Family tension

As the Passover holiday ends, the Middle East once again begins to stir with unrest and turmoil. This region is no stranger to disorder, so the sight of jets, helicopters and refueling stations at the ready is no spectacle. At ease in their environment of discord, the Israeli Defense Force is using the tension provided by Iran’s nuclear program as a launching point for an attack.

Now just waiting for the green light from the government, the Defense Force is ready to quell international troubles by launching an offensive on their Middle Eastern neighbors. Targets to be hit include Natanz, where a Mecca of centrifuges are producing enriched uranium; Esfahan, where 250 tons of gas is stored in tunnels and Arak, which plays host to a heavy water reactor that produces plutonium.

These preparations are not a sign of raised aggression on the part of Israel, but a result of the unease caused by the strained relations between Israel and the United States. Our countries have long shared a history of solidarity and support from each other, but Israel sees that foundation as being shaky since the administration change.

In the past, Israeli prime ministers have enjoyed certain luxuries from the United States, which is to be expected from the one fledgling democracy in the region. But as big brother America begins to view other countries in the Middle East as orphans instead of degenerates, Israel has seen its elite status slipping.

President Barack Obama has already demanded that Israel comply with plans for a sovereign Palestine that will coexist with the already established state. This is a policy that was already refused by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but is still being pushed by European leaders and the United States.

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has also insisted that Jewish settlements stop in the West Bank. This has angered many Israelis who do not see it has appropriate for another nation to dictate where they can live.

Probably the most problematic of Obama’s Middle East strategies is his recognition that Hamas, a terrorist organization, should be a part of a future Palestinian Authority government.

Israel has gone from the favored son to an estranged cousin in the eyes of America, and due to this lack of support it is understandable that the country has become more aggressive. Israel has the right to support itself even without the backing of other countries, and to do this it must stand up to its enemies on its own.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has already released statements that call out Israel’s assertive actions, claiming “no country in the region threatens Iran” and that “the gall to threaten the Iranian nation has been quashed forever.”

Israel has the sovereignty and authority with which to protect itself, and with Iran building nuclear weapons with the explicit intent of attack, it is understandable for a country to take up arms.