When Israel withstands U.S. pressure, it serves both Israel and American long-term interests. This is the message of the third in a series of 25 full-page ads produced by Hatikvah Educational Foundation, with the goal of providing "facts on the implications of a Palestinian state, west of the Jordan River, on Israel's survival." The ads can be seen at "www.acpr.org.il/hatikvah".
The third ad explains in brief how Israeli Prime Ministers, between 1948 and 1992, often defied heavy US pressure, thus transforming Israel into a role model of defiance of both pressure and terror, and dramatically expanding strategic cooperation with the US. Since 1992, however, Israeli leaders have succumbed to moderate US pressure, thus dropping in strategic respect and value.
David Ben-Gurion, Levi Eshkol, and Menachem Begin are cited as examples of the former. Ben-Gurion "transformed Israel from a weakling to a deterring entity" by withstanding strong pressure to internationalize Jerusalem, to absorb and compensate Arab refugees, and not to declare independence, even though Israel was economically, militarily and demographically weak. In 1967, Eshkol similarly defied U.S. pressure to refrain from a pre-emptive strike and from reuniting Jerusalem, thus "transforming Israel from a strategic liability to an asset."
Following Israel's bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor, which came despite international threats, "Israel's strategic role was enhanced dramatically and the first US-Israel strategic agreement was signed" only a few months later.
Despite the Bush-Baker Administration in 1990-91, "an unprecedented expansion of strategic cooperation was led by Congress, [reflecting] Congressional appreciation of Israel's growing strategic role in the aftermath of the demise of the USSR." "The USA respects a 'non-punching bag' Israel," the ad states.
The third ad explains in brief how Israeli Prime Ministers, between 1948 and 1992, often defied heavy US pressure, thus transforming Israel into a role model of defiance of both pressure and terror, and dramatically expanding strategic cooperation with the US. Since 1992, however, Israeli leaders have succumbed to moderate US pressure, thus dropping in strategic respect and value.
David Ben-Gurion, Levi Eshkol, and Menachem Begin are cited as examples of the former. Ben-Gurion "transformed Israel from a weakling to a deterring entity" by withstanding strong pressure to internationalize Jerusalem, to absorb and compensate Arab refugees, and not to declare independence, even though Israel was economically, militarily and demographically weak. In 1967, Eshkol similarly defied U.S. pressure to refrain from a pre-emptive strike and from reuniting Jerusalem, thus "transforming Israel from a strategic liability to an asset."
Following Israel's bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor, which came despite international threats, "Israel's strategic role was enhanced dramatically and the first US-Israel strategic agreement was signed" only a few months later.
Despite the Bush-Baker Administration in 1990-91, "an unprecedented expansion of strategic cooperation was led by Congress, [reflecting] Congressional appreciation of Israel's growing strategic role in the aftermath of the demise of the USSR." "The USA respects a 'non-punching bag' Israel," the ad states.