Mitt Romney – Israel’s best friend?

Mitt Romney – Israel’s best friend?

 

I just don’t get it. To hear presidential candidate Mitt Romney, the Republican Party and the Republican Jewish Coalition , President Obama has been inconsistent in his support of Israel and will have no need to continue his support if re-elected. Mitt Romney, on the other hand, is described as a good and constant friend. Some even point to the personal friendship between Bibi Netanyahu and Gov. Romney.

According to an article in the current Jewish Journal of Broward South, South Florida Jewish voters key in Obama-Romney contest, the Republican Jewish Coalition has committed over $2 million to a very visible campaign in Florida, including “Obama…Oy Vey” billboards, newspaper advertising, buttons and t-shirts and $1.5 million in South Florida TV and cable channel advertising. A million piece mailing is anticipated from this organization, all apparently sponsored through the Mitt Romney Presidential Campaign.

Despite negative posturing by P.M. Netanyahu in favor of Mitt Romney, Israeli military and political leaders credit the Obama administration as the most supportive of Israel in recent decades both militarily and politically. The apparently poor relationship between president Obama and P.M. Netanyahu may be as much due to the latter’s friendship with Gov. Romney as due to President Obama’s criticism and pressure over the settlement policies that threaten to derail efforts towards peace.

It is this writer’s belief that a good friend not only takes an interest, but is willing to invest in the friendship. A good friend does not allow a friend to pursue folly without saying something, but will then stand by that friend through thick and thin. A bad friend will speak warmly of friendship but will allow that friend to pursue folly for their own personal gain and then be absent when most needed.

The last four years has shown President Obama to be that constant friend. Despite his criticisms of the settlement policies and stated belief that the final borders ought to be negotiable from the 1967 boundaries, President Obama has also asserted that the United States, under his administration, will be a partner with Israel in addressing the problem of a nuclear threat Iran.

On the other hand, we have Israel’s great and good friend Mitt Romney who “… insists he would be a better friend to Israel and opposes public pressure on Israel to compromise for peace with the Palestinians.” His chief national security adviser, Dan Senor declared during his recent trip to Israel that “If Israel has to take action on its own the governor would respect that decision .” It sounds so good and so simple. But that does not exactly sound like a friend who intends to be around when the you-know-what hits the fan.

This is where we have the real question of friendship. Mitt Romney has made clear that his idea of friendship with Israel is to be an uncritical supporter, anti- Palestinian and willing to let Israel take a shot at attacking a hugely larger nation with a well-equipped military, replete with high tech hardware that can reach Israel, including missiles and a navy. And he “…would respect that decision.” We haven’t heard that Mitt Romney is committed to being dragged into another Middle Eastern conflict upon the decisive action of an ally. It sounds as if Gov. Romney’s friend, Israel, would be on her own, or so he may hope.

Could it be that President Obama offers both friendship and international alliance to Israel while Mitt Romney seems to offer only a heartfelt fair-weather friendship?