Would Reagan now be considered antisemitic? antiIsrael? Whatever your opinions on the right course, let's look at Republican hypocrisy. From Reagan's September 1982 statement:
The United States will not support the use of any additional land for the purpose of settlements during the transition period. Indeed, the immediate adoption of a settlement freeze by Israel, more than any other action, could create the confidence needed for wider participation in these talks. Further settlement activity is in no way necessary for the security of Israel and only diminishes the confidence of the Arabs and a final outcome can be freely and fairly negotiated.
and further on
It is the United States' position that - in return for peace - the withdrawal provision of Resolution 242 applies to all fronts, including the West Bank and Gaza.
So Reagan supported UN Security Council Resolution 242 from November 1967:
(i) Withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict;
(ii) Termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and acknowledgment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force."
Does the right agree? If Ronnie was right, are all settlements since then not legitimate? Is keeping the territory settled since 1967 against the US position? Why, this plus his reference elsewhere in the speech to "land for peace" sounds an awful lot like 1967 borders with mutually agreed land swaps!
This is a complement to Lowkell's diary which looks at the Reagan administration statements on the AWACS controversy (with some Bush thrown in).
Just to make clear, I think the Mideast situation is a mess and I don't pretend to have a good answer. I have gone from an "Israel is right!" position 40 years ago, to a far more nuanced view of the situation, seeing double dealing on both sides with a helping of contempt for Netanyahu. He is Israel's wingnut with his short term thinking, pandering to his base, "it's right because I say so," and trying to dictate to the US.