Senate Warns White House Against Risky Israel Policy

By Bill Wilson

The White House must be moving too aggressively by linking Israel's movement on a Palestinian state with America's efforts to prevent a nuclear Iran. The Democratic controlled Senate, usually considered a rubber stamp for the man who occupies the Oval Office (OOO), used its own brand of nuance diplomacy to warn OOO about his reckless policy approach with America's strongest ally in the Middle East. 76 Members of the Senate signed on to a letter sent to OOO cautioning him on his approach to forcing Israel into accepting the establishment of a Palestinian state without meeting the needs of Israeli sovereignty, and reminding him that Israel is a longstanding friend.

While many analysts might look at the letter as supportive of the US position taken by the current Administration, the language in the letter suggests a concern rarely aired in public to the office of the President by such a large majority in the Senate. The Senators said that any agreement requires adherence to key principles:

"These include an understanding that while the United States has an important role to play, the parties themselves are the ones who will need to negotiate and live with whatever agreement is reached. As we work closely with our democratic ally, Israel, we must take into account the risks it will face in any peace agreement."

The letter seemed to take the tone that Senators were concerned that OOO is soft on terrorism. Senators warned:

"We must also continue to insist on the absolute Palestinian commitment to ending terrorist violence and to building the institutions necessary for a viable Palestinian state living side-by-side, in peace with the Jewish state of Israel."

The Senators emphasized that the Palestinian government must have strong security forces in order to prevent terrorism and to be able to foment and enforce peace with Israel. And the Senators encouraged OOO to...

"promote far greater involvement and participation by the Arab states both in moving toward normal ties with Israel and in encouraging moderate Palestinian elements."

Trial balloons have surfaced recently in Washington that OOO wants to divide Jerusalem and force Israel to accept a plan that essentially cuts Israel in half to accommodate a Palestinian state that includes Gaza to Israel's West and traditional Jewish lands of Samaria and Judea on Israel's East connected by a highway. This would be like trying to build a secure highway connecting Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona to New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and part of Washington, DC, and giving those states to Iran. Zechariah 12:3 says,