One other common American
mantra deserves to be shelved. “Precisely
because of our friendship,” said
Obama five years ago, “it is important
that we tell the truth: the status quo is
unsustainable, and Israel too must act
boldly to advance a lasting peace.” It is
time for the United States to abandon
this mantra, or at least modify it. Only
if Israel’s adversaries conclude that Israel
can sustain the status quo indefinitely—
Israel’s military supremacy, its economic
advantage, and, yes, its occupation—is
there any hope that they will reconcile
themselves to Israel’s existence as a
Jewish state