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Last update - 09:29 04/04/2008 With friends like these By Haaretz Editorial Tags: United States, Israel  The president of the Union for Reform Judaism, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, has called for non-cooperation with the Christian Zionists, a movement of millions of Americans who ardently support Israel. Yoffie represents a movement that supports Israel for very different reasons from those of the Christian Zionists, who identify largely with the most right-wing sectors of Israeli society. His call on Wednesday reawakens the controversy over Israel's practical approach toward its supporters in the United States. Advertisement The first concern pertains to the involvement of one country's citizens in the policy of another. Americans, including those who could come to Israel and become Israeli citizens under the Law of Return but haven not chosen to do so, are trying to influence decisions in Jerusalem. Is it desirable for world Jewry to support Israeli government policy, erroneous as it may be, or to encourage some political party or other, although its supporters do not live in Israel? The answer is not simple. This problem also exists regarding Israelis' involvement in American policy. Israelis, inside and outside the government, are trying to influence decisions in Washington. It's a troublesome involvement, even if difficult to avoid completely in a world without barriers. A second problem is Israel's involvement in American policy. Israel and its supporters are often accused, not always justifiably, of prodding American statesmen to act on behalf of Israeli interests, even when they are not identical to American interests. The invasion of Iraq is an outstanding example. So is selling American arms to Islamic states. Israel could find itself embroiled in internal American controversies - for example, when opponents of abortion ask for Israel's aid in Congress in exchange for their help in matters important to Israel. Such involvement brings the religious American right closer to Israel, but drives the liberals away. Most important is the third obstacle. Are Americans who see themselves as friends doing Israel a favor by supporting even its faulty policies and urging the administration and Congress to support them? This is an extension of President Lyndon Johnson's question to then-prime minister Levi Eshkol after the Six-Day War, the occupation of the territories and the Security Council's adoption of Resolution 242. LBJ asked: What kind of Israel do you want? Perhaps Eshkol knew the answer, but for the past 40 years Israel's governments have been struggling to formulate it to themselves and to the world. Consequently, even in the midst of peace talks involving concessions, less compromising Israeli officials, not always outside the government, are busy recruiting Americans to foil conciliation. Instead of recruiting supporters for its mistakes, Israel should be bolstering the support for its existence against those who believe that it was established in error, that it is temporary or should not necessarily be Jewish. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Pot shots Hamas says Gazan rockets are not aimed at Israeli women and children. I'll be watching you Hezbollah says it will monitor Israel's civil defense drill closely.   1.   The Israel that Israel will get 10:00  |  ELIAS KHOURY 04/04/08   2.   As a concept only 10:17  |  Chanalau, Tova 04/04/08   3.   The Chanalau phenomenon has already found a home in Londonistan 10:44  |  Genuine Tosefta 04/04/08   4.   as envisaged at san remo ! period ! 10:51  |  v hardman 04/04/08   5.   The Israel we want can not be achieved unilaterally 11:53  |  Slibovitz 04/04/08   6.   #1; ELIAS KHOURY. 13:23  |  Doc Holliday 04/04/08   7.   Friends 13:52  |  Naim S. Mahlab 04/04/08   8.   Israel tribalism has no place in today`s world... 13:53  |  Dutch 04/04/08   9.   What Kind of Israel Do YOU Want? 14:23  |  Yaakov Sullivan 04/04/08   10.   What Does "Recognition of Israel" Mean? 14:29  |  Yaakov Sullivan 04/04/08   11.   And If Israel Accepted and Acted On The Saudi Proposal? 14:35  |  Yaakov Sullivan 04/04/08   12.   Doc Holliday`s Response to Elias Khoury 14:50  |  Yaakov Sullivan 04/04/08   13.   What Israel do I want? 14:52  |  Hifawi 04/04/08   14.   Doc Holliday`s Response to Elias Khoury, Part II 14:56  |  Yaakov Sullivan 04/04/08   15.   Since the Arabs don`t want any Israel at all... 15:00  |  Hastaroth 04/04/08   16.   You See The Lie That Is perpetrated by #15 15:19  |  Yaakov Sullivan 04/04/08   17.   Genuine Tosefta on the Streets of London 15:22  |  Yaakov Sullivan 04/04/08   18.   What Israel do I want? 15:45  |  Al Hiloul 04/04/08   19.   Israel of my dreams 15:59  |  AliciaYasmeen 04/04/08   20.   To Hysteroth 16:23  |  Indiginous 04/04/08   21.   more dishonesty from haaretz 19:13  |  curious george 04/04/08   22.   Here´s more 19:17  |  AliciaYasmeen 04/04/08   23.   Relgious vs. non religious 20:02  |  Ethel 04/04/08   24.   For Al Hiloul # 18 21:21  |  Fortuna Benmayor 04/04/08   25.   #12: Yaakov Sullivan Part 1 04:04  |  Doc Holliday 05/04/08   26.   this editorial appears to go nowhere...but it`s OH SO TRUE! 08:22  |  eric 05/04/08   27.   Such recognition authorises expulsion 18:20  |  Rowan Berkeley 05/04/08   28.   Driving liberals away? Name five prominent U.S. liberal leaders.. 09:03  |  Chaim 06/04/08

Today Online Israel and U.S. to coordinate on boycott of anti-racism meet Responses: 368 Former militant leader: The Palestinian people is finished Responses: 373 Hamas: Gaza sniper aimed for Public Security Min. Dichter Responses: 166 Syria: We choose peace, but we're ready for Israeli attack Responses: 76 More Headlines 10:25 Israel, U.S. plan to release details on September 2007 Syria attack 10:27 Hamas: If Israel doesn't release prisoners, we'll negotiate over Shalit's bones 10:24 U.S. supervising training of elite PA unit in Jordan 08:46 Border Police let settlers retake illegal West Bank outpost 02:42 'Barak is wrong, Olmert is right' 05:20 The Economist: Israeli economy stable but has shaky foundation 10:27 Charlton Heston, silver screen's Moses and Ben-Hur, dies at 84 10:15 Rabbi: Jews, more than anyone, helped black Americans achieve equality 05:22 Mazuz moves to limit racial profiling at Ben-Gurion Airport 05:19 David Grossman: I had a wish my book would protect my son Uri 00:58 Erekat: Abbas, Olmert to meet Monday to review negotiations Previous Editions Select Day 04 apr 03 apr 02 apr 01 apr 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar

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