Ha’aretz article on JINSA’s Flag and General Officers Statement, 4/7/10
Israel cannot decide how much of an asset it is to U.S.
By Amir Oren
Israel cannot decide how much of an asset it is to U.S.
By Amir Oren
Last week, 50 retired U.S. generals and admirals signed a statement of support for Israel. As defense professionals, and after many visits with officials from the Israel Defense Forces, they say they “came away with the unswerving belief that the security of the State of Israel is a matter of great importance to the United States and its policy in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean. A strong, secure Israel is an asset upon which American military planners and political leaders can rely. Israel is a democracy – a rare and precious commodity in the region and Israel shares our commitment to freedom, personal liberty and rule of law.”
The retired senior officers mention “shared values and shared threats” such as terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, but stay away from the essence of the dispute between Washington and Jerusalem. The organization that initiated and published the statement, the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, is well aware of the precedent: its letter of October 2000, also signed by 50 retired generals and admirals. The gist a decade ago was defending the IDF’s efforts to suppress Palestinian terror attacks.
The signatories this time are not supporters of the policies of the Netanyahu government, they’re only reporting that they were impressed by their Israeli interlocutors’ “determination to protect their country and to pursue a fair and workable peace with their neighbors.” Their main issue is to prevent the impression that Israel is a burden and not an asset; this is also the case after the recent statements attributed to Gen. David Petraeus (which have been denied).