The Greatest Threat of All

Yedidia Stern warns in an opinion piece that the greatest threat to Israel is the loss of legitimacy worldwide, especially in the US. He calls on the next leadership to work to restore Israel's international standing, distance the far right from the government, and pursue political settlements.

Yedidia Stern, president of the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI), warns in an opinion piece that the greatest threat to Israel is the political collapse worldwide, especially in the United States. According to him, the probability that a president hostile to Israel will sit in the White House in two years is not low, and the results could be catastrophic, including an American arms embargo or disconnection from the international banking system. Stern cites a recent CNN poll according to which 50% of Americans still support Israel, and calls on the next leadership to act to stop the bleeding in public opinion. He argues that the far right cannot be part of the next government, and that Ra'am should be brought into the coalition to refute the apartheid accusation. The article emphasizes the need for a realistic, not vengeful and not messianic, security right-wing policy, and for pursuing political arrangements instead of the illusion of 'total victory'.