Our Congress, predictably, gave Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu more standing ovations than President Obama received during his last State of the Union Address.
For many American Jews, Israeli Jews and Palestinians -- well -- today was one thing: predictable. In the worst way.
When the leading Democrat, Harry Reid – speaking last night at AIPAC – explicitly sides with Netanyahu and boisterously against his own Democratic President? There is a reason.
When leading Democratic and Republican lawmakers display an unparalleled lack of patriotism by publicly admonishing President Obama and defending a foreign leader? There is a reason.
When an Isreali Prime Minister can walk into the halls of Congress and be cheered for expressing devastatingly-dangerous, hawkish policies? There is a reason.
When Israeli newspapers despair at the level of support the U.S. Congress is showering upon Netanyahu, and begs for American Jews to support their own president? There is a reason.
The reasons for our current state are many. Try America's growing Christian obsession with Israel's "security."
Try the level of campaign contributions from Jewish sources.
Try American public opinion, in a post-9/11 world, on who should be supported in the Middle East.
Try all of these, if you like.
Regardless of the reasons, the brass tacks comes out the same, every time: Israel's narrative dominates in America, Israel's "interests" (if Netanyahu's position can be articulated as such) dominates in America, Israel's diplomatic stances dominate in America.
And this dominance is not good for anyone involved. It's not good for America, which has a deep security interests in forging a stable Middle East. It's not good for Israelis who seek a stable, secure state. And it's not good for Palestinians, who seek a sovereign state of their own.
At this point in our history, our President is standing alone, on an island, as the only American leader of import willing to say anything critical about the State of Israel.
For a sustainable, two-state solution to be negotiated between Israelis and Palestinians, today's positions by Netanyahu cannot be used as a guide. Which means that, for a sustainable, two-state solution to be negotiated between Israelis and Palestinians, the United States can no longer serve as a major player in forging solutions.
It is time for serious multi-lateralism. It is time for the world to take the baton from Obama and run with it.
Quickly.
Before September comes.