This letter is meant to address those people who feel that Bush is better for Israel, or anyone else that is interested in the topic. First of all, I highly urge you to read Thomas Friedman's recent Op-Ed in the New York Times, "Jews, Israel and America" for a better explanation of some of the things that I am about to say. You don't like Thomas Friedman? Fine. Read the article and tell me why.
Basically, as a Jew that cares deeply about Israel I fully support the right of Israel to be able to defend itself against terrorism - Palestinian or otherwise. And guess what?? SO does John Kerry!
For anyone that thinks Bush has some sort of "monopoly" on support for Israel, here's a news flash: The state of Israel has received consistent bi-partisan report from the US since its founding in 1948.
I think that it is giving into the reactivity that occurs within many of us (one that can be very strong and influential, i know) to succumb to the fear that would signal a vote for President Bush because of his support for Israel. But the reality of the situation is that he is doing nothing to help end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He has simply become a sycophant for Sharon and he lacks the strong moral leadership that is required in order to be honest with Sharon even if it means saying something he might not want to hear; to take a hands-on approach to the conflict in order to work towards its' resolution. Furthermore, I am one who supports Sharon's decision to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, not because I think Palestinians "deserve" it, but because it makes practical sense in terms of the drastic demographic reality of the area, and it seems that Sharon also sees this. But I also think that he might try to use withdrawing Gaza as an exuse to dig deeper into the West Bank - a withdrawal that would surely invite an increase in Palestinian suicide terrorism. This is where strong US leadership is needed to come in and makes sure Sharon sticks to his "guns," so to speak. I cannot guarantee that Kerry would definitely provide such needed honesty to Sharon or be able to bring about some kind of solution, but Bush has certainly done nothing to help improve the violent Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Bush's incompetency in this arena is parallel towards his strategy on the war in Iraq, even though in Iraq it is on a bigger scale. He ignores the reality of the situation (or maybe it's just denial?), alienates the US from the rest of the world (especially the Arab/Muslim world), and allows politics and passion to take precedence over making sound decisions that would work towards the goal of making Iraq serve as a democratic, modern example that the rest of the Arab world would be willing to follow, and hence to make you and me safer.
So, we should ask ourselves what we really are considering when we say, "better for Israel." Are we thinking of the bigger picture?