JERUSALEM — In the bad old days of Israel’s precarious economic state they used to tell a joke about a debate at which the suggestion was made that Israel should declare war on the United States. The US would, of course, win, invade Israel and then provide for it. That was the optimistic view. The pessimists asked: What if Israel conquers America?
Today’s Iran is no America and Israel going to war with it wouldn’t be for economic reasons. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s rhetoric about Iran in the last few years has been about Israel’s security. But is his contention based on facts or is it part of the fiction about him being Israel’s Mr. Security?
It’s difficult to know whether Netanyahu’s obsession with Iran is because he cares for his country or if his real purpose is to persuade Israelis that he and only he can make sure that Israel remains secure, expanding at the expense of the Palestinians and prosperous?
The answer isn’t simple. For there’s much to suggest that Israeli hostility to Iran has brought the Jewish state closer to many Arab states, notably Saudi Arabia and Gulf States, on the basis that my enemy’s enemy is my friend. Much of that may be thanks to our prime minister.
And Iran deserves to be punished for harassing Israel through its proxies: Hezbollah in the North and Islamic Jihad in the South. The unstable situation in Lebanon increases the risk of Iranian influence and recent rocket attacks from Gaza indicate that Iran is active there. The semi-covert attacks by Israel on Iranian installations in Syria in the recent past, unacknowledged by Israel and not responded to by Iran, must not just irk Iranians but motivate them to retaliate on their terms.
Though as things now stand, Israel is probably strong enough to repel attacks from Iran and cause it lasting damage, but if Iran succeeds in its nuclear ambitions, all hell – literally – may break lose. Therefore, in addition to the security measures, Israel must also reconsider its stance and drastically reduce its belligerence, not that Iran deserves it, but because Israel needs it.
Netanyahu won’t do it, but Gantz might. The latter’s speech at the Rabin memorial rally on Saturday night in Tel Aviv suggests that he’s aware of it and, we hope, capable of bringing it about. Which is another reason why we should hope that Gantz will manage to form the next government of Israel. It doesn’t look easy, but it’s possible that the prospect of another election will scare the politicians on the right. There’re rumors that internal polls suggest that both Netanyahu’s Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu led by “kingmaker” Avigdor Lieberman will lose mandates, should there be a next round, and, therefore, they may lower their demands for being part of a unity government.
I still hope – in vain, I’m told – that Netanyahu will be prepared to retire from politics on the assurance that he won’t be prosecuted, perhaps with the help of a presidential decree. Or is that too much to hope for?
Unfortunately, there’s little evidence that any politician would compromise for the good of Israel. One reason for being desperately disappointed with our leaders is that, though they say that they wish to serve their country, they only seem to want to serve themselves. That’s perhaps one reason why so many young people are cynical about politics.
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Rabbi Dow Marmur is spiritual leader emeritus of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto, Canada. Now a resident citizen of Israel, he may be contacted via dow.marmur@sdjewishworld.com