Land for peace has never worked in history except for one exception: Israel’s relinquishing of the Sinai to Egypt in 1979. However, the peace with Egypt was more of an exception to the rule rather than the norm, as other Arab states have not made any attempts for peace such as Jordan and Egypt. In 1993, when Israel yielded sovereignty over the West Bank to the Palestinian Authority, the Palestinians never followed through with their promise to end propaganda attacks and recognize Israel’s right to exist. The Palestinian National Charter still calls for Israel’s destruction.

History does not need another Neville Chamberlain. In 2005, Israel removed all Jews from the Gaza Strip without condition except for one: Gilad Shalit, an Israeli held by the terrorist organization Hamas. In return, Israel received an onslaught of terrorist attacks with over 8,000 rocket attacks launched from evacuated Jewish communities. We cannot allow the Arabs to call for more of Israel to be declared a Judenrein. We also cannot afford sacrificing another six million Jews at the hand of present-day dictators who preach hatred for the Jewish people and the Jewish State.

The truth is that the Arabs have not done enough to seek peace. The PA continues to glorify terrorists by naming town squares after “martyrs” and spreading propaganda in school textbooks. Israel recognizes all Arab countries but they have yet to do the same with Israel as a Jewish State. Israel has continuously sought direct talks rather than indirect proximity talks. The Palestinians continue to demand preconditions for direct negotiations, however these stipulations should be agreed upon by both parties.

Meanwhile, Israel has constantly shown its commitment. For the first time, a right-wing government has accepted and is determined to negotiate a two-state solution. Prime Minister Netanyahu has put in a place a moratorium on new construction in the West Bank and has removed approximately 409 checkpoints and roadblocks since April 2008. Within the month of June 2010, Israel dismantled 52 alone. The Arabs and Palestinians are reversing the progress made in the past, as neither Yasir Arafat nor Mahmoud Abbas have ever made preconditions about settlements, Jerusalem, or borders before their direct negotiations.

Pressure on Israel impedes progress, as Israel will not negotiate when it feels like it is endangered. Israel has sought the security and peace of both its people and its neighbors since its founding in 1948. Campaigns to delegitimize Israel, a lack of normalization and diplomacy, and unreasonable preconditions only serve to continue the conflict. Israel has shown it is ready to make peace. When will the Arabs and Palestinians do the same?

In May 2009, The Jerusalem Post conducted a survey of Jewish Israelis in regards to the special relationship that Israel has with the United States. The survey found that 88% of Israelis believed the Bush administration to be pro-Israel whereas only 7% found it to be neutral. Only 2% found the United States under the leadership of President George W. Bush pro-Palestine. Most striking about the poll is that once Jewish Israelis were asked about the Obama administration, they made a complete about-face: only 6% thought President Obama as being pro-Israel. 50% viewed him as pro-Palestine while 44% either stated no opinion or believed him to be neutral.

On first inspection, the poll results regarding the Obama administration do not seem alarming. Significant populations of Jewish Israelis find his policies rather neutral or they simply had no opinion regarding President Obama. However, that cannot continue. Israel is our strongest ally in the region and a threat to the state should be considered a grave threat to American interests in the Middle East.

The United States has long been the pillar of freedom and democracy since its inception as a nation. Other nations in the world have long sought to emulate the United States and our remarkable Constitution. In the Middle East, Israel is the only nation who shares those same values that we take for granted: Israel is a beacon for human rights, recognizing everything from property rights to equality under law regardless of gender or religious affiliation. Israel is the only Middle Eastern state that grants religious minorities such as Muslims, Druze, and Christians equal legal status. Notably, there are many Arab Muslims in the Israeli legislature, where many Arab parties appreciate legitimacy and admittedly a great amount of influence in the Knesset and other areas of Israel’s government. The United States needs to continue this relationship as Israel stands apart as one of the Middle East’s freest places.

Israel is at the forefront of major issues plaguing our world today – chief among them, the threat of a nuclear Iran. It is quite evident now that Iran’s nuclear ambition is not for civilian purposes. Iran has continuously been in the news with threats of violence, as war games and rhetoric from Iranian leadership have reached new heights of aggression. Furthermore, a nuclear Iran would be devastating for the world. Given how emboldened Iran has become after the election of President Obama and the administration’s willingness to negotiate without preconditions, our future seems as dangerous and uncertain as ever. Iran would seek to advance its dangerous foreign policy; it would advance its dealings with terrorist organizations and destabilize our advances with Arab nations in the region. The number of Arab nations on friendly terms with the United States is small, and we need to focus on strengthening those relationships while building working relationships with others. This goal will be hindered by a nuclear Iran with even more ability and desire to destabilize, intimidate, or destroy its neighbors. Israel, as one of the first likely targets of Iranian nuclear weapons, needs to have support in preventing Iran from acquiring those weapons, and doing so would be in our best interests as well.

The Obama administration needs to look at this poll as a wake-up call. President Obama needs to remember Israel’s significance both in the Middle East and abroad. The United States cannot have success in the Middle East without Israel on our side. We need to take a more proactive role with Israel involved and so we cannot keep pressuring or alienating our strongest ally. Should that not work, perhaps Barack Obama should take heed from his Christian faith that was so prominent in his campaign: “And I will bless them that bless thee [Israel], and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:3, KJV).