Abstract:

U.S.-Israeli relations: From David Ben-Gurion, Shimon Peres, Golda Meir and Yitzhak Rabin to Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Shamir and General Ariel Sharon. Candid interviews with Israeli giants and key players on the U.S-Israeli relationship--dramatized by over 70 historic photographs of Israeli and U.S. leaders in "Kodak" moments. Providing critical insight on the human element in the U.S.-Israeli relationship, this groundbreaking book reveals untold tales about the Israel/U.S. alliance. Discover what Americans and Israelis really thought about their counterparts during Israel's Impossible Era. Survival, peace and dreams were at stake--an Israeli yearning for commitment versus American demands for respect. Shouting to negotiate. A zest for life versus "a cold, robotic approach." "Why can't you bend your mentality?" "Israelis are awful, but Americans are vicious." "We need it, so why can't you just give it to us?" An essential guide for government officials, the media, politicians, business leaders and Israel supporters. A U.S. diplomat descends into a fistfight in Tel Aviv (and enjoys it). An American negotiator nearly has a heart attack during a tense session with Ariel Sharon. What really happened when the Jonathan Pollard spy scandal broke? (Not what you think.) Secretary George Shultz invited Prime Minister Shamir to his home for a breakfast of pancakes. What could go wrong? (Hint: The peace process.) Who did General Sharon call a supercilious American WASP, while giving him a gift? Why was Menachem Begin so admired by American diplomats? Yitzhak Rabin warns that Americans have no sense of humor. Shimon Peres reflects on achieving top marks in New York's New School courses when he was first learning English. Blending biographies, photographs and autobiography, this work will bring back a rush of memories for many. Author Dr. Joyce Starr directed the Near East Studies Program of the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) for more than a decade. A life-long Independent, she served in both Democratic and Republican Administrations. Joyce has advised Israeli universities and international think tanks.

This award-winning study traces the shifting relations between Israel, Iran, and the U.S. since 1948—including secret alliances and treacherous acts. Vitriolic exchanges between the leaders of Iran and Israel are a disturbingly common feature of the news cycle. But the real roots of their enmity mystify Washington policymakers, leaving no promising pathways to stability. In Treacherous Alliance, U.S. foreign policy expert Trita Parsi untangles to complex and often duplicitous relationship among Israel, Iran, and the United States from 1948 to the present. In the process, he reveals shocking details of unsavory political maneuverings that have undermined Middle Eastern peace and disrupted U.S. foreign policy initiatives in the region. Parsi draws on his unique access to senior American, Iranian, and Israeli decision makers to present behind-the-scenes revelations that will surprise even the most knowledgeable readers: Iran’s prime minister asks Israel to assassinate Khomeini; Israel reaches out to Saddam Hussein after the Gulf War; the United States foils Iran’s plan to withdraw support from Hamas and Hezbollah; and more. Treacherous Alliance not only revises our understanding of the recent past, it also spells out a course for the future. An Arthur Ross Book Award Silver Medal Winner A Choice Magazine Outstanding Academic Title

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a multi-dimensional conflict with numerous forces working collectively from international structure, regional structure and domestic structure. This book aims to offer a comprehensive reading on the AIPAC, the U.S. Middle East Policy, Israel, structural fault lines, and creation of the Palestinian state. The book touches on specific aspects, such as; • The macro dimension of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. • U.S.-Israel Special Relationship (1948-2019). • The American Jewry. • The AIPAC and its modus operandi in U.S. • The U.S. Middle East Policy. • Future of the Palestinian State in the Middle East. AIPAC is the strongest American-Jewish lobby in the United States. Many critics argue that AIPAC able to influence the U.S. Middle East policy, thus jeopardizes the U.S. national interest. For many decades, intangible factor, the soft power of American Jewry has been serving the national interest of Israel. American domestic structure is embedded within liberal democratic values, enable the American Jewish lobbies to operate successfully. This phenomena attracted attention of many scholars, such as; Samuel P. Huntington and George F. Kennan, Tony Smith, David Truman, John J. Mearsheimer, and Stephen M. Walt to produce valuable literatures. John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt assert that the AIPAC is dangerous to U.S. national interest. AIPAC plays an important role in preserving the U.S.-Israel “special relationship” in the American soil through lobbying strategy. A triangular pattern of relationships prevail between AIPAC, Israel and the U.S. Middle East policy. AIPAC serves to preserve the “special relationship” between Israel and U.S. in periods of peace and turmoil. Some critics say AIPAC projects dual nationalism in their modus operandi. AIPAC represents the loyal American Jews who wish to see the United States of America remains strong and powerful in international system. At the same time, AIPAC loves and supports Israel as the Jewish national home. AIPAC aims to see Israel secured and able to survive in the volatile Middle East region. Apparently AIPAC has certain level of influence over the US Middle East policy in creation of the Palestinian state. AIPAC ensures creation of the Palestinian state is safe to Israel’s national interest and national security. AIPAC often tries to direct the U.S. Middle East policy towards other contagious issues in the region to divert U.S. attention in the Palestinian peace process. Success and failure in AIPAC’s lobby depend on U.S. national interest in the region. AIPAC never possess insurmountable power to influence the US Middle East policy. AIPAC able to influence the U.S. Middle East policy when there is a convergence factor with the U.S. national interest. The prime force in the U.S. Middle East policy is undoubtedly the U.S. national interest. Followed by Israel’s security, security and stability of the Middle East. However, AIPAC as an instrument of policy should not be excluded from the study on the Palestinian state.

Middle East the mother of civilisations is one of the very few regions of global politics which have remained the hot spots and orbits around which the global power game revolved uninterruptedly. In beginning it was due to its geopolitical location as it is at the crossroads and a trade link between big Asian, African and European countries turned the region into a trade hub. Then the life changing discoveries of natural resources, particularly of oil and gas in the region as well as the industrial revolution in other parts of the world increased strategic importance of the region at the global level. The adoption of policy of securing control over the resources by global powers gave new shape to the political structure and configuration, like disintegration of Ottoman Empire and creation of new political entities in the region. In addition to that the break out of the First and Second World Wars, creation of Israel as well as the emergence of the Cold War are such events that transformed the region into a battle ground for the global super powers which ended at the collapse of the USSR in 1992 and emergence of the US as the dominant global power. No doubt after the emergence of uni-polar global order, the region saw a phase of peace and end of the war gaming on the part of the big powers but the US continued to dominate the regional political structure. During the same period the region also experienced one of the toughest periods of inter-state wars, first the decade long Iraq-Iran war and then the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait which added more fuel to the already increasing division and hatred among the regional countries.

How Israel is dividing American Jews Trouble in the Tribe explores the increasingly contentious place of Israel in the American Jewish community. In a fundamental shift, growing numbers of American Jews have become less willing to unquestioningly support Israel and more willing to publicly criticize its government. More than ever before, American Jews are arguing about Israeli policies, and many, especially younger ones, are becoming uncomfortable with Israel's treatment of Palestinians. Dov Waxman argues that Israel is fast becoming a source of disunity for American Jewry, and that a new era of American Jewish conflict over Israel is replacing the old era of solidarity. Drawing on a wealth of in-depth interviews with American Jewish leaders and activists, Waxman shows why Israel has become such a divisive issue among American Jews. He delves into the American Jewish debate about Israel, examining the impact that the conflict over Israel is having on Jewish communities, national Jewish organizations, and on the pro-Israel lobby. Waxman sets this conflict in the context of broader cultural, political, institutional, and demographic changes happening in the American Jewish community. He offers a nuanced and balanced account of how this conflict over Israel has developed and what it means for the future of American Jewish politics. Israel used to bring American Jews together. Now it is driving them apart. Trouble in the Tribe explains why.