Taking Responsibility

Glowing in the aftermath of his victory over Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama told the U.S' most powerful 'pro-Israel' organization, AIPAC, that the war in Iraq had in fact weakened Israel's security, because of how it had impacted Iran.

As though on cue, Senator Joseph Lieberman responded negatively, saying that Obama was wrong to blame American foreign policy. "Iran is a terrorist, expansionist state," the Jewish Telegraphic Agency quoted the conservative Connecticut legislator as saying.

As an Israeli citizen, I'd like to testify as to what a rare instance it is to hear a little self-criticism coming from an American politician. The Bush administration's Mideast policy has profoundly exacerbated tensions between Israel and Iran. It's high time someone in Washington took responsibility for this.

Though Lieberman's reply was meant to represent the 'Jewish' point of view on this issue, he definitely does not speak for me, or the growing number of American and Israeli Jews who have questions about what the 'best' U.S. policy decisions for Israel might be.