDP. 75% of this sum must be spent on the purchase of American weapons, and soon the US purchase requirement[18] will increase to 100%.
Part of this amount could have been saved by the purchase of Israeli weapons systems, which are generally better and cheaper. Another part could be gained by removing the political barriers to the production and export of Israeli weapons systems. The F-35 deal is also an excellent example of the impact of American "aid" on Israel's security and economy[19]. This "aid" is essentially an American interest. The American arms industry is the main growth engine that Americans are able to count on – an industry which is groing even during the current recession, more than seven times any other industry in the US, and provides hundreds of thousands of jobs. The "aid" is actually a way to stream American money into its own weapons industry at the expense of Israel's security and economic interests. These are huge sums that are managed without any real supervision and invite widespread corruption.
It is not only to Israel that the Americans supply weapons. The United States is flooding the Middle East with American weapons and supplying the Arab states with weapons in quantities that exceed those intended for Israel. The only Arab army that remains close and threatens Israel's border is the Egyptian army – thanks to the support and armament of American weapons that Egypt received in return for agreeing to sign the peace agreement at Camp David.
Giving up US "aid" is therefore a necessity[20]. In relative terms, Israel's economy is much stronger and more stable than that of America. The trade balance between the two countries stands at about a third in Israeli's favor. Giving up the "aid" is certainly possible economically, and is very correct from a security point of view. Israel will be able to continue to purchase American systems which it really needs with Israeli money, but at the same time diversify its defenses in Israeli and other systems.
In addition, the United States is a very religious country, relative to the Western world and relative to its widespread image. American public support for Israel is based on common values of faith and liberty that are rooted in the Bible and the prophets of Israel. The support or lack of support of successive American administrations does not reflect the public identification to its depth, because the State of Israel itself is alienated from these values. Connection to Jewish identity in place of alienation from it – as expressed in the goal of this program – will rise up and increase the American public's solidarity, and after a short period, American leadership will also fall into political line.
This is all the more obvious since the election of President Trump, who broadcasts the most pro-Israeli messages, while simultaneously announcing his intention to weigh continuation of the aid.
The European boycott
As we have explained, the European boycott is mainly the result of giving up Israeli justice. Israel has always been boycotted by the Arab states and weathered the Arab boycott without any special difficulties. The expansion of boycott circles into European bodies was not due to the lack of a political process, as commonly claimed, but rather to the contrary – it followed the political process.
Israel always expects that its concessions will gain it increased understanding from the Western world. Reality has always turned out to be the opposite. Always after a brief period of feeble support, the renunciation of Israeli justice has led to a growing ethical demand on the part of the West – a demand that translates into political pressure, and alongside it, economic pressure as well. It is to be expected that the opposite process will correspondingly result in a similar response. A return to Israeli justice will be accepted with a relatively weak protest, but the enlightened nations will once again support the just side.
It is important to remember that the "European boycott" is essentially a boycott by private parties. Europeans have a clear interest in maintaining normal trade relations with Israel. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, Israel imports about $25 billion a year from Europe, and exports essential and unique products, especially in the high-tech sector. The boycott of Israel by European governments, apart from the products of the settlements, is not and will not be on the agenda.
To conclude this topic, it is important to remember that a just Israel, living in peace with its Jewish identity, and turning to believing humanity, can (and easily) create a boycott against those who boycott Israel. In the United States alone there are 80 million evangelicals whose slogan is "And I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you" (Genesis 12:3). A hint from the government of Israel will suffice to turn every boycotter into a boycottee, by a huge public that wishes to be blessed with the blessing of God to the people about whom this verse speaks – and to make it very undesirable.
[18] Which leads to a situation in which weapons developed entirely in Israel are manufactured in the United States so that the IDF can equip itself with them out of the American aid.
[19] The details of this purchase transaction are discussed in Appendix F-35 as an illustration.
[20] And it should be mentioned to the credit of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he forwent the civilian aid component as early as 1996, close to his being elected for the first time.
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