Memorandum on US Foreign Policy Regarding Israel

Memorandum on US Foreign Policy Regarding Israel

To: Donald Trump, President of the United States

From: Nora McQuilkin, Secretary of State

Date: 22 February 2018

Re: The end of the United States’ unwavering, one-sided support of Israel

Introduction

The current climate of the Middle East, that of tension, conflict, and United States intervention, is exacerbated by the inability of the United States to distance itself from Israeli interests, many of which that do not benefit its own. Congress is overwhelmed by the constant pressures of the Israel Lobby to continue their unwavering support of Israel’s national interests, and U.S. security is put at risk as a result of Arab and Islamic opposition to that backing. Regardless of what some may believe are moral obligations to the Israeli state, the United States has become something of a puppet to Israel. It is necessary that the United States become more critical of Israel’s action and/or inaction, and create policies more in tune with its own foreign interests. First and foremost, I believe that Israel, as a wealthy industrial state, should not be the largest recipient of direct economic and/or military aid. Israel should expect to be treated like other allies or recipients of U.S. aid, and penalized for frequently ignoring U.S. requests or betraying U.S. trust. It is necessary for Congress to distance itself from the Israel Lobby and adopt policies in line with realpolitik principles in order to advance democracy within the Middle East and consequently promote peace in that region as well.

Evidence

The United States’ unwavering, one-sided support of Israel has caused more problems than it has resolved. An underlying cause of Congress’s inability to take a step back from Israel’s interests is the fear of being labeled anti-sematic. The Jewish community has been so severely persecuted in the past and find safety in their homeland, so much so that some in the United States argue that we owe them that much following the horrific events of the Holocaust. Others argue that the two states are similar in that they are both threatened by terrorist groups in the Muslim world. The United States finds it necessary to defend Israel as it is surrounded by enemies, hostile dictatorships in the Middle East. The difficulty with these reasons being that morality should bear little, if any, weight in United States foreign policy making. U.S. relations with Israel can hardly be called an alliance considering Israeli disregard for U.S. authority and U.S. indifference to Israeli defiance. The United States needs to be more authoritative with the Israeli state as it is with other foreign nations and allies. Considering that many aspects of Israeli democracy are at odds with United States core values, for lack of better words, the United States is being used. Israel is receiving direct aid, military technology and intelligence, as well as consistent diplomatic support from the United States, and in return does not demonstrate loyalty. Nevertheless, they continue accepting voluntary U.S. support.  

Implementation

US intervention and support of Israel’s efforts in the Middle East have led to complications among other alliances with nations in the Middle East, and the United States taking on Israel’s enemies as its own. Many consider the fact that the US has moral obligations to Israel, and even strategic reasons for our undying support, but the fact of the matter is the unchallenged power of the Israel Lobby is what has led to the United States’ indifference to Israeli defiance and continuation of U.S. backing. As it stands, American foreign policy is heavily influenced by unopposed Jewish-American organizations: the Israel Lobby has more influence than it should in Congress.  I am not arguing for the total retraction of US support, just more provisions set in place for Israeli officials to follow regarding their conduct in the Middle East; a more “laissez-faire” approach to dealing with them, even. The United States needs to focus more on its own issues, not those thrust upon the nation because of our dealings with Israel. Our current foreign policies seem to be more focused on helping other nations solve their own problems by making them our own and has proven to be detrimental to our involvement in foreign affairs. The United States should employ a practice similar to that of neutrality, almost in line with your America First policy. Our policies with Israel should mirror those we have with other foreign nations, for the safety of the United States as well as the advancement of democracy. The lobbying efforts made by those in support of aiding Israel should not bear as much weight as should the national interests of the United States. We have aided the Israeli’s for a long time, any moral reasons for doing so are now null. Israel has the strongest military in the Middle East and a stable economy. Implementation of this foreign policy seems more likely with your administration in office than with previous presidencies because of your America First policy. Focusing less on Israel and more on the interests of the United States will be beneficial to our relations with other nations in the Middle East and our efforts to promote democracy in that region as well.