Obama, Iran and the Lack of Randomness
If you felt a sense of 'déjà vu' regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent Congressional address, then you are probably quite familiar with the Old Testament. You may have noticed that this was not the first time that a Jewish leader had made a dramatic, provocative clarion call in a foreign leader's courtyard. Nor was it the first time that much of the world (including the Jewish world) has been critical of such brashness – 'chutzpah'. Just like now, many past Jewish leaders were oblivious to, or did not take the existential threat to the Jewish people seriously. After all, the Jews in Shushan (the capital of the Persian empire in 365 BC, where many Jews resided after the destruction of the first Jewish Temple in Jerusalem 67 years earlier) like many American Jews today, did not want to upset their neighbors who have welcomed and embraced them into the greater society for the past 67 years since World War II/Israel's founding.
But is it reasonable to draw parallels between the Biblical story of 'Purim' as described in the book of Esther, and the latest Obama-Netanyahu blow-up? After all, Haman, the archenemy of the Jews had plotted to wipe out all the Jews (Esther 3:6) men, women and children - similar to what a nuclear bomb could do the tiny state of Israel. The White House is not trying to destroy the Jews or even endanger the existence of Israel. Their goal, ostensibly, is to prevent Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon that can wipe out Israel (and threaten the US and her allies).
Yet despite this, the White House is not only strengthening the Iranians (geographically, Iran is the modern day Persia), but continues to disregard the role of the Congress in ensuring America's national security. The White House acts is if there are no 'checks' on its powers - like an all-powerful Monarch - the type that we are familiar with from Biblical times. As a result, Congress was forced to remind Iran (and the President) of the American, constitutional separation of powers; and to invite the head of state with the most credibility in securing his country and in confronting Iran, to address a joint session of Congress.
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When Netanyahu arrived in DC, there were many who wanted to parade him throughout the city as the savior of the free world and someone who is not afraid to act decisively in the face of grave danger for his people. This mirrored the behavior of his ancestor Mordechai, one of the two Jewish leaders during the Purim story, who not only saved the Jews for genocide, but was paraded through the Capital city on the king's horse, wearing the kings crown and holding his scepter (Esther 6:10). Talk shows have apparently replaced the royal garments and chariots of Shushan.
More importantly, what was the cause of both conflicts? In the Biblical story, we are told (Esther 3:2) that Haman was miffed that all of the King's Court would physically bow down to Haman, except for Mordechai. This filled Haman with rage. In the 21st Century, bowing is no longer in style, however political leaders being covetous of their honor seems to have been passed down through the centuries.
Netanyahu was invited to address a joint-session of Congress to speak about a Congressional approach to the Iran diplomacy talks that enjoys bi-partisan support. He was essentially asked to provide Congressional testimony on two bills – just not in a committee room, but in front of the entire Congress.
One bill forces the White House to complete negotiations with Iran by June or Iran will be subject to increased monetary sanctions. It recently passed the Senate Banking Committee 18-4 with affirmative votes by six of the 10 Democrats on the committee including Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Chuck Schumer of New York.
Another bill that was introduced on Friday, would grant Congress the opportunity to approve, or reject, the comprehensive nuclear deal with Iran negotiated by the Obama administration. This bill was sponsored by Senators Bob Corker (R-TN) Robert Menendez (D-NJ, Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), and cosponsored by four Republicans and four Democrats (although one is technically an Independent).
These two bills represent the epitome of the traditional bi-partisanship that has been the mainstay in American foreign policy. They also demonstrate that Congress has absolutely no faith in the President's commitment to protect US national security interests. President Obama's real problem is that he knows Netanyahu has more credibility on this issue than he does. His only chance to derail this humiliation was to accuse Netanyahu of the ultimate beltway transgression – partisanship. The Biblical equivalent of Queen Vashti humiliating the King by refusing to appear before the King in merely her crown (Esther 1:12) and is handed a death sentence for violating protocol and by for publicly confirming King Ahashverosh as weak (Esther 1:17). So the King killed his wife in order to avoid appearing weak – the original "Leading from Behind."
It is interesting to note that when Haman attempted to wipe out the Jews, he agreed to pay the King for the right to do so, so that it wouldn't cost the government anything to wipe out the Jews (Esther 3:9). The Iran sanctions bills are designed to inflict economic damage on the Iranian government.The White House opposes sanctions. Doing so, ensures that Iran's attempt to wipe out the Jews won't cost the Iranian government anything either.
It has been widely reported that Netanyahu's Congressional speech was delivered just weeks before the Israeli elections. What was not reported as much, was that the speech was delivered just weeks after, President Obama had used the word 'random' to describe a terror attack targeting Jews in Paris. He was petrified to state that Jews were targeted by Islamist terrorists.
Purim is the Jewish holiday that obliterates the notion that the world is dictated by randomness. Haman choose a lottery (Esther 3:7) to determine the date he would destroy the Jewish people. However, after numerous apparently 'random' events, that day that had been slated for Jewish genocide, was transformed into a day when Jews were empowered to wipe out tens of thousands of their enemies (Esther 9:16); from tragedy to celebration (Esther 9:22). Two thousand years ago Haman's 'Powerball', landed on Adar 13, which 'randomly' was the date that Prime Minister Netanyahu was invited to address the joint session of Congress about the dangers that Iran (modern Persia) poses to the US, Israel and the free world.
But for all the similarities between the events surrounding the original Purim festival to Netanyahu's trip to DC, the question remains who will be the Esther of Purim 2015? When Mordechai enters the capital city and wails loudly for all to hear about the threats that face the Jewish people (Esther 4:2), he is alone and those in the Capital City ignore his concerns. They feel that they know better, and are equipped to weather any forthcoming anti-Semitic storm, since they are close to the political leadership of King Ahashverosh. Even Queen Esther, initially, attempts to calm Mordechai down (Esther 4:4). But then Esther makes a decisive change and rallies all the Jews in Shushan to support her. She exposes herself to mortal danger (Esther 4:11) – for which she remains a Jewish heroine to this very day.
Will Americans of faith (especially Democrats) seize this moment to clarify that Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech is vital for the security of the US (and Israel) and implore President Obama to stop playing dirty politics – protecting Iran while maligning and threatening Israel – the Jewish State?
"For if you persist in keeping silent at a time like this, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from some other place." (Esther 4:16)
