An Open Letter to Rahm Emanuel
Last week you visited Israel. I watched your speech at Tel Aviv University, I watched your interview with the Jerusalem Post and Channel 12, and I even read all of the articles that were published by Politico to hype your visit and the “important” speech you were going to deliver.
Rahm, while your CV is impressive from Congressman to Chief of Staff, Mayor, and Ambassador, I also think it is that same CV that has turned you into an arrogant and entitled politician.
Your dad was a fighter in the Irgun. I am not sure what he would think of the direction you decided to take. Maybe this is the reason why you dropped the name of the paramilitary organization your dad was a part of during your speech at Tel Aviv University.
In your speech and interviews, you focused on a few things that might have some truth to them but could also be easily debunked.
First, Israel turning into a pariah state. Well, if this is the cost that you need to pay for fighting a war on seven different fronts for three years, so be it. But this isn’t the case regardless. In Latin America, more and more countries are reestablishing their relations with Israel—from Colombia, to Israeli rescue teams being on the ground in Venezuela, and many more. The common theme is that in all of these countries, the left-wing socialist parties lost elections. Meanwhile, here in the U.S., the party you represent is being filled with socialists who hate Israel, carried on the waves of young, educated white voters who haven’t spoken to an immigrant from the Soviet Union, Cuba, or Venezuela in their lives. Look in the mirror first.
Second, you said that Israel should be just like any other ally of the U.S. and not be dependent on it. I agree with you on this one, but Israel isn’t just a regular ally of the U.S. Israel is the forward base for the U.S. in the Middle East. We are thankful for the Iron Dome and other weapons, but don’t ever forget that when your father was fighting in the Irgun to establish a state during the War of Independence against five Arab countries, no U.S. weapons protected Israel. The leader of the Irgun, Begin, said it perfectly to Senator Biden years ago, and you should probably hear it as well: “We are not the Jews with the trembling knees.”
Third, you talk about a path forward and a Palestinian state. To think Israel should reward the people who slaughtered 1,200 Israelis in six hours with a state, after so many young soldiers were killed in this war, is a fantasy. It didn’t work for 77 years, and it won’t happen on the watch of the now 10,000,000 Israelis. At least not the majority of them.
Last, as an Israeli-American, when I came to this country, it was amazing to me that so many people think they know what’s best for Israel from 6,000 miles away, including members of our very own Jewish community. It shocked me to think that a Jewish person who grew up, most likely in a suburb of some city, would think they know what’s best for Israel better than an Israeli who lives in Kiryat Shmona or Sderot.
You are that person, Rahm.
From your cozy chair, and with your soon-to-be bid for the presidency, you think you know what’s best for Israel better than Israelis themselves. Your bid won’t work in a party that pushes more and more Jewish members to the side while embracing the people who hate us.
If you love Israel and care about it so much, let Israelis decide what’s best for their future, as it will be their kids who are going to grow up there, not yours.
Sincerely,
Ilan