La coraggiosa riflessione di un diplomatico israeliano
Nadav Tamir, Console Generale isreliano a Boston, ha scritto un rapporto sulla rotta di collissione con la politica americana relativamente al Processo di Pace suolla quale e’ venuto a trovarsi il suo Paese, specie per quanto riguarda la tematica degli insediamenti (ampi stralci in inglese qui di seguito). Ma Tamir va piu’ in la’, e sottolinea come in realta’ all’interno della classe dirigente isrealiana la stessa elezione di Obama sia stata considerata un evento sfavorevole agli interessi israeliani. Il rapporto di Tamir e’ magistrale, specie nei seguenti passaggi: "L’Amministrazione Obama e’ determinata a esercitare la sua leadership nell’affrontare le due sfide piu’ strategiche che Israele sta affrontando: la minaccia iraniana e dei suoi emissari e il conflitto Israeliano-palestinese” "Nessun paese al mondo – continua Tamir- puo’ trarre maggiore beneficio di noi da questa postura americana, e mi chiedo perche’, concentrandoci sui singoli alberi anziche’ sulla foresta, preferiamo sottolineare questioni negative tattiche invece delle mosse strategiche positive”. Il diplomatico americano e’ stato redarguito dal suo Governo non tanto per aver redatto un rapporto che e’ probabilmente al di la’ delle sue competenze consolari a Boston e facendo “invasione di campo” rispetto all’Ambasciata a Washington, ma perche’ ha distribuito a destra e a manca il testo, che avrebbe dovuto restare riservato, essendo un documento interno all’Amministrazione degli Esteri israeliana. Questa almeno la versione ufficiale: rimane il dubbio che Tamir sia stato rimproverato per aver liberamente espresso un pensiero che appare di tenore opposto rispetto a quello manifestato dal suo Ministro degli Esteri. Tuttavia il compito dei diplomatici in servizio all’estero nell’interesse del loro paese non e’ quello di compiacere il Ministro di turno, ma di riferire le situazioni nella loro oggettivita’ e forse anche nella loro crudezza, offrendo al contempo la loro analisi politica. Se il diplomatico non e’ oggi un accorto e profondo analista politico, a che serve?
Senior Israeli diplomat serving in United States launches scathing arrack on Netanyahu government's policy: Nadav Tamir, Israel's consul general in Boston, has distributed a letter saying that "an image of a conflict between the Israeli government and the Obama administration is harming the support for Israel in the public opinion, much more than the criticism over the aggressiveness and harm caused to civilians during Operation Cast Lead or the battle against Hezbollah in 2006." The letter signed by the consul general was spread in wide circulation among Israeli delegates in the US and Foreign Ministry officials, and was also sent to Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The three-page document, titled 'Sad thoughts on Israel-US relations', was first reported by Channel 10. It includes some harsh statements on the deteriorating relations between Washington and Jerusalem. "The favored Israeli approach is to always say to the Americans 'yes, but…' over 'no'. It has been clear to our decision makers that this is the most important power in the world, as well as our closest ally. "Therefore, we must sacrifice tactical issues for the sake of strategic ties… One can mention Prime Minister Sharon's positive response to the Road Map, despite a long list of reservations… It should be mentioned that there have always been differences in the two countries' approaches, whether in terms of the settlements or, for example, in terms of Hamas' participation in the Palestinian elections, but the level of coordination between the governments was maintained." Tamir added that "the damage in the American public opinion's support is already apparent in recent public opinion polls, and the damage is expected to be even worse… Many circles in America feel these days that while the Obama administration is attempting to solve conflicts across the world, it must deal with the disobedience of the governments in Iran, North Korea and Israel. He warned that "the sense of conflict between the Israeli government and the Obama administration puts the American Jewish community in an extremely problematic place, where it must choose between the two… and this conflict draws many of them away from the State of Israel." After expressing his concern over a recent poll showing that the support for US President Barack Obama in Israel is the lowest in the world, the consul general noted that "the Americans are trying to reduce the publicity of disagreements, while we are the source of making these differences public."As for the suspicions over the Obama administration's alleged intention and willingness to sacrifice Israeli interest for the sake of moving close to the Muslim world, I see no such indication," Tamir wrote. "The Obama administration is determined to show leadership in order to deal with the two most strategic challenges Israel is facing: The threat of Iran and its messengers and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict...” "There is not country in the world which can benefit more from the American move than us, and I wonder why we prefer to stress negative tactical issues over the positive strategic move, when we 'focus on the trees instead of on the forest.'" Tamir concluded by recommending a "dramatic change" in Israel's relations with the American administration. "I suggest talking about our aspirations for peace and our support for the two-state solution in a more convincing manner and not as if we are giving in to American pressure…” "We can influence the ongoing American policy in terms of Iran, Syria and the Palestinian much more if we restore our status as partners to the administration's moves, rather than as a country which has to be communicated with through State Department briefings, as done with Venezuela or North Korea." (Roni Sofer Published: 08.06.09, 21:03 / Israel News)
