The world is a much better place because Israel exists. That is a sine qua non. There should never be doubt about the veracity of that statement.
And yet, Israel spends an inordinate amount of time and money and exerts large amounts of energy on trying to convince nations, leaders, and people in general of the Jewish state’s positive role in the world.
To my thinking, it is time and energy well spent. The herculean effort is very important both for Israel and for the world.
Recognition of Israel’s central role on this globe is not merely a simple matter of agreeing on one specific policy or another. It is about trade, access to markets and economies. It is about technology and science. And it is certainly about military sales and procurement, about intelligence gathering and intelligence sharing.
Isolation is a bad policy. We need to disregard those who, on the one hand, stand firm in their belief that Israel should not care about what others think and those others, Israelis, Americans and Europeans, who have lost patience with the incessant Israel bashing and with what they see as Israel’s feeble attempts to mollify and justify the attacks. Israel must continue on the path that she has been traversing.
From the very creation of the state, Israel set ethical standards high, higher than any other military in the world. And then, officially and unofficially, Israel repeatedly judges herself, assuring that it can go no higher.
The judgment, the critique, the approbation and the disapproval are discussed and dissected not only in the corridors of power and behind governmental doors.
It is carried on with as much passion and conviction by the media as it is in the local cafes of Tel Aviv, Paris, and New York and at Shabbat tables around the world.
The reason is obvious. It is understandable. Israel must act to protect herself. And Israel’s citizens do not have an obligation to die for someone else’s conception of a just or unjust war.
To do that, Israel still must rally at a high pitch to reach not just critics, not friends, not just those waffling and wavering in the middle – but everybody. Everyone from world leaders to university academics, from financial wizards to Main Street pedestrians.
Why? Because what they think about Israel is crucially important. It is important as a strategy for Israel’s long-term security, for Israel’s military safety and economic stability – especially the dangerous time we now live.
Recognition and acceptance devalue the argument that Israel is a pariah. Take Israel’s neighbors Jordan and Egypt as examples. It is not in either of their interests to join the present fray and attack Israel – even small attacks.
What is in their interests is to keep their borders with Israel secure and quiet. Not because, if they dared to attack, they would certainly lose, because they would lose so much. And so, despite their disagreements, the status quo is maintained.
Promoting the positives of Israel is not simply a psychologically essential stand for Israelis; it is also an important strategy. As important as a strong military. Building durable, strong relationships and alliances attracts investments, and investments lead to normalization. It is those links that make Israel safer. And safety is an essential part of Israel’s foundation.
Israel needs partners for trade, defense, and intelligence
Israel wants and needs partners who recognize the importance of trade and cooperation with Jerusalem on defense and intelligence.
The examples are clear. Look at how Israel is pursuing the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia. And the same model is applied as Israel seeks wider interactions with Asia, with Europe, and especially with Africa.
Disagreements do not lead to trade stoppages. While there are periodic exceptions, disputes over policy, over Gaza, over Judea and Samaria, do not mean the complete cutting of economic ties even when some diplomatic ties are chilled.
Actually, it’s the opposite right now. Despite constant haranguing and diplomatic kvetching from the EU, the European Union remains one of Israel’s largest trading partners and the relationship continues to grow. To the chagrin of Israel’s enemies and Hamas’ supporters, countries that signed statements condemning Israel continue their trade deals and have not imposed sanctions.
Commercial interest will always trump short-term quixotic critiques. Even loud critics do not determine economic plans.
Israel has made itself virtually irreplaceable in the fields of electronics, computer hardware and software, computer security, biotech, medical tech, medicine, vaccines, weapons, just to name a few. That’s why relationships remain so strong.
The actual cost of disrupting supply chains and technology chains is too high for these countries, who are so fast to criticize, to absorb. To satisfy their public, they proclaim condemnation of Israel with symbolic votes and gestures – and leave their governmental pocketbooks intact. It is way too much to expect 100% agreement 100% of the time even from a tried and true partner like the United States. Disagreements are natural. Commerce and exchanges continue.
Israel is expanding international recognition, building stronger and stronger ties with countries around the globe and following through on a strategy that will make for a safer and more prosperous country.
Israel is working hard and making sound decisions. It is all happening despite the public critique. She needs to respond, and she needs to power forward, building better relations. Let her be.
The writer is a columnist and a social and political commentator. Watch his TV show Thinking Out Loud on JBS.