While many individuals, groups and countries have shown exceptional support for Israel in a difficult fight against multiple enemies, some nations have stained their honor with their behavior over the past eight months.
There is a very famous story about King David immediately prior to his passing away. He calls for his son and future king, Solomon, and lists several individuals whom he wishes his son to deal with after the king’s passing. Some helped David in his time of need and should be fixtures at the next king’s tables. Others were treacherous. For the latter, David implored Solomon to use his great wisdom to make them pay.
As the old expression “a friend in need is a friend indeed” could be applied to Israel since 10/7, one can see an enormous number of individuals, groups and countries who came to Israel’s aid. El-Al, currently the only company flying directly between the US and Israel [and not coincidentally reporting $80 million in first quarter profits compared to a $34 million dollar Q1 loss last year] has planes filled with huge duffles and boxes of goods for soldiers and internally displaced Israelis. Jewish and non-Jewish citizens and organizations have made efforts to provide money and goods for Israelis in need. A friend of mine stationed generally outside of Gaza said that he has never eaten from so many barbecues in his life. Every group that comes to their post insists on making a feast for the soldiers waiting to go back into the strip.
And the US government has come through big-time for Israel. Holding the Biden-Blinken kvetching and threat routine to the side, the US has provided a huge amount of military equipment and support for Israel’s efforts. The US has been joined by other countries in providing material assistance and long-term support. When the 300+ projectile Iranian volley was on its way to Israel, the US, France, Bahrain, Jordan, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia took part in shooting down projectiles over their territories or in the vicinity of deployed naval assets. I am not a spokesman for the state of Israel, but there is great appreciation for those who have stood with the country during its most difficult hour. Seeing friends of Israel with Israeli flags in unfriendly surroundings such as London or the Australian parliament warms the heart. What can one say about the steadfast support of John Fetterman who was honored at Yeshiva University yesterday.
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But who should be on the naughty list? While Israel is responsible for the failures on 10/7, several countries have made the months after the attack more difficult. There are countries who have shown their worst during the past few months, and while I don’t have the power of King David to demand that the Israeli government pay them back, Israel should look long and hard on how to either get around these countries or in some instances, destabilize their terror-supporting governments.
*Egypt has benefited enormously from making peace with Israel. US aid began to flow under President Carter only after Egypt agreed to make peace. It received Sinai back, after Israel gave up on forward air bases and oil production. By making peace with Israel, Egypt put away any threat from its only peer army in the region. And what did Israel get in return? While I doubt that Egypt ran the weapons to Hamas, there is no way that the endless tons of weapons could move over or under the Rafah crossing without Egyptian knowledge and no doubt profit. Egypt probably saw the arming of Hamas as a good buffer against Israel, but the attack last October and the continued rocket fire and violent resistance of Hamas simply reinforce how much weaponry Mubarakh, Morsi and El-Sisi let into Gaza. If Israel destabilizes El-Sisi, then it can welcome the Muslim Brotherhood back again. Should it strengthen ISIS in Sinai? Probably not. Still, Egypt’s duplicity has been shown to the world and Israel should keep the Philadelphi corridor and look for the right opportunity to exact a price for letting so many RPGs and Kalashnikovs get through Rafah..
*Iran is the financier, trainer, and supporter of all of the groups currently attacking Israel. One might find it hard to believe that Israel and Iran had great relations under the Shah. The Iranian economy is weak with the official rial/dollar rate of 42,200, while the real rate is over 500,000 to the dollar. President Obama missed a great opportunity to support the masses who protested Iranian election results on his watch. He and Biden are bent on getting Iran back into world affairs. Israel should strengthen opposition groups and look for any opportunity to weaken the Iranian economy. The Soviet Union fell when it collapsed internally and not through war. Iran needs to be made unmanageable and support must be given to those who wish to get rid of the mullahs.
*Turkey. One cannot emphasize how important Turkey was to Israel. Before the Islamist takeover, Turkey and Israel were allies. Israel had the contract to upgrade Ankara’s F4 fighters. Israelis came to Turkey by the thousands to enjoy relatively inexpensive vacations, while much of the manufacturing in Turkey was for products ranging from clothes to appliances shipped to Israel. Erdogan has during his long reign acted as friend and sworn foe of Israel. Since 10/7, he has openly associated with Hamas, chided Netanyahu (called him a vampire) and unilaterally stopped all trade between the two countries. One day, when he or his successor comes to be friends again, I hope that Israelis will continue to go to Greece and Cyprus and that new manufacturing will be arranged with Poland, Vietnam, India and other developing countries.
*Lebanon is at the mercy of Hezbollah. Hezbollah is far more sophisticated and advanced than Hamas. Its missiles and drones generally go to their targets. Their tunnels are considered way beyond those of Hamas. The only way to get rid of Hezbollah without a full-scale war is to throw Lebanon into turmoil. Hezbollah controls Lebanese politics and as with Iran, if Israel can make Lebanon’s economy an ever bigger basket case, the time may come where the people will demand the removal of Hezbollah as an Iranian-funded interloper.
*Spain has been the most aggressive of the European countries who have recognized a non-existent “Palestine.” They have openly demanded “from the river to the sea.” Spain has supported the ICC and ICJ actions against Israel. There is not much Israel can do against a large European state. It could cut off flights which at a time when only a third of all carriers are still flying, that would be unlikely. Israel should not share any sensitive intelligence with the current Spanish leadership and hope for a friendlier government in the future.
There will be a day after Gaza, and when it comes, Israel will have to coolly analyze who its friends and new foes are.
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