When a visibly deflated Yukio Hatoyama plodded out of his official residence in Tokyo earlier this month, media pundits everywhere wrote the story of a meteoric rise to political stardom squandered precipitously in a haze of broken campaign promises and economic stagnation.Only eight months ago, the newly elected Japanese prime minister shook up the country's entrenched political order when his Democratic Party swept into power with a whopping 70 percent approval rating. The possibilities seemed endless if he could only deliver on a crucial promise to supporters on the southern island of Okinawa. At issue was the future of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. Hatoyama had promised frustrated Okinawans he could boot the unpopular U.S. military installation off their island. But, in practice, standing up to the Americans proved to be an impossible challenge.
The Pentagon insisted that Japan adhere to a 2006 agreement to keep the base in the same geography. And an inexperienced Hatoyama was forced to toe the line. The decision would send his approval rating plummeting below 20 percent, ultimately leading to his resignation amid a tsunami of public criticism.
The incident was a compelling reminder of how the disruptive influence of American power can function as a catalyst for dramatic political change in the domestic affairs of traditional allies – nations with whom we share strong cultural, institutional and structural ties. Make no mistake: We do have the ability to change hearts and minds – and to shape political outcomes in the process. And perhaps not always for the worse.
It's a shame we haven't used this awesome power to effect regime change in Bibi Netanyahu's Israel. Because if the Middle East peace process is to go anywhere at all, it will need the steady hand of a government that isn't given to sabotaging its own interests.
Friends and critics of Israel would agree that recent events have done considerable damage to the reputation of the Jewish state. Marc Ginsberg, former U.S. ambassador to Morocco, chronicled the embarrassments and potential risks in a column for The Huffington Post: "In less than six months, under its truncated Likud government, Israel has managed to alienate its most important regional Muslim ally, Turkey; angered the United Arab Emirates with the botched assassination saga in Dubai; endured expulsion of diplomats from Australia and the United Kingdom – two of Israel's greatest friends; accorded Hamas' supporters a public relations bonanza [with the killing of nine activists aboard the Gaza-bound Turkish ferry 'Mavi Marmara'], and kicked settlement construction sand in the eyes of Vice President Biden.
"For good measure, Israel's actions may undermine efforts to muster sufficient international support to have the United Nations impose the type of crippling economic sanctions against Iran that could mean the difference between a chastised Iran or an Iran with a nuclear bomb."
In sum, the actions of the Netanyahu administration have greatly weakened Israel's international standing – and compromised our own embattled efforts to bring stability and democracy to the heart of the Middle East. But instead of punishing our "most cherished ally" for its blatant acts of folly, we continue to make excuses.
The finger of blame in the flotilla incident, for example, is being pointed squarely at the activists seeking to end Israel's four-year siege of Gaza. Reuters reported last week that 126 members of the House of Representatives "had signed a letter urging President Obama to oppose international condemnation of Israel over its role in seizing the aid ships last month and forcing them to dock in Israeli ports."
If the argument is that the activists created a situation with potentially destabilizing consequences for the region, one wonders why the same lawmakers haven't been equally zealous in condemning Israel's illegal settlements in East Jerusalem – activity that jeopardizes hope for a viable and independent Palestine while simultaneously endangering Israel's future as a democratic Jewish state.
The sheer inconsistency of our Israel policy is both maddening and counterproductive. More than anywhere else, regime change in Jerusalem may be necessary to save Israel from itself. It's time we flexed our political muscle.
