Recently, an open letter by Ronald S. Lauder, President of the World Jewish Congress, has been circulating the Internet concerning new US policy on the Israeli/Palestinian peace process and the current Administrations new found lack of support for Israel in the face of the rising nuclear threat coming from Iran.

The United States has been a strong supporter of Israel and their establishment of the Jewish State in the region since it’s inception in 1948. Before the liberation of Iraq, Israel was the only democratic nation in the region that we could call a strong ally. The support afforded Israel not only came from the US Government but also from a large majority of the American People.

Since entering office in January of 2009, President Obama has largely ended this support both in the peace process with the the Palestinian Authority and militarily as well, greatly reducing arms sales and support for Israel’s ability to defend itself from the numerous nations surrounding it bent on it’s destruction.

Because of the current Administrations lack of support for Israel, both Russia and China have made it increasingly clear that if a military option was implemented to resolve the current issues with an impending nuclear Iran, they would respond and have stated that any attack on Iran by Israel would start a new “world war”.

Alienating our allies by appeasing our enemies has become a regular tactic for Obama in his foreign policy. The missile defense shield debacle is a great example of how Obama believes that appeasing Nations like Russia in the hopes of furthering his agenda has backfired and only served to worsen relations with other Nations; Poland and the Czech Republic. After committing to the  canceling of the missile defense program in the hopes of more Russian cooperation with sanctions in Iran, Russia backed off and stated that the desired direction of the White House was “not within it’s best interests”. This not only weakened our ability to provide additional layers of defensive missile protection for our allies and US military bases and personnel but made the US appear weak to our enemies.

Now, in an effort to improve relations with Muslim Nations in the Middle East, Obama seems to be using the same tactic of appeasement; alienating Israel, our long standing democratic ally, in an effort to gain favor from Nations that more than likely will never become a true ally of the United States and have historically been increasingly hostile to democracy and human rights.

At some point, someone should let Mr. Obama know that France tried similar tactics 70 years ago and it didn’t work. The difference here is that, if the same result as what befell France happens to us, there will be no one to step in and liberate the American People.

We are on a dangerous road today. We don’t need appeasement and apology tours. We need a strong national defense and we need to send a message to those that would challenge our sovereignty, allies and interests abroad that you don’t F with the United States of America, period.

A great man once said, “Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the United States was too strong.”

We need to return to a stance of strength and steadfast support for those Nations who subscribe to the rule of law and natural rights.

If you desire more information about Ronald S. Lauder or the World Jewish Congress, click here.

Dear President Obama:

I write today as a proud American and a proud Jew.

Jews around the world are concerned today.  We are concerned about the nuclear ambitions of an Iranian regime that brags about its genocidal intentions against Israel.  We are concerned that the Jewish state is being isolated and delegitimized.

Mr. President, we are concerned about the dramatic deterioration of diplomatic relations between the United States and Israel.

The Israeli housing bureaucracy made a poorly timed announcement and your Administration branded it an “insult.”  This diplomatic faux pas was over the fourth stage of a seven stage planning permission process – a plan to build homes years from now in a Jewish area of Jerusalem that under any peace agreement would remain an integral part of Israel.

Our concern grows to alarm as we consider some disturbing questions.  Why does the thrust of this Administration’s Middle East rhetoric seem to blame Israel for the lack of movement on peace talks? After all, it is the Palestinians, not Israel, who refuse to negotiate.

Israel has made unprecedented concessions.  It has enacted the most far reaching West Bank settlement moratorium in Israeli history.

Israel has publicly declared support for a two-state solution.  Conversely, many Palestinians continue their refusal to even acknowledge Israel’s right to exist.

The conflict’s root cause has always been the Palestinian refusal to accept Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people.  Every American President who has tried to broker a peace agreement has collided with that Palestinian intransigence, sooner or later.  Recall President Clinton’s anguish when his peace proposals were bluntly rejected by the Palestinians in 2000.  Settlements were not the key issue then.

They are not the key issue now.

Another important question is this:  what is the Administration’s position on Israel’s borders in any final status agreement?  Ambiguity on this matter has provoked a wave of rumors and anxiety.  Can it be true that America is no longer committed to a final status agreement that provides defensible borders for Israel?  Is a new course being charted that would leave Israel with the indefensible borders that invited invasion prior to 1967?

There are significant moves from the Palestinian side to use those indefensible borders as the basis for a future unilateral declaration of independence.  How would the United States respond to such a reckless course of action?

And what are America’s strategic ambitions in the broader Middle East?  The Administration’s desire to improve relations with the Muslim world is well known.  But is friction with Israel part of this new strategy?  Is it assumed worsening relations with Israel can improve relations with Muslims?  History is clear on the matter:  appeasement does not work.  It can achieve the opposite of what is intended.

And what about the most dangerous player in the region?  Shouldn’t the United States remain focused on the single biggest threat that confronts the world today?  That threat is a nuclear armed Iran.  Israel is not only America’s closest ally in the Middle East, it is the one most committed to this Administration’s declared aim of ensuring Iran does not get nuclear weapons.

Mr. President, we embrace your sincerity in your quest to seek a lasting peace.  But we urge you to take into consideration the concerns expressed above.  Our great country and the tiny State of Israel have long shared the core values of freedom and democracy.  It is a bond much treasured by the Jewish people.  In that spirit I submit, most respectfully, that it is time to end our public feud with Israel and to confront the real challenges that we face together.

Yours sincerely,

Ronald S. Lauder
President
World Jewish Congress