Trump has made Israel a partisan issue - and that's not good
The president is a narcissist who does not understand and does not really care about the worldview of American Jews, but his comments and Netanyahu's silence threatens the close bilateral relationship that is the cornerstone of Israeli national security
In his latest meetings in Washington, behind closed doors, Donald Trump expressed disappointment about his dwindling popularity among the American Jewish population, while he enjoys the status of superstar in Israel, like a king who does right by his subjects.
A few months ago, Trump decided he should utilize his connections with the Israeli government and with the one who leads it for his re-election campaign, mainly to appeal to the local Jewish communities and brand the Democrats as anti-Israel and anti-Semites.
As such, his recent claim that, "those who vote for a Democratic candidate are disloyal" was a not a slip, nor a distraction of any kind. This particular phrasing was meant to serve his reelection campaign.
Trump is lacking in any real world views, and being the narcissist that he is, who only last week claimed he was the chosen one, only sees one goal, to make everyone idolize him, worship him and see he is indeed touched by divinity.
Just days ago, he quoted a bunch of right-wing brown noses who called him "the second revelation of God himself."
To help with his agenda and sway Jewish voters to his side, Trump, with the help of his advisors and a few generous and extremely right-wing Jewish donors, set himself a series of goals, and he has achieved them all.
He recognized Jerusalem as the official capital of Israel and moved the American embassy there; acknowledged Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights; and showed a sterner attitude towards Iran.
As he gains momentum in the political race, he won’t have any problem acknowledging an annexation of the West Bank by Israel, in wonderful coordination with Netanyahu's own political needs of course.
His determination to present himself as Israel's most supportive president doesn’t stem from understanding, concern or excitement - it comes from anger, mainly because his arch nemesis Barack Obama twice won 75% of the American Jewish vote, while he barely scrapes 23%.
Trump made a few statements in the last couple of weeks, according to him, the Jewish people of America are being ungrateful, for he, by his own account, gave Israel so much more then Obama ever did.
After he gave, Trump moved on to the next part of his campaign, insulting the Jewish population. This is no longer merely a whiff of anti-Semitism, it's full-on anti-Semitism, reminiscent of darker days when Jews were accused of being disloyal, duplicitous and traitors.
In the face of these accusations, which wounded the very beating heart of Judaism in the United States, Netanyahu stood silent.
He didn’t protect them for he wouldn’t dare go against Trump and contradict the outrageous claims he makes.
This silence helps the cultural war Trump is waging against American Jews. Trump doesn’t understand that the voting patterns of the Jewish community don't necessarily rely on the candidate's stance regarding Israel, they’re mostly liberals, and they vote based on their views on economy, the environment and basic human rights.
Hundreds of us just started our march to the Elizabeth Detention Center in New Jersey. We're going there as #JewsAgainstICE to stop them from continuing with their inhumane business as usual, because that's what #NeverAgainMeans. pic.twitter.com/42Wf8PVSZv
— ✡️ Never Again Action ✡️ (@NeverAgainActn) June 30, 2019
Most of them are against Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, and even more so, are ashamed of Trump's predatorial policies. They feel he has brought shame on America, trampled over its values and incited the world against it.
Israel was always above the political disputes in America, and now, that's no longer the case. Israel's intimate relationship with the U.S. is the number one component of its national security, but now, the Democratic door has slammed in its face.
And Trump, well, he won’t care about Netanyahu when it stops benefiting him politically. Israel is now a main feature in the 2020 American presidential elections, and no good can come of that.
