US Double Standard or Double Game?

(Written April 18th 2024)

Ever since Israel’s establishment in 1948, the United States has consistently and courageously sided with the Jewish State as the United Nations and the European Union judged Israel according to a double standard over and over again. The US, in its unwavering support for Israel – whether by vetoing anti-Israel resolutions or by vocally pointing out to the world and condemning without equivocation this bias – have been acting as a counterbalance to this obsessive and otherwise largely accepted singling out of Israel. This has been blatantly true in the aftermath of the October 7th massacre: America’s pledge to defend Israel only grew stronger as the world’s bias reached new heights. Yet, in the past few weeks, the transatlantic winds seem to have shifted. Despite reiterating America’s “ironclad” commitment to Israel, President Joe Biden’s public interference with Israel’s military strategy and vocal criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the midst of war are undermining de facto the once unconditional alliance. Together with the US non-veto of UN Resolution 2728 calling for a ceasefire, this uninvited intrusion, if not a shift in policy, is at least a tacit acceptance of the Israeli double standard. By holding on to their veto, America did not yet cross to the other side, but it is playing a dangerous double game.

It was believed that as long as America kept the double standard in check, Israel’s physical integrity would not be threatened unabashedly in the global arena. But October 7th and its aftermath have shown otherwise. This prejudice has contributed to the emboldening and strengthening of Israel’s enemies. All those anti-Israel statements and resolutions by the UN and the EU, all this anti-Israel coalescing in Europe’s streets, mosques, and pro-Palestinian incitement of the woke Left in US and European campuses, find their expression in various policies, measures and initiatives and activities which have actively contributed to empower Israel’s enemies, ever more so since October 7th! The funding of anti-Israel NGOs, the supporting of pro-BDS groups or the funneling of billions into the Palestinian Authority and Gaza without the slightest control system have helped Hamas in its endeavor. If America crossed to the other side in embracing the Israel double standard, its possible materialization into concrete measures such as arms embargo would have an escalating effect. The past has shown us that the widely accepted double standard leveled at Jews is one part of a larger process of discrimination which can lead to catastrophe. Before World War II, the double standard applied to the Jews themselves. They were treated differently almost everywhere they lived and were subject to specific legislation. Having nowhere to go, Jews served as an easy scapegoat for many of society’s ills. The violent history is there in plain view, Jews were regularly attacked in riots and pogroms across Eastern Europe and Arab countries – such as the Kishinev pogrom in 1903 Russia or the Farhud in 1941 Iraq. Let it be noted that the worst atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7th, including the mass rapes, the mutilations and other horrific acts, are uncannily similar to those perpetrated then. For centuries, this Jewish double standard – one of the main expressions of antisemitism – along with criticisms, hate propaganda and blood libels, materialized into murder sprees and cold brutality, slowly leading to the Final Solution and ultimate pogrom – the Shoah.

As soon as the Jews had a State of their own, the double standard shifted from the Jewish people onto the Jewish State. Just like its alter-ego, antisemitism, the double standard against Israel spreads fast and far, like a virus in winter. Such a long and tragic history of this double standard is why it is one of the three “Ds”, along with Demonization and Delegitimization in the “3-D test” established by former Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Soviet Refusenik Natan Sharansky, a reliable test by which to determine if anti-Israel criticism is antisemitism. Unfortunately, most of Israel’s loudest detractors today would pass this test with flying colors. The nomenclature of antisemitism is however becoming more and more obsolete as the rampant anti-Israel climate is causing Jews to fear for their safety across European and American cities.

This historic bias, which has become an intrinsic part of the very institutions which were initially created to prevent another WWII from happening ever again, is reaching new heights since October 7th. As of the very next day, the UN Security Council has been reviewing and passing resolutions for a ceasefire and humanitarian intervention without condemning or even mentioning Hamas, nor the sexual crimes they committed that day – and continue to inflict on hostages to this day –, the genocidal nature of the massacre, let alone considering taking action against them. As for their UNWRA staff members who took active part in the October 7th atrocities, it took the UN almost five months to launch an enquiry, while European countries were quick to resume their funding to the so-called relief organization, whose education and health infrastructure in Gaza serves as a base of operation for Hamas terror. If there ever was a time for the UN to address its institutional bias against Israel, it was in the aftermath of October 7th, seeing the indisputable evidence of the mass war crimes perpetrated by Hamas. Sadly, while its failure to do so does not come as a surprise, it has taken the double standard against Israel to a whole new level. Looking away from the monstrosities of October 7th and their perpetrators while condemning Israel over and over again is a clear denial of Israel’s right to defend itself and fuels Jew-hatred across the globe.

Until October 7th, one could make the case that anti-Israelism was somewhat contained and framed by education around the Shoah and laws to protect against antisemitism. Mostly, it was safeguarded by Israel’s truest friend and the world’s most powerful country, America, who was always very aware of the thin line between anti-Zionism and antisemitism. But since the Hamas massacre, we see that the dam is collapsing. Every week, all around the world, hundreds of thousands of pro-Palestinians demonstrators rally to delegitimize and demonize Israel, marching to their infamous death chant “From the River to the Sea” for the eradication of the Jewish State. The consequences have been immediate. Everywhere around the world, the anti-Israel mood is shifting from mere criticism to calls to action. Whereas most leaders – first and foremost United States President Joe Biden – in the immediate aftermath of 10/7 condemned Hamas’ barbaric actions, as the war progressed, they quickly turned their back one after another to the Middle East’s only democracy.

French President Emannuel Macron and British Prime Minister who initially showed brave support to Israel, started changing their tune, reverting back to the European double standards and playing a dangerous double game of whispering support in Bibi’s ear, but castigating Israel when talking into a microphone. Somewhat characteristic of President Macron’s tenure, this “at the same time” attitude is the opposite of America’s usually clear stances and generally pro-Israeli policy. Until recently, America’s Joe Biden had refrained from openly interfering with Israel and offered what was perceived as unconditional support. As Israel’s war moved to the South, his declarations against an invasion of Rafah, his insistence on providing humanitarian aid at all costs together with his delegitimization of the Israeli Prime Minister and his cabinet, in a time of war, President Biden has made Israel’s war far more difficult to conclude. By stressing that it distinguishes between Israel and its leader Bibi Netanyahu and thus resorting like the rest of the world to the demonizing of the Israel’s duly elected leader, the US has found a convenient and expedient way to reduce its support to Israel. True, Israel’s own delegitimizing of Netanyahu set a terrible example for the world. This is however a strictly domestic affair and does not lend to outsiders leveraging its internal opinion polls. The liberty with which world leaders and government officials criticize their Israeli counterparts sets the tone for their own public, which are only too happy to jump onto the Israel-bashing train. The hyperventilating demonization of Benjamin Netanyahu and some of his ministers belong in another era – and the President of the United States, with a 50-year political career behind him, should know better.

Until today, much to its credit, America has stood by Israel through thick and thin. By casting a shadow, however small, on the unconditional nature of its support for Israel and distancing itself from its leader and part of its military strategy at this critical juncture in this war, America is redefining an alliance that has actually worked both ways. This alliance goes far beyond military aid and common interests in the Middle East, it is bound by a mutual vision of the world order and shared values. By jeopardizing this alliance, America would leave Israel to fend for itself, but it would also lose a most moral and loyal ally which has contributed to making her the shining city on the hill. Let us hope for both countries that these are only short-term lapses in leadership and not a real shift in America’s policy. In the meantime, Israel must learn the lesson and make sure that it will know how to protect itself in light of America’s dwindling support at this crucial moment. If America is willing to forgo 75 years of rock-solid moral alliance on the altar of this just war, maybe this alliance does need to be reconsidered after all. As for now, it must continue to fight the double standard against Israel. And while it is of course free to criticize Israel and its leaders – no country or leader is above criticism – it should do so keeping in mind the lessons of the past and present, and making sure these criticisms remain as such and do not materialize into any action that could harm Israel.