New Israel Policy?

Victor Davis Hanson connects some dots and questions whether we're seeing a radically new policy toward Israel:

The rumored appointment of veteran diplomat Charles Freeman, Jr. to head the National Intelligence Council, the announcement that the U.S. taxpayer will give $900 million to Hamas to rebuild Gaza, the return of Samantha ("monster") Power to the Obama inner circle, the quite revealing interview that President Obama gave to al-Arabiya, the loud Kerry statements from and about Syria, and the willingness to talk to Iran without preconditions, I think, suggest the outlines of a new reappraisal of the American-Israeli relationship.

I would sum it up as a growing administration belief that solid U.S. support for Israel is probably the reason for radical Islamic anti-American terrorism; and, secondly, the Palestinian issue can be best resolved with the return of Israel to the 1967 borders. Apparently, this thought stems from the assumption that there has been a radical reappraisal about Israel on the part of the Arab nations, and Islamic world at large, who in toto have now accepted Israel's right to exist. Therefore, with the casus belli removed, in the future we should expect no more wars — like 1948, 1956, and 1967, when Israel did not hold the Golan Heights or the West Bank. Accordingly, the withdrawals from Lebanon and Gaza were positive first-steps and left stability in their wake.

Hanson's point, of course, is that none of this is correct.  Arab and Islamic nations still fervently believe that Israel has no right to exist, and stability around Israel is a myth that will be perpetuated until Israel is either eradicated or completely victorious.

Still, I think Hanson is right - there are a barrel of indicators that undermine the foundations of the tight relationship between the U.S. and Israel, not the least of which are Obama's pledges of cooperation with Israel's mortal enemies like Iran and Hamas.  Don't be surprised if Obama leaves Israel hanging the next time they need us.

If you have any doubt, read this:

Jewish leaders are stunned that Hillary is hammering Israel over Gaza.
WCBSTV reported:

In a swift about face from her views as New York's senator, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is now hammering Israel over its treatment of Palestinians in Gaza.

"I am very surprised, frankly, at this statement from the United States government and from the secretary of state," said Mortimer Zuckerman, publisher of the New York Daily News and member of the NYC Jewish Community Relations Council.

"I liked her a lot more as a senator from New York," Assemblyman Dov Hikind, D-Brooklyn, said. "Now, I wonder as I used to wonder who the real Hillary Clinton is."

The most obvious explanation is also the one that makes the most sense: Hillary's sudden policy change is the result of working for Barack Obama.  Now, let's be honest...do we really think Obama is going to go out on a limb for Israel anytime soon?

There's my two cents.