Today is Tisha B’Av, the date in the Hebrew calendar on which a number of catastrophes have befallen the Jews. This is the date on which both of the Holy Temples in Jerusalem were destroyed. Since then, other anti-Semitic powers have taken delight in launching fresh atrocities on the day, including the expulsion from Spain in 1492 to massacres during the Holocaust. It is a solemn day of fasting and one on which Jewish tradition commands us to think about the mindless and sinful hatred within the community that has often brought down calamity on the Jewish people. Such reflection is important at a time when issues and rancor divide Jews and cause them to forget that the values that should unite them are far more important than the issues on which they differ. But it would be more than foolish not to give a thought today to the still potent external threats. Though Israel is beset by many problems, there is no greater menace to the continuance of Jewish life than that posed by Iran’s drive for nuclear weapons.
Thus, it was heartening today to hear thatwhile visiting the Jewish state, Mitt Romney plans to endorse Israel’s right to defend itself against Iran. Romney, who will speak tonight after the conclusion of the holiday, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today, who rightly sounded a note of alarm about the failure of the sanctions belatedly enacted by the Obama administration on Iran. Though Washington has been boasting about their tough sanctions policy, today was an apt day for Netanyahu to point out their bravado was disconnected from reality.
The Obama administration has sounded tough on Iran but has made it clear it does not wish Israel to strike on its own. Indeed, the president has seemed to be more concerned about preventing an Israeli strike than on stopping Iran. The only accomplishment of the dead-end negotiating process on which he has placed the country’s hopes for a resolution of the problem has been to make it difficult if not impossible for Israel to act.
The reason why Obama’s sanctions and diplomacy have failed is that the Iranians don’t take him seriously. The exemptions granted to the sanctions have maintained Iran’s oil trade and will keep the regime afloat. More to the point, the ayatollahs believe the president is not only unwilling to hold them accountable, but he will shield them from Israel. The only chance to persuade the Iranians to back down on their nuclear ambitions is to convince them they will pay a terrible price if they do not. Thus, Romney’s willingness to say that Israel has a right to try to take out Iran’s nuclear facilities and that the United States will stand by them if they do sends a significant message to Tehran.
It would be far better for Israel not to be forced to act on its own against Iran. But in the absence of a credible American policy on the nuclear issue, it is Netanyahu’s responsibility to think seriously about doing so if there is no other way out of the dilemma. He understands that the point of the State of Israel is that the Jews will no longer sit and wait while their enemies plot their destruction. If necessary, his government must act to avert or at least postpone the Iranian threat. And America’s leaders should be not only acting on their own to stop Iran but backing up Israel’s right of self-defense.
While this statement will be dismissed as Romney playing politics with foreign policy, it will do more than merely make Iran’s rulers anxious. It also has the potential to aid Obama’s diplomatic efforts. The ayatollahs must now realize that if Romney is elected all bets are off when it comes to their heretofore successful strategy of dealing with the West. For years, they have been able to talk and lie their way through the crisis because they understood the Obama administration was only interested in kicking the can down the road to avoid having to take action. But unless the Iranians are sure Obama will be re-elected, they have to consider the possibility that they must try and cut a deal now with Obama (and therefore boost his chances of winning) or be left to face a far less accommodating new president next year.
Given the ideological premise of their nuclear ambition, it is to be doubted that anything, even the threat of having to face Romney and Netanyahu in January, can convince Iran to back down. But as Jews remember their past today, let us hope that the rulers of Tehran, who have boasted of their desire to eliminate the State of Israel and seek the means to do so, will listen to what Romney said and draw the appropriate conclusion. On this day, it is important that those who are intent on creating new tragedies understand that this time, the Jews will strike first.
Thank you for remembering Tisha B'Av, which sadly most secular Jews both here and also in Israel know little or nothing about. The benefits to Commentary of finally having both a literate and observant Jew as editor are immense. Since you also mentioned in closing that "the Jews will strike first" the enemies planning their destruction, it is fitting to remember that preempting murderers has long been part of Jewish ethics. Writing almost 1000 years ago, the great Talmudist Rashi wrote, "He who comes to kill you – rise up earlier to kill him." Israel and those Jews living in the diaspora should never forget to act on these words.
"While this statement will be dismissed as Romney playing politics with foreign policy…." n nThat's exactly what Romney is doing, and it's the height of irresponsibility. Does Romney think he's just spouting rhetoric — after all, Israel has already stated that it doesn't need US endorsement — or is he tacitly promising US military support, which many experts believe is necessary for any attack to be successful and might easily involve the US in another protracted military operation?
This (above) is exactly the problem with many American jews. They will always be on the left, right now condemning Romney, praising and voting for 0bama marching along the socialist line like lemmings.
I do think that Romney is best served when he is himself, when he is relaxed and when he “uses his own words.” n nWhen someone means you harm, he has to be convinced that harming you will come at a cost. He might be willing, if deranged or enraged, to risk the cost but most of the time if someone who means you harm believes you will, without compunction, lay waste to his plans, he will retreat. n nIf you have ever had to contemplate the grim, inglorious defense of life and limb you cannot rest until the danger has ended your life or it has passed. n n"Better to be judged by 12 than carried by six!"
So, here's some tough talk on Iran from the United States WITHOUT the President having to make it. I kind of think this really does give Obama an extra arrow or two in his quiver. If he wants to, he can say to Iran that he wants to work with them to resolve this (and all about his respect and the beautiful sound of call to prayer) — but, they already know Obama's opinions are not universal in America (or Israel), putting it as he might say it, and that this is an opportunity. n nObama, as I see him, is rigid politically and ALWAYS only takes a position he thinks he can sell politically, even, if like on the economy he's destroying it (but out of fairness, he says, campaigning non-stop — like the ad running where he says he must raise taxes on the wealthy, about 4 billion total, to pay down the debt, about 1.5 trillion a year); well, it's good politics for him to reach resolution on Iranian nukes. Maybe he'll take advantage of Romney's comments.
Having spoken during the 2008 primaries of the existential threat to the U. S. presented by radical Islam, Romney most recently opined in a debate " a very few number of families are paying the price of freedom in America". Now, in Isreal, he talks first strike military strategy against Iran. n nIt’s deeply disconcerting that a man with not one, not two or three sons, but five sons of military age who chose not to serve the country during a time of urgent calling desires to be president. Five sons that, during the sustained engagements of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan chose not to serve on active duty or in in Reserves – not even in the National Guard. Five sons, not a one. Yet, while he is unable to call those gathered around his dinner table to service of their country, he aspires to lead as commander-in-chief those who do sacrifice. n
Seems a bit odd to be mourning for a hilltop abattoir built by a Roman puppet king, 2,000 years later.
You are vile.
Grumpy, after reading your comment opposing any memorial to the murdered Israeli Olympic Team, I'm surprised you did not point out here that 2,500 times as many Gazan children were burned with white phosphorus during the Jewish resistance to the Romans as during operation Cast Lead. n n(For the numerically challenged, 0 X 2,500=0. And for the facutally challenged, we have Grumpy.) n nThe only thing Grumpy hates worse than remembering murdered Jews is being reminded that there are Jews who are still alive.
"Tobin says that Romney's comments will be dismissed, and cue HillelA." n nCriticizing Romney's comments as irresponsible and dangerous is hardly dismissing them; quite the opposite. n n'"…I believe that we need a strong and credible military threat coupled with the sanctions to have a chance to change that situation," Netanyahu said.' n nAnd that's exactly what Obama's provided by significantly beefing up our forces in the Persian Gulf.
Beefing up our forces in the Gulf and telling everyone he is not going to use them.
The beefing up our forces in the Gulf is (at least stories I saw stated the reason as) making sure the oil flows. Iran has threatened to block the straits. The slight irony here (besides the importance of middle east oil because Obama keeps cutting back on oil drilling in America and off our shores) is that the Democrats long insisted that both the Bushes and Cheney only fought over there for oil … and yet it's Obama and the Democrats who have specifically moved Americans into the region to keep the oil flowing.
Iran and anti-Semitic Jews and then the rest. There are many of them. nJealousy is a powerful instrument of hate. nTough words but no real definitive action to suggest that the end is near one way or another for Iran.