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Reciprocity, Fairness Must Guide Israel, West’s Mideast Strategy

By Luis Fleischman
From: www.newsmax.com

President Joe Biden, along with the leaders of Great Britain, France, and Germany, recently rallied around Israel when Iran attacked it.

Such support constituted an inflection point, given Biden’s harsh criticism of Israel’s conduct in the war in Gaza.

Israel successfully protected its citizens from Iranian ballistic and cruise missiles and drones with air-defense technology that the United States and Israel developed together.

Likewise, the actions of the United States, Great Britain, and even Jordan in intercepting Iranian missiles and drones are particularly significant.

Indeed, there is a geopolitical reality that both President Trump and Biden have sought, which is an alliance between Israel and moderate Sunni Arab states, including Egypt, the Persian Gulf countries, and Saudi Arabia.

These countries provided intelligence and even intercepted some of the drones directed against Israel. They are categorically willing to counteract Iran’s threat.

As the late President Richard Nixon learned half a century ago, Israel is a strategic asset.

The Biden administration should explain this to the public.

Joe Biden should refrain from allowing his concern about the Dearborn, Michigan, and progressive voters to determine American strategic interest.

Israel, for now, should not retaliate against Iran.

However, Iran conducted its bombardment of Israel’s territory using lethal weapons that, without aerial defenses, would have caused massive destruction.

Therefore, it’s not difficult to imagine that if Iran develops a nuclear weapon, it may well use it. Thus, Israel has the right and the obligation to destroy Iran’s nuclear program.

Israel should concentrate now on destroying Hamas by entering Rafah and dismantling the last four Hamas battalions.

Likewise, it should ensure Hezbollah retreats to 10 Kilometers North of the Litani River as stipulated in the 2006 Resolution 1701.

Biden should no longer object to the Rafah Operation if Israel provides a corridor to allow the civil population passage to safety and secures massive humanitarian aid.

Israel’s aerial defense proved that the Iran-made missiles and drones used by Russia against Ukraine have limits and are no match to American Israeli capabilities. Ukraine is a victim of similar attacks from Russia.

Now that a coalition of Western countries stood by Israel, the latter must retribute by committing to support NATO’s efforts to defend Ukraine.

Since the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, Russia has chosen to side with Hamas over Israel.

Israel has maintained neutrality in the Russian war on Ukraine out of concern about the deconfliction agreement on Syrian soil it has with Russia.

Given that Israel now attacks Iranian targets in Syria without coordinating them with Russia, that agreement with Russia is irrelevant.

Thus, it’s time for Israel to support Ukraine unequivocally. Israel’s recent experience with the Iranian attack can benefit Ukraine, the European Union, and NATO.

However, Western countries should be kinder to Israel.

It’s inconceivable that a liberal democracy like Canada imposed an arms embargo on another liberal democracy like Israel in the middle of a just war against an evil enemy.

The same applies to Ireland, Spain, and Belgium, whose accusations against Israel have no basis and play in Hamas’ hands.

Israel and the West are natural strategic partners, but the relationship must be reciprocal and fair.

Luis Fleischman, Ph.D., is a professor of Sociology at Palm Beach State College, co-presdient of the Palm Beach Center for Democracy and Policy Research and the author of the book “The Middle East Riddle: The Peace Process and Israeli-Arab Relations in a Changing Times.”