A New Image for Israel and America

April 8, 2009

by Daniel E. Levenson

JERUSALEM -There are those around the world who view recent political change in Washington and Jerusalem as an opportunity to raise questions about the close relationship between Israel and the United States. In both countries there are those who are uncomfortable with the strong ties between Israel and America, and have as their agenda the loosening of these ties, and in extreme cases, the severing of them. I acknowledge there are times when the national interests of these two great (but not perfect) democracies are not in perfect harmony with each other, but despite the occasions on which interests appear to diverge, I would argue that many of our core values, as well as long-term strategic goals in the Middle East and around the world, are in line with one another.

Both nations have a vested interested in encouraging political and social stability in places like Lebanon, Gaza and Iraq, as well as a strong mutual desire to prevent the emergence of a viable nuclear threat from Iran. But our shared interests go beyond security matters. Israelis and Americans share a drive to explore new ideas in science and technology, ideas that could benefit all people, regardless of nationality or ethnicity. We share a common belief in the importance of the arts and humanities as well, with open societies that allow artists and writers the freedom they need to explore all aspects of the cultures in which they live, both good and bad, providing a powerful example for other peoples across the globe, especially in the Middle East and western Asia.

While the lobbyists are no doubt already hard at work and the editorial pages of major newspapers are giving voice to a chorus of concerns about Israeli-American relations, I would submit that these newly-elected leaders, Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu , have a precious opportunity in the months ahead to take advantage of mutual national  interests, to bring about real change that has the potential to extend well-beyond the borders of Israel and America . But even if both men have the best of intentions, there is a danger that this conversation will be hijacked by those who hold their own extremist political or military agendas. If we allow such voices to dominate the conversation we run the grave risk of failing at this critical moment, forsaking the opportunity for a new era of Israeli-American cooperation which could have a profound impact on people around the globe.

Such cooperation could lead to a dramatic shift, worldwide, in how both nations are perceived, while at the same time improving the lives of people in some of the most impoverished places on the planet. With the combined resources of American and Israeli scientific and humanitarian resources, we could lead a revolution in areas such as water conservation, sustainable agriculture, and alternative energy development. Such a revolution would open doors in societies with which both Israel and the United States have previously had difficult or even openly hostile relations in the past. In these mostly poor, unstable places, crime and terrorism often appear to make easy inroads, attracting desperate people who see no other way to feed or protect themselves of their families. With a new joint program between Israel and America, we could bring the technology and tools to these people which would offer a viable, more productive, more peaceful alternative to relying on criminal enterprises or Islamist militias for food, security and a sense of self-worth.

Let there be no doubt – in the world’s poorest regions there is a vacuum, in failed and failing states, there is a vacuum, a vacant lot where the weeds of Islamic militants and enemies of modernity have been allowed to flourish, an empty space, where clean wells, verdant fields and decent schools should be.  With Israeli and American agricultural technology, with inexpensive but durable housing, with regular access to clean drinking water, Israel and America could begin to fill this vacuum that extends from the Horn of Africa to southern Lebanon  to Indonesia and beyond. We could begin to replace fear, hatred, a perverted sense of religion and AK-47’s with solar power, potable water and greater mutual understanding.

Such a program would not only be a brilliant piece of cultural and economic diplomacy, creating good will in the world toward our two countries, but would have the potential to pay real dividends as well in terms of security, loosening the grip that groups like Hamas, Hezbollah and Al-Queda have in places where governments are unwilling or unable to help their own citizens maintain a decent standard of living. It would also demonstrate to others that America and Israel have a greater mission in the world than simply protecting our own borders. It would show the world that we also believe strongly in working to better the lives of our fellow human beings, regardless of nationality, ethnicity or faith. This is an idea that I personally believe should be at the forefront of American foreign policy right now, and one that I would humbly suggest Israel consider as well.

As we think about the future of Israel-America relations I firmly believe that we should continue to maintain the kind of close security relationship we have developed over the years, but we must also forge ahead with other ideas in mind, making good use of the collective resources of both nations, in order to show a new, more hopeful, more accurate image of Israel and America, to both our allies and our  enemies, around the world.

Copyright Daniel E. Levenson 2009