The US should step back from its special relationship with Israel

09 Feb 2010

Speakers: Roger Cohen, Itamar Rabinovich, Stuart Eizenstat, John Donvan, Rashid Khalidi

Israel believes America’s special relationship is vital. It is, certainly, to Israel. But what about for the US? Israel has no oil, enemies in many places, and a tendency to defy Washington when it perceives its own interests to be threatened, which is not infrequently.

In the Middle East, it always seems as if gaining on one front loses
you on others. Does the US's cosy relationship with Israel now cost
too much in Muslim good will, especially at a time when Gulf sovereign
wealth funds are so critical to US economic recovery?

But there’s an important connection between the US and Israel – that goes deeper than finance or energy convenience. It’s a foundation of mutual loyalty and shared values – democracy being only the most obvious. There has also been a history of shared intelligence, military cooperation, and significant cross-fertilization of scientific knowledge. To sacrifice these connections to improve relations with the Arab world would be an act of betrayal – of an ally – and of what the US say they stand for.

Should the US consider putting some distance between itself and Israel? Would such a change in policy serve American interests, or is it a move they would come to regret?

First vote: 33% For, 42% Against, 25% Undecided

Final Vote: 49% For, 47% Against, 4% Undecided

The motion is carried by 2%

Thank you to Intelligence Squared US for allowing us to use this video.

Roger Cohen

Columnist for The New York Times and the International Herald Tribune
Itamar Rabinovich

Academic, former Israeli Ambassador to the US, and former President of Tel Aviv University
Stuart Eizenstat

Former US Ambassador to the EU
John Donvan

Correspondent for ABC News
Rashid Khalidi

Palestinian-American Middle Eastern historian and political activist