A note to Israelis
Israelis don’t generally read Rosner’s Domain. Except for a few Anglos, those Israelis who want to read me get it in Hebrew through Maariv. I pledge here that my message to Israelis will be delivered in Hebrew as bluntly as it is delivered here. Here it goes:
As much as it is tempting for some Israelis to think that they won an election yesterday – they did not. As much as it is convenient for Israelis to think that the vote of revolt against President Obama has something to do with Israel – it did not. Americans did not go to the polls to tell Obama that pressuring Israel is an offence serious enough for his party to lose an election. A few of them maybe also thought about Israel when they were thinking about the President’s lack of success as a world leader. But it would be a mistake to overplay this factor – a mistake that Israelis are susceptible to making because of their own unhappiness with Obama and his policies.
It would also be a mistake to base Israel’s policy for the next two years on the assumption that a Republican majority in Congress is going to save Israel from Obama. And it would be a mistake for two reasons.
First, as I wrote a couple of days ago, I am not at all convinced that the Republican majority would want to clash with the President over some of the issues that Israel cares about – most notably Iran. Second – because for Israel to rely on the Republican Party to the extent that it does (or to be seen as relying of Republican support as many Democrats suspect it does – see my conversation with Congressman John Yarmuth) carries a price. Of course, there are some pressing matters regarding which Israel would have to rely on whomever is ready to give it support. Yet Israel is walking a very fine and sensitive line and is risking the further alienation of an American constituency with which it already has problems.
Naturally, there is a chicken and the egg problem here. If the support of Democrats is not as strong, Israel has no other option but to rely on Republican support, thus further weakening Democratic support, and further having to rely on Republican friends.
A note to Jewish Democrats
The number of Jews in Congress has consistently been going down for several election cycles now. This might mean nothing, and merely be the result of the gain made by Republicans – the party with less Jews. Or it might mean that less Jews are interested in politics.
If less Jews are interested in politics, it might once again be of no interest – maybe it is no longer important to have “Jewish” representation in Congress as Jews are fully integrated in America and have no reason to worry about having their “own kind” serving in large numbers. Or it might be of interest because of one of two reasons:
Because the fact that Jews are no longer running says something troubling about Jews’ competitiveness and drive.
Or because having Jews in Congress is still relevant to the community.
Since the Democratic Party is the party of most Jews, the burden of considering the above-mentioned questions and then – if you conclude that there is a problem – suggesting new ideas to answer them falls mainly on your shoulders.
A note to Jewish Republicans
Congratulations (but there is still only one Jewish Republican in the House – see the note to Democratic Jews above).
Also: True, most Israelis believe that your party is much better on Israel, and are very suspicious of President Obama. They also understand and respect the fact that there is a political battle going on in which you are participating. And yet, Israelis who have even minimal understanding of the Washington-Jerusalem relationship would urge you to think twice before you make it even more difficult for Israel to properly communicate with the administration and the Democratic Party.
A note to all Jews
There is no shame in taking policy toward Israel into account as you vote for your congressman, senator, and, in the future, president. In recent years many studies and polls have proved time and again that Jews in America don’t place the issue of “Israel” high on their agenda as they go to the polls. In most cases these numbers have served to advance the argument that insisting on a “pro Israel” message when speaking to Jewish voters was not as necessary and as beneficial as some observers might think.
Point taken – Israel doesn’t much matter in American elections. But that doesn’t have to be the end of the discussion. It is reasonable to ask if this reluctance to prioritize Israel is healthy for the American Jewish community. It is, no doubt, not healthy for Israel. But when it comes to American elections, Israel is a bystander, not a real player.
American voters are the ones who have to set their agenda straight and decide what’s important to them and what isn’t. And while I know this will ignite the ire of some readers, I’d still urge American Jews to prioritize Israel. Of course, “prioritize” does not mean that they should put Israel at the top of their agenda, and surely not as the only item on their agenda. It also does not necessarily mean a certain vote for a certain party. I advocate for prioritization not to serve a political cause but rather to serve a communal cause.
For Jews to prioritize Israel is a way of saying that they are a community of people with an agenda that has components unique to them. Having an agenda that is unique to them is what makes Jews a community. It is as simple as that.
A note to the Media
This was the eighth American election that I covered, and in order to assist future generations of foreign writers that are crazy enough to invest their energy in understanding the intricacies of Kentucky politics, I twitted 12 “Midterm rules for foreign writers”. A friend suggested I list them all together, and here they are:
Midterm rules for foreign writers 1: you don't cover the midterms from Washington.
Midterm rules for foreign writers 2: you don't cover the midterms from New York City.
Midterm rules for foreign writers 3: the midterms are not about your country (not even if you're from Israel).
Midterm rules for foreign writers 4: America doesn't have a parliamentary system – the President stays.
Midterm rules for foreign writers 5: you are probably more interested in the race than most Americans are.
Midterm rules for foreign writers 6: save energy, they have those every two years.
Midterm rules for foreign writers 7: if you are serious about your work, you know much more than the home crowd wants to hear. Beware.
Midterm rules for foreign writers 8: search for parallels, however ridiculous (Arkansas=the American city of Afula).
Midterm rules for foreign writers 9: no, they don't (and have no reason to) remember that Kansas is west of Missouri.
Midterm rules for foreign writers 10: immerse yourself in the beliefs of elected officials who barely know there is a world outside.
Midterm rules for foreign writers 11: shamelessly use the only angle that might work – how this impacts 2016.
Midterm rules for foreign writers 12: remember, this is exciting, but your country is busy with something else and is barely noticing.
A note to myself
At one time or another I probably broke all of the above-mentioned rules (except that I never covered American elections from Washington, New York or, for that matter, Tel Aviv).
Please accept my apology.
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