Foreign Affairs journal/magazine is published by the Council on Foreign Relations. It is likely the preeminent journal dealing with foreign affairs. While the Council is an independent think-tank, Wikipedia notes that "its membership has included senior politicians, numerous secretaries of state, CIA directors, and senior media figures." It would not be an understatement to say that it is highly influential.
So it was rather disturbing to see the article that was published in the 100 year old journal, on the occasion of Israel's 75th anniversary. The piece was written by 4 professors, from the University of Maryland and George Washington University. According to the authors: "Forced to choose between Israel's Jewish identity and liberal democracy, Israel has chosen the former." The last I looked, Israel still has free elections, in which all citizens are allowed to vote. I can't say the same for the many surrounding Arab countries. Arab citizens vote, served in the last government, are in the Knesset, are lawyers and doctors, and I could go on.
The authors go on to discuss a "draconian blockade of Gaza." Both Israel and Egypt control land access to Gaza. Israel has no control over Gaza's 7 1/2 mile border with Egypt. Of course, humanitarian supplies and other necessities are allowed in through the Israeli border crossings. But why would any sane country allow unlimited access to an entity that is sworn to its destruction? Gaza is run by Hamas, with a secondary player being Islamic Jihad. Those two entities have no interest in making peace with Israel. Their charters call for Israel's destruction.
But I must ask something that I have asked previously. If Gaza is so closed off, how does Hamas continually manage to get access to mortars, rockets and missiles, which they use to attack Israel. If Gaza is so closed off, how do they manage to get cement, wiring and other materials used to build their underground tunnels which lead into Israel, and which Hamas uses for the purpose of killing or capturing Jews.
The authors then say that Israel has "control (of) the West Bank with a system of checkpoints, policing, and relentlessly expanding settlements." Of course, areas of the West Bank are under the control of President (for life, apparently) Abbas, and the Palestinian Authority, along with 77,000 security personnel. Israel must maintain control over the border with Jordan. If that area of the West Bank was turned over to the Palestinians, nothing would prevent ISIS and/or Al Qaeda from getting in and being directly on Israel's border. And Israel could never give up all of the West Bank. If they did, at one point Israel would only be 9 miles wide, risking an enemy attack that could cut the nation in two.
Another reminder. Following Israel's War of Independence (1948-1949), Jordan controlled the West Bank and Egypt controlled the Gaza Strip. For nearly two decades those Arab countries controlled the land now sought for a Palestinian state. Their control ended with Israel's victory in the 1967 Six Day War. Did Jordan and Egypt seek to establish a Palestinian state during their period of control? Of course not. Jordan actually expelled Jews who were living in the part of Jerusalem that Jordan captured in 1948-49, an area now referred to as East Jerusalem. Jewish synagogues were destroyed when "East" Jerusalem was under Jordan's control.
It is disappointing, but hardly surprising, to see academics criticize Israel in this fashion. Israel does what it needs to do to survive. Would I like to see peace? Of course, who wouldn't. Would I like to see a time when people and goods could move freely between all areas of the West Bank, Gaza and Israel? Yes, but not until the Arabs lay down their arms, stop both the militaristic and diplomatic attacks on Israel, and truly acknowledge and accept Israel's right to exist as the nation-state of the Jewish people.
