Israel’s 2015 to be a game changer: good or bad?

Although 2014 ended with Israel avoiding a UN Security Council resolution demanding Israel end its occupation of Palestinian territory within a three-year timeframe, increased International pressure on Israel to resolve its conflict with the Palestinians is only going to intensify.  With the Palestinians already moving to join the International Criminal Court, US Intervention is likely not going to be enough to protect Israel.

In reality, a UN Security Council resolution would be more symbolic than actionable.  After all, Israel would have to implement the Security Council resolution or the International Community would have to essentially shun Israel.  Similarly, any prosecution by the International Criminal Court would do nothing, except limit the movement and business opportunities of indicted individuals. 

That said, the success of either action would formalize growing European distaste for how Israel treats the Palestinian People.  In doing so, Israel would be formally recognize as a wedge expanding the policy gap between the US and Europe.  Given the threat posed by Russia’s nationalist policies, America’s far more valuable ties with European Countries, and US opposition to Israeli settlements, the US is likely to grow less protective of Israel over time. 

This time Israel was able to use American influence to block the passage of the UN Security Council resolution by leaning on Nigeria, which certainly does not want to displease the mighty US, especially as its struggle with terrorist organization Boko Haram.  Populous opposition to Israeli policies against the Palestinian People, however, is only intensifying.  Blocking the efforts of a diplomatic organization to resolve the conflict is going to drive frustration and anger toward violence, not diffuse the situation.

Considering the globalizing nature of the Islamic identify, the democratization of the Middle Eastern Peoples, the unifying of Arab governments to address security threats in the Middle East, i.e. the Islamic State, and the threat of globalized terrorism, a failure to resolve its conflict with the Palestinian People will jeopardize the future of Israel.  Quite frankly, taking a hardliner stance and engaging in destructive acts of war against the Palestinians in order to fight Hamas is only going to unify the world against Israel.

Consequently, the US is facing a future where it will have to support the Israeli government or avoid division with the Peoples of Europe and the Middle East, unless Israeli’s policies change.  Unfortunately, US-lead efforts to resolve the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians have continually failed while any internal political will to stop the fighting is negligible.  This means the political intervention of European and Middle Eastern governments may well be a blessing in disguise for the Palestinian and the Israeli Peoples.

Sadly, politics prevents the US from “wavering in its support of Israel,” i.e. openly disagreeing with what Israel does, while being “tough on Hamas” defines the Israeli leadership.  European and Middle Eastern intervention, therefore, offers a chance for the US and Israel to move forward with the peace process without capitulating.  Israel would be wise to use the opportunity to its advantage before the world acts without Israeli input.  At the very least, Israel has an opportunity to avoid a far more bleak future of isolation and terrorist attacks in favor of one where Israel can be a true partner to the Muslim World.