One has to realize what Secretary Kerry is leading as a wrecking ball. He is dismantling war. That is a real threat to a Neocon like McCain. It is not only a real threat to the political dogma of the Right Wing that is a real threat to Israel. Israel exists because of it's successful strategy, however, it did not do it alone and sometimes Israel loses sight of that reality in pushing their settlement strategy.
The settlements are more than a religious directive, which it is, but is a method of extending the sovereign authority over the lands within Israel's borders. Palestine currently exists within the borders of another nation. The Palestinian nation is fragmented within Israel and to that end it does not have a traditional definition of sovereignty. Somehow, Israel never gets it right. Traditional definitions don't apply in the Israel and Palestinian circumstance. As a matter of fact, that is the very real challenge of the peace process between these two nations within the same borders of one country.
Additionally, Israel has been very clever in it's survival in the Mideast. It's diplomacy has been successful to advance relations with other local nations, but, not Iran. Why? Because Iran had a nasty President that lied about the Holocaust for his political purposes?
Yes and no.
What religious alliance is Iran an icon?
The Shi'ites.
Who does Israel have good relations?
Primarily Sunni nations.
Having Sunni nations as preferred friends sets Israel in a safety zone. I mean there is a reason for that, namely Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and Hamas. But, the Sunnis are NOT completely innocent in their ability to back radicals. Israel sometimes forget that. There is nothing preventing Sunni nations to back radicals from madrassas that still exist in these countries, including some of the most radical madrassas in Pakistan.
So, to say these circumstances are complicated is an understatement. Add to that the changes in these nations called "The Arab Spring." It becomes a real challenge to settle the circumstances of the Palestinian challenge to Israel. Israel is all too comfortable with aggression as a way to manage it's sovereignty. It is difficult for them to realize peace is possible when rockets come of it's borders. What the current leadership forgets is "The Sharon Doctrine." I loved his bravery and vision. He was incredible. No one will ever taint his leadership with thoughts of failure. He was magnificent in seeking an answer for Israel and it has not exactly failed.
What Former Prime Minister Sharon realized as once Israel's Defense Minister is that a peace was possible, but, it would be necessary to defend from decades of 'canned hatred' by the Palestinians regardless of the civility of its leadership. With that reality came Gaza. It was traumatic to uproot so many of his own people to actually provide land, precious land, to the Palestinians and Hamas no less. But, he knew it was necessary and important for Israel to show tolerance and acceptance.
The process for peace in any country, including the entire region and Europe and Russia, in the case with Iran is not simple. There are many forces at work and all those forces have to be identified, realized to their place in the process and then finding a path forward while reassurances to the words of any agreement. The words have to be validated with actions, otherwise they are mute regardless of their magnificence.
But, the stakes are high, including the hate mongers in the USA. Those that find fear a real uptick to political dogmas to win elections in the USA is also a threat to the peace processes. Today, with the extremists in the USA Congress I am confident the USA is sometimes a skeptical partner.The Neocons do NOT have the answer. This is not WWII where the USA has wars off both coasts and there is no immediate military solution on it's western border. But, memories of easy victories go along way when Veterans becomes icons of political intent.
So, does Secretary Kerry have his work cut out for him? You betcha. But, to date he has shown the will and way forward. I have confidence he will continue to knock down the barriers to peace and be a wrecking ball to hatred and war.
