by Ruthie Liberman CEO of Yes! Israel
Dear friends,
We here in Israel are a bit concerned. We have high expectations from America. We always have, but with the new Administration we've come to respect POTUS keeping his word, and sticking to his guns. We know that sometimes this means he will be daring, out-there, edgy.. but that's ok. Sometimes that's how things get done. Just follow the President's twitter account to see what we mean.
When it comes to Israel, we listened. We even helped, some of us, during the election season. And we believed. We believed that a new Administration and a Republican-led Congress would uphold the campaign promises and the Republican platform, when it comes to the Middle East. Let Israel figure out what's good for herself. Support Israel's leaders in what they decide is right for security and peace. That's the policy we still expect, and it's not too late.
Special envoy Jason Greenblatt is a friend, personally and ideologically, to many here in Israel. His recent trip was kept under wraps, but the message repeatedly reported from meetings was that America is asking Israel to sit tight, not even to take actions quietly if they might create some waves. Yes, defend your borders. But no, please don't keep your promise to the people of Amona, uprooted from their homes in a questionable legal situation in order to keep the peace - promised a new community built for them by the end of March, but now asked to put on ice. (the families remain in dorm rooms while awaiting the signed promise).
We all understand diplomacy and the need to be smart. What we don't understand is why President Trump's administration is willing to push limits on so many issues, while choosing ostensibly to ignore campaign promises and declarations towards Israel, those that stated unequivocally that Israel should be left to decide for itself what path to take, what policies to adopt, while the US would support any and all of that.
Israel has consistently elected mainstream-to-right conservative governments. PM Netanyahu supports and yes, advocates, our right as Jews to live in our homeland. We do not steal land. We want to live in peace, and we want to live in equality, with equal rights to build within our communities and on our land. A US government request to cease this in any way, is an insult to our friendship and a faulty premise on which to build new understandings and cooperation.
It is not your policy. It is not your will. But it is your government telling Israel the opposite of what it promised. Make this right, make this better. And help us to make sure that America remains an honest broker in its support of Israel's right to independent thinking. We know you trust us, please ask the right questions at home so that this policy is implemented. And while you're at it, you might want to mention to POTUS that you expect him to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem asap, or at least not to sign the waiver when it comes across his desk on June 1 or even earlier. See below for some enlightening comments and resources.
Thanking you for your constant, unwavering support - let's be one in our hearts and in our policies together.
Best,
Ruthie
No comments:
Post a Comment