By Rabbi Dow Marmur
JERUSALEM — Despite frequent protestations to the contrary (perhaps more often by the Americans than by the Israelis) that the relationship between the United States and the Jewish state is stronger than ever, the general impression here is different. This may be due to the widespread impression that President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu just don’t like each other, “have no good chemistry.” But perhaps it’s because Obama isn’t pro-Israel, as many Jews I know seem to believe, or because Netanyahu is a committed Republican; his ambassador in Washington Ron Dermer is a former Republican staffer.
Netanyahu is trying to make up for it. His relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia looks warm and strong, which may due to Israel’s determination to stay out of the mess in Syria where Putin dominates. It may also be because Netanyahu wants to irk Obama; close ties with Putin would do precisely that.
More significant is Netanyahu’s relations with Sunni Muslim states. The peace with both Egypt and Jordan seems to be warmer than ever; Israel has a diplomatic mission in the Gulf States which also means ties with Saudi Arabia; the reconciliation with Turkey might also be seen in this context; and we’ve just been told that Israel will establish diplomatic relations with Muslim Somalia.
This piece of news comes during Netanyahu’s “historic” visit to Africa. What may have started as an expedition to Uganda to mark the 40th anniversary of Israel’s spectacular rescue of the hostages at Entebbe has turned out to be a grand tour to several African countries and meetings with other leaders on the continent.
Israel would obviously like to make enough friends in Africa and elsewhere to stop the almost automatic condemnation of Israel at the United Nations and its offshoots. But the tour has also important economic implications: eighty business people are travelling with Netanyahu and the hope is to strengthen trade to the benefit of all concerned.
The growing relationship with China is of the same ilk.
Though the turning away from America may be Netanyahu’s greatest failure – which doesn’t mean that Obama isn’t doing his own turning away from Israel – the turning toward the Muslim world, China and Africa may go down in history as Netanyahu’s greatest achievement.
I would have hesitated to state this had I not read last week’s column in Ha’aretz by Ari Shavit who seems to be the most authoritative critic of Israel’s current prime minister but is also fair enough to give praise when praise is due. Shavit is critical of Netanyahu for not doing better with Obama but full of praise for him for his other diplomatic achievements. It’s too early to be euphoric about Israel’s place in the world in the years to come but it may be appropriate not to be unduly alarmed by the cooling of relationships with the Obama administration.
But America is still crucial for the security and welfare of Israel. What US-Israel relations will look like when America will get its new president seems very difficult to predict. Donald Trump as president is likely to be inconsistent and unpredictable as he has been during the campaign. Though Hillary Clinton has a record as the former US Secretary of State, few people I hear and read here seem to have illusions about her four or eight years in the White House as a honeymoon with Israel.
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Rabbi Marmur is spiritual leader emeritus of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto. Now residing in Israel, he may be contacted via dow.marmur@sdjewishworld.com. Comments intended for publication in the space below MUST be accompanied by the letter writer’s first and last name and by his/ her city and state of residence (city and country for those outside the United States.)