16 August 2009
By Yisrael Ne'eman

US President Barack Obama is viewed by many in Israel and the Diaspora Jewish communities with great suspicion. For many he is seen as anti-Israel while the Jewish Right has the uneasy feeling that he may actually be a closet anti-Semite despite having two very close Jewish advisors in Rahm Emanuel and David Axelrod whom they label as "self-hating Jews". Obama is not anti-Israel, he is simply not pro-Israel and he is certainly not an anti-Semite nor do his advisors hate themselves. Rather the Obama administration has entered into the great Jewish divide/family feud concerning the continued existence of the world Jewish community - the Israeli nation state situated in the ancient homeland or Diaspora Jewry living in pluralistic America?

For Obama America and the western democracies are the answer to the "Jewish Problem" as it was called in 19th century Europe when the Christian world was seeking a solution of what to do with the Jews. Here Jewish communities can be welcomed, developed and enjoy full human rights while participating fully in the land of opportunity. Of course obligations to the liberal democratic state are a given. The President has made his commitment clear. He held a Passover Seder (second night) at the White House, invited Jewish leaders for talks (but not ZOA or the particularly Zionist ones) and continues to emphasize Jewish suffering and particularly the Holocaust.

The latter is compared with suffering of all peoples but most specifically that of the Palestinians - the inference being that Jewish nationalism is responsible and not the fact that the Arab/Moslem world, Palestinians included, rejected the Partition Plan two-state solution in November 1947 leading to the 1948 War meant to destroy any attempt at Jewish independence. The result was a refugee problem the Arabs/Palestinians brought upon themselves. Obama infers a parity or equality between Palestinian refugee issues and the Holocaust even if none exists. One can further understand that had there not been Jewish nationalism (but only a messianic religious hope) no harm would have come to the Palestinians and the West alone would need to make restitution to the Jews. The best solution was for world Jewry to find its home in the liberal democratic West. Hence Jewish nationalism or Zionism is not particularly in the American or world interest.

Israel's independence is secondary as are its security concerns. It is not that Obama seeks Israel's destruction but rather as a rock bottom foundation of understanding he does not see Jewish survival as tied in exclusively with the Jewish State. Looking back at close to 2000 years of Diaspora Jewish history one can certainly understand this perspective. Jewish interests concern individual, religious and communal rights, but not necessarily national independence. Israel may be an independent state but that does not mean such a situation should continue in its present form. If need be Israel can be weakened (or viewed as unsafe) to accommodate Arab/Moslem needs if such a policy be in the American interest.

One can rest assured that when observing American Jewry (or maybe more correctly Jewish Americans) and the proof they provide through their residency in the USA he becomes convinced that they too prefer America to Israel. Query the vast majority of Jews living in the USA and even those who declare unswerving support for Israel and one will find they have no intention of Zionist "realization" and coming on aliyah. Add to this the fact that well over half a million Israelis have chosen immigration to America (Emanuel's family) and feeling himself on much more solid ground, the president will build an alliance with Diaspora Jewry as opposed to the State of Israel.

From Obama's perspective Israel is a constant irritant in US-Arab/Moslem world relations, issues of settlements are only a symbolic sideline. Just Israel's existence is an affront to the Arab/Moslem world and complicates American foreign policy. Certainly had the Jews found the answer to their "Problem" in the framework of liberal, democratic America none of these complications would exist.

The President is focusing on dual loyalty issues but in a positive light without asking whether one is first Jewish or American but rather shifting the emphasis. He is driving a wedge between Jews in Israel and those in the Diaspora by laying bare their clash of interests. He is exposing the weakness of Zionist commitment of those who claim to be American Jews and in essence accuses them of being hypocritical. He demands of them to forthrightly claim they are Jewish Americans and to stand by Washington first. In return Obama promises not a melting pot, but a full and complete pluralism where one's Jewish heritage - whether religious, cultural, historical or whatever - will be fully respected. Jews as individuals and as a community are to be fully obligated to the US while enjoying all the benefits of being 100% American.