Page 34 - Jewish News_Oct2021

34A October 2021 COMMENTARY

Withdrawal from Afghanistan and its impact

on Israel and the Middle East

By Harold M. Halpern
n this column, written before the build it into a modern country. She was ing after, we ask but have no answers. greater hegemony in the Middle East,
High Holidays, I had intended to of the mind of those Jewish philoso- Will the success of the Taliban in spit- particularly in Lebanon and Iraq as
Ispeculate how those present at phers who believed that God was in ting out the United States embolden well as destabilizing other countries in
Mount Sinai would react to the mod- the process of withdrawing from direct Hezbollah, Hamas and Iran to test Is- the area by support of militant proxies.
ern State of Israel if we transported engagement with the Jewish people, rael and the United States by increased These questions have no answers
them there today. Surely, for them, Is- placing upon them the responsibility of attacks on Israel? Already we have seen but only speculation. We are not near
rael would be the indisputable proof of Tikkun Olam, perfection of the world. increased activity along the borders “the morning after the morning after.”
God’s existence – But recent events in Afghanistan with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Let us hope that Afghanistan is not the
God’s modern mir- take me away from sharing my views the north. I think we can safely answer prelude of American disengagement.
acle. They would of our partnership with God in the mir- that Israel will do whatever is required Right now, Covid dominates pub-
not understand the acle of the reestablishment of Israel. to defend itself. However, does this lic discourse in Israel, which is trying
skepticism of to- Instead, I write about the implications mean Israel will be compelled to use to bring it under control, while it is at
day. They would to Israel of the American departure more force in protecting its security in the same time enhancing relations with
look about in awe from Afghanistan. the West Bank and Gaza as well as in Egypt, Jordan and Abrahamic partners
at the human con- As I wrote in an earlier column, we the north of the country – and against with some success for their mutual
dition, the desert have seen the pictures of Afghans des- Iran, arousing the antipathy of its crit- economic and security benefit. Israel
Harold M. Halpern in bloom, the ease perately trying to escape. Tom Fried- ics, but more importantly endangering and the Palestinian Authority continue
of travel, the plenty of food, the cures man of The New York Times penned civilian and military lives and damage to work together to maintain security
of illness, and say in unison, without an opinion piece about the chaos at the to an economy trying to recover from keeping both Israel and the PA protect-
a doubt, “We have again witnessed the Kabul airport. He wrote, “When big Covid? ed from terrorists.
power of God!” events happen (in the Middle East), al- Iran was the principal item on The Israeli governing coalition
My maternal grandfather was a ways distinguish between the morning the agenda for the meetings of Isra- of eight parties with different policy
Chasid. In his time, many Orthodox after and the morning after the morning el Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on outlooks and a one-vote majority has
Jews believed that the Jewish peo- after, when the full weight of history… August 25-27 with the American ad- succeeded in the art of compromise to
ple would return home to Israel (then asserts (itself).” ministration, including President Joe reconcile their differences and main-
Palestine) only by an act of God. My We are not in the after the morn- Biden. The Prime Minister expressed tain the status quo in areas on which
mother, in 1923, wanted to join Ha- ing after. Yet, the consensus appears his opposition to renewal of the nuclear they can’t agree. This must continue in
dassah but she was concerned about that the Taliban succeeded in uniting agreement with Iran and the release of the adoption of a budget by November
her father’s reaction. So, as she often the otherwise many disparate tribes sanctions, and supported development 4, the failure of which automatically
told me the story, he said to her, “Who in Afghanistan against an invader, the of an alternative Plan B to contain Iran dissolves the Knesset, forcing anoth-
said God can’t use a little help?” Giv- United States. But now that they have as urged by Defense Minister Benny er election. Significantly, Ra’am, the
en this reaction, she became an ardent succeeded, the unanswered question is Gantz. The President told the Prime Israeli Arab party in the government
Zionist member of Hadassah, writ- whether they remain united to govern Minister that there are “other mea- coalition, is well integrated into this
ing and speaking throughout western by compromise and accommodation or sures” if negotiations with Iran fails. process, acting for the good of its con-
New York until her last breath in 1992, whether they will break up into quar- We still must ask whether Presi- stituents and leaving to Prime Minister
first to support the establishment of a reling factions. dent Biden will support action by Isra- Bennett and Alternate Prime Minister
Jewish state and, after its creation, to And in the morning after the morn- el if its intelligence indicates that Iran Yair Lapid, the decision making for the
continues to develop a nuclear capabil- protection of Israel.
ity despite any renewed nuclear agree- May the New Year be one of peace
ment. and stability.
And we must ask whether Israel’s Harold Halpern is a retired attorney
Arab partners in the Gulf will become residing in Lakewood Ranch. He is a
even closer to Israel for common sup- board member of the American Asso-
port against Iran and terrorism, or will ciation of Jewish Jurists and Lawyers
they hedge their bets and make accom- and of the West Coast Chapter of the
modation with Iran, enabling it to gain American Jewish Committee.
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