Drifting Away From Israel

As President Obama uses the current rift over settlements to apply more pressure to the Israeli government, Prime Minister Netanyahu may find less support in the U.S. than expected. Today, American Jews appear to have less in common with Israel than in the past.

The current rift between the U.S. and Israel takes me back to the 1988 presidential transition.  At the time, the U.S. under President Ronald Reagan moved to open contact with the PLO. From the transition bleachers, the move was understandable.  The Reagan Administration was on its way out and could afford to take the heat. Congress was out of session and so congressional pushback would be minimal. American Jews were having a fit over a drive to change Israel’s immigration laws to restrict eligibility under Israel's Law of Return -- a change that was being pushed by the Hassidic Lubavitch sect.  In other words, American Jews were feeling less kindly to Israel.  Few would complain. U.S. PLO contact was achieved at a low cost.

It is 20+ years and once again U.S.-Israel relations are in the news, and once again a presidential transition has made part of the difference.  On Israel, Obama is no Bush 43 just as Bush 41 was no Reagan.  By the same measure American Jews appear to have less in common with Israel than they did 20 years ago and this change may be the biggest difference of all.

Let me explain.  With the exception of Orthodox Jews, Israel does not resonate among American Jews the way it once did.  As American Jews continue to assimilate and acculturate, Israel is looking more Balkan, more Confederate and more alien.

It is difficult to imagine that this combination plays well with either Team Obama or America’s Jews.  For starters, the president was raised in Indonesia by a Muslim dad. The parents of the president’s counselor David Axelrod were leftists and Axe's other clients have included New York’s Carl McCall and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick.  The race and liberal thing matter both to the President and Axelrod.  It is their meal ticket, their passport to fame, fortune and glory.

It is also difficult to picture Obama or Axelrod having the warm and fuzzies for Bibi, settlements and Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman -- who just oozes a particular kind of Slavic Style persona and nationalism that can grate on liberal -- and for that matter -- Western sensibilities.   As for Bibi himself, he's the guy who was running to the congressional GOP back when Bill Clinton was embroiled with Monica.  Lest anyone forget, the Clintons have very long memories and Hillary Rodham Clinton is now Secretary of State.

Likewise, don't expect American Jews to dance the hora for Bibi.  His coalition contains the Religious Right on steroids, guys with coats, beards and uzis that make Pat Robertson and the late Jerry Falwell look like groovy Unitarian Ministers.

Now that may play well in certain precincts of Brooklyn and Queens, but most American Jews are not looking at that coalition with a smile, and my sense is that most American Jews are not going to get into a lather over the current imbroglio. They don't feel like they have a dog in this fight.

And the numbers tell the story.  According to Gallup, Israel is more popular among Republicans than Democrats, and that is a big story given that Jews vote overwhelmingly Democratic in national elections.

Statistically, there's a better chance that the fellow who worships at First Baptist in Jackson, Mississippi will be pro-Israel than the random congregant at Brick Presbyterian on upper Madison Avenue.  But, at the same time the congregant at Brick will more likely have a Jewish spouse or in-law.

And that is one of Bibi's problems -- American Jews are stepping back from Israel.  After Obama did his diss Israel tour  (the Muslim world followed by Buchenwald, while skipping Israel), Bibi followed up by ranting to aides that Axe and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel were self-hating Jews.

Safe to say that Bibi’s outburst didn't win him any friends back in the U.S.  And the idea of lashing out at Emanuel was just retarded. Emanuel volunteered in Israel during the First Gulf War and is a member of an Orthodox congregation.  Axelrod, for his part, signed Emanuel's ketubah (wedding contract in Hebrew) as a witness.

So where does that leave Obama and Bibi?  Right now AIPAC, ADL and House GOP Whip Eric Cantor are leading the charge.  In that sense there are no surprises. Their pushback is expected.

The question is whether there will be a letter circulated among the Senate and House membership rebuffing the president?

Interestingly, according to Ben Smith of Politico, most pro-Israel Dems in Congress are staying quiet.  Can you say the Dog that Didn't Bark?