As an American, I am familiar with political division. There is always an ongoing battle of Democrats vs. Republicans, Liberals vs. Conservatives, and the list goes on.

Yet as Israel’s operation in Gaza seems to be winding down I’ve noticed a tangible global division over the matter of Israel more than ever.

I’m fully aware that this global division over Israel has always existed. However, I have to admit I’ve never seen it on such a large scale. Massive demonstrations from both sides are drawing thousands to protest in cities like New York, London, and Paris, with many anti-Israel protesters resorting to violence with their verbiage and action shifting from anti-Israel rhetoric to extreme anti-Semitism.

How is it possible that this little country of 8 million people with a land mass the size of the state of New Jersey can create such an international frenzy? Well, from what I can gather, the reason people are so divided over Israel comes down to three reasons: ignorance, Islamism and anti-Semitism, and isolationism.

Isolationism
Senator Joe Lieberman said it perfectly in a Time magazine article: “I’m afraid that the U.S. has sent a message that we’re going to be less engaged in the world than we have been at other times in our history and I’m afraid that encourages some others to try to take advantage of us and our allies. It’s not just President Obama and the U.S. government, I think in many ways it’s the Europeans as well.”

With the U.S. isolating itself from the world and reducing the size of the U.S. military, a vacuum of power has become readily available for others to fill. So it’s no surprise to see that American and Allied forces’ absence in Iraq has opened the way for ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) to slaughter its way into power in Iraq. Don’t forget Russia, the big bear who is wide awake from decades of slumber, making its presence known in Eastern Europe.

The White House Administration’s desire to broker a humanitarian ceasefire, which would eventually lead to a long-term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, would only bring Israel back to status quo–“status quo” meaning journalists go home and Hamas rearms, strengthens, and continues to launch rockets into Israel. The status quo returned after the ceasefires of Operation Cast Lead in Gaza (2008-2009) and Operation Pillar of Defense (2012) in the Gaza.

I’m not advocating that the United States send troops to Israel, but I am saying our lack of foreign leadership and retreatist mentality has left a gaping hole for organized extremism to fill the void that could result, leaving our only democratic ally in the Middle East, Israel, in the dust.

Part 1 of Global Division Over Israel. Why? will examine the effects of ignorance and propaganda on international opinion of Israel.

Part 2 of Global Division Over Israel. Why? will examine the effects of the spread of Islamism and anti-Semitism on international opinion of Israel.

CJK