“What has gone so haywire in the U.S.-Netanyahu relationship that it would drive someone as sincerely devoted to Israel’s well-being as Chuck Schumer to call on Israelis to replace Netanyahu — and have his speech, which was smart and sensitive, praised by President Biden himself as a ‘good speech’ outlining concerns shared by ‘many Americans’? Tom Friedman in the NYT (Gift Article): What Schumer and Biden Got Right About Netanyahu. Friedman makes some good points and offers a key reminder: “The war in Gaza was forced on Israel by a vicious attack by Hamas on Israeli border communities, populated by the most dovish Israelis in the country’s political spectrum. If you are calling for a ‘cease-fire now’ in Gaza and not a ‘cease-fire and hostage release now,’ it’s making the problem worse.” But I want to add a broader point. The Schumer/Bibi split is indicative of a much wider global trend where alliances are driven more by politics, worldviews, and ethics than by borders. It’s too simplistic to look at the Middle East crisis as one between Israelis and Palestinians. The battle right now is also one between Jews and Palestinians who want peace and those who want chaos and violence. Look at America’s view of NATO and Putin. We used to be unified on these issues. Now a large portion of our Congress has been hijacked by Putinism and is witholding aid to Ukraine. It’s ironic that American politics is laser-focused on the border issue when we’re living in an era when borders matter less than alliances. And because this is our new reality, sometimes the greatest threat to a nation comes from within. Such is the case in America.