In late January, the Israeli novelist A.B. Yehoshua wrote an article in the country’s largest-circulation newspaper, Yediot Aharonot, urging the United States to temporarily recall its ambassador from Israel. That act of diplomatic pique, he said, would be proof of America’s friendship to his country. By asking for a deus ex machina to intervene in Israeli politics, Yehoshua was demonstrating the despair of Israel’s peace camp. The Left’s once-forbidden positions — a two-state solution, evacuating settlement — are now boringly respectable. Olmert, a recovering rightist, supports them. But nothing happens. Why can’t a winged figure descend to get the plot moving? America has filled that role for Israel before, vetoing UN security council condemnations, providing aid. Someone simply needs to tell the gods what Israel actually needs. I also believe there’s no chance that President Bush will take Yehoshua’s advice. If a member of the US congress made a similar proposal, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) would almost certainly encourage donations to his opponent in November’s election. Does this mean that “the Israel lobby” controls the levers of US Middle East policy?

Aipac is widely seen as speaking for Israel and American Jews from within US politics. But Aipac is certainly more hawkish on Middle East politics than most American Jews. Though the precise degree of its influence is hard to measure, it is by all accounts an effective lobbier of congress. And it is famously pugnacious when challenged. Yet its relentless focus on Israel’s short-term security needs is ultimately damaging to

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