THE JEWISH VOICE AND OPINION Promoting Classical Judaism
October 2014
Vol. 28 • No. 2
Cheshvan 5775
Shifting Alliances: European Boycotts and Washington’s Threats Bring Israel Closer to New Allies Although most supporters of
the Jewish state considered the closed-door discussion between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama to be the most important meeting during the Israeli delegation’s visit to the US last month, many analysts
consider the session between the Israeli leader and India’s new Prime Minister Narenda Modi to be much more significant. In light of boycotts and general growing hostility, often bordering on blatant antisemitism, from former friends in the European Union, and uncertainty,
including warnings and threats of withdrawal of support, from the Obama White House, Israel has increasingly been looking to establish trading partners and cohorts among countries never taken seriously before as potential allies. With growing regularity, Israeli delegations have visited
and received visits from officials in India, China, and Japan, and relations between Israel and Russia, itself the target of boycotts in the wake of turmoil in Ukraine, have made these two countries in the words of some business writers, “new best friends.”
continued on page 12
Bibi and Obama Turned the World “Upside Down;” Bibi with New Peace Partners; Obama with a Nuclear Iran Israeli Prime Minister Ben-
jamin Netanyahu “turned the world upside down” at the United Nations last month. He suggested that for Israel, peace with moderate Muslim-Sunni Arab states should precede a two-state solution with the Palestinians. Mark Langfan, a security analyst who is now national chairman of Americans for a Safe Israel, suggested exactly the same scenario more than six months ago. “At the UN, Netanyahu offered an historic reversal of the previous order of things. In his speech, he explicitly mentioned Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan as new Israeli
Jerusalem, Riyadh, and Cairo: New Middle East Allies allies. Instead of ‘peace with the Palestinians first,’ which is the Obama administration’s preferred order, Netanyahu announced a fundamentally
Protesting the Met......................................3 Mayanei Hayeshua.....................................5 Kol Ami: War on ISIS?............................ 6 The Current Crisis............................... 7 Israel and India..................................12 Israel and China.................................16
different approach, that is: Peace with these Arab allies first, and, after peace with them is established, peace with the Palestinians could
be pursued. It is clear that Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, and Egypt share underlying common enemies and dangers,” said Mr. Langfan. Mr. Langfan made his remarks after Mr. Netanyahu finished speaking at the UN on September 29. In Their Best Interests In his talk, Mr. Netanyahu distanced himself from Israel’s failed efforts with the Palestinian Authority to build peaceful relations between Israel and its neighbors. He stressed that the rise of Sunni extremist forces and the Iranian nuclear threat have persuaded the major moderate Sunni Arab states to work with
continued on page 29
Inside the Voice Israel and Japan.........................................18 Israel and Russia......................................19 The Log..........................................................20 School Open Houses.......................23 New Classes This Month................25 Mazal Tov.............................................26
Specials..........................................................27 Ess Gezint: Jazzy Vegetarian.................30 Index of Advertisers ........................33 Honor the Professional...................35 Letters to the Editor ........................36 Walk to Shul........................................39