Settlement freeze: All about status

The world waits with bated breath for the leaders of Palestine and Israel to come to an agreement. For decades now, the two countries have feuded over contested land, treating a tiny swath of desert in the Middle East like each grain of sand is worth its weight in gold.

But the world is getting impatient. The Obama administration in particular is seething at Israel’s refusal to refreeze construction in the West Bank. They have offered weapons and security guarantees if Israel agrees to just two more months of settlement freezes — a bizarre exchange that could be misunderstood as a concealed threat, especially when the two nations involved are supposed to be friends.

The attitude of the European Union is even worse. Tagging itself as the “biggest donor and partner” of the Palestinian Authority, the EU has been vocal with its disappointment in Israel’s decisions and condemnation of its policies.

Israel, it seems, has fallen out of the popular crowd. Once the darling of the world, it has now been stripped of its title as the underdog and relabeled as the oppressor. Its old friends remain allies, but the once-warm relationships have turned cold with animosity and distrust.  

So how can Israel be expected to heed the words of the U.S. and EU when these loyalties are built on such shaky ground?

If these relationships are little more than foundations to build some good global public relations for helping the suffering masses, then there is no room to be that country in the middle. Israel has learned the hard way that it’s advantageous to be the small fry but another thing altogether to try and protect your land.

The world will keep its fingers crossed that peace will be there soon. But until then, it might be helpful for political relationships to be based on principle rather than who has the “underdog” status.


E-mail: danfleis@indiana.edu