The Netanyahu-Obama relationship, President Rivlin, former MK Ronen Hoffman, Rabbi Dr. Ron Kronish and Hiroshima and Nagasaki are today’s topics.
First, VOI’s Dov Lipman criticizes President Obama for denouncing Israeli interference in a Congressional vote, on the grounds that it is an “internal” American issue. Dov compares such action on the part of Israel’s officials to the US Ambassador to Israel’s recent efforts to convince Knesset members to vote in favor of a gas deal. Dov says that, like the Iran deal, this was an internal political matter with international ramifications, and as such, the US insinuated itself. He takes the position that a country has the right to speak out on issues that have an impact on its well-being.
Then, Dov praises the leadership of President Reuven Rivlin, who has lent his passionate voice to urging deep reflection in Israel following the arson in Duma. As Rivlin says, when “one of ours” commits a crime, we all bear responsibility.
Next, Dov hears from Ronen Hoffman, who says the “dismantling” of Israel’s Foreign Ministry (the shutting down of several embassies) is having a devastating impact on the state’s public diplomacy and security. Hoffman looks to the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin — for whom Hoffman served as a personal aide — as an example of how security and diplomacy can and must work hand-in-hand.
Then, Dov is joined by Rabbi Dr. Ron Kronish, founder of and senior adviser for the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel, who talks about the ICCI’s efforts to support dialogue among leaders of all faiths. The organization’s work has led to the growth of a more moderate Islam. Dr. Kronish encourages people interested in communal dialogue and co-existence to get involved, especially in the wake of the recent rise in interfaith tension in Israel.
Finally, Dov considers the 70 years since atomic bombs were dropped on Japan, playing audio of President Harry S. Truman and fighter pilots involved in the attacks. Dov makes the case that the drastic military decision was made to save lives and that, sometimes, countries must take severe, “disproportional” action to bring an end to conflict. He adds that Israeli leaders must keep the lesson of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in mind — especially with a freshly emboldened Iran. listen now