Rahm Emanuel to warn ‘Greater Israel’ pursuit threatens Israel’s US alliance

Veteran Democratic politician Rahm Emanuel is preparing to deliver a speech in Tel Aviv warning that the pursuit of "Greater Israel" is a "corrosive fantasy." He plans to describe it as "destructive and fanatical," comparing it to the chant "from the river to the sea."

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corrosive fantasy

Emanuel, who has held significant roles in the Democratic Party, Congress, and the Obama White House, will caution that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies are leading Israel to a "dead-end." He argues these policies have turned the country into a "pariah" and are jeopardizing its historic alliance with the United States. Emanuel attributes this isolation partly to an American assumption of unconditional support for Israel, which he believes has enabled policies like the terrorizing of West Bank Palestinians and the suffering of Gazans due to food shortages. He terms the current situation "a countdown clock" for Israel's security, emphasizing the need for a "fundamentally new and different approach to the alliance."

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destructive and fanatical

While criticizing Israeli actions, Emanuel also addressed Palestinian actions, lambasting their supporters in the U.S. who advocate for replacing Israel with a Palestinian state. He stated unequivocally, "Those chanting ‘from the river to the sea’ need to hear this loud and clear: they will never have their way." He added, "But those calling for a greater Israel must also hear this loud and clear: you’re never going to have your way, either. Both are fantasies chanted by fanatics."

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our mistake

Emanuel's visit and remarks come at a time when Democratic politicians are increasingly distancing themselves from Israel to gain electoral advantages, as the country's international reputation declines. A Pew Research Center poll in April indicated that 60% of Americans held an unfavorable view of Israel.

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Israel has never been so isolated