Israel

If You Think Trump Is Helping Israel, You’re a Fool

August 17, 2019 at 7:27 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Tom Friedman: “I am going to say this as simply and clearly as I can: If you’re an American Jew and you’re planning on voting for Donald Trump because you think he is pro-Israel, you’re a damn fool.”

“Trump’s way of — and motivation for — expressing his affection for Israel is guided by his political desire to improve his re-election chances by depicting the entire Republican Party as pro-Israel and the entire Democratic Party as anti-Israel.”

“As a result, Trump — with the knowing help of Israel’s current prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu — is doing something no American president and Israeli prime minister have done before: They’re making support for Israel a wedge issue in American politics.”

Trump’s Pressure Forced Netanyahu to Ban Lawmakers

August 15, 2019 at 2:53 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Israeli journalist Barak Ravid: “I want to tell you a secret: A month ago when Netanyahu decided to allow Omar and Tlaib into the country they already supported BDS and he knew it back then. There is only one reason for Netanyahu’s backtracking today — the pressure from Donald Trump.”

New York Times: “Mr. Trump’s decision to recommend that another country block entry to two United States citizens, let alone members of Congress, was one of the most pronounced violations of democratic norms that he has engaged in since taking office in January 2017.”

Trump Says Israel Should Ban Two U.S. Lawmakers

August 15, 2019 at 10:16 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Trump said Israel should not allow two U.S. congresswomen with whom he has feuded to enter the country for an upcoming trip to Israel and the Palestinian Territories, The Hill reports.

Tweeted Trump: “It would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar and Rep. Tlaib to visit. They hate Israel and all Jewish people, and there is nothing that can be said or done to change their minds. Minnesota and Michigan will have a hard time putting them back in office. They are a disgrace!”

Right Battles Right In Israel’s New Election

May 31, 2019 at 9:31 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“After the spectacular collapse of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempt to build a coalition threw Israel into an unprecedented do-over election, Israeli public attention on Thursday was glued to two politicians,” the New York Times reports.

“One was Mr. Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister for the last 10 years, but the other was not Benny Gantz, his main challenger in the election last month. Instead, the first day of the new election campaign was dominated by Mr. Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of a small ultranationalist party and former coalition partner who has become anathema to Mr. Netanyahu.”

“That divide, between the ultrareligious right and the secular right, has for the moment eclipsed the old left-right divide in Israel. It proved to be Mr. Netanyahu’s undoing on Wednesday, his deadline to form a governing coalition, and could be critical in the next election, scheduled for Sept. 17.”

Netanyahu Fails to Form New Government

May 29, 2019 at 5:35 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Haaretz: “The Knesset voted Wednesday night to dissolve itself after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a governing coalition, sending Israel to a new election mere seven weeks after the last one.”

“At the heart of the impasse was the issue of drafting ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students: Yisrael Beiteinu’s Avigdor Lieberman, without whom Netanyahu can’t form a coalition, refused to back down on the bill’s terms, while ultra-Orthodox parties claimed they have already yielded enough ground.”

Trump Explains Golan Heights Decision

April 27, 2019 at 10:39 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Trump claimed the Golan Heights is “important strategically” for Israel because “heights… you’re up high,” Vox reports.

He explained: “So that’s been under consideration for 52 years, for 52 years they told me they’d been studying it. This is very important strategically for victory, heights, because you’re up high, very important. Fifty-two years ago this started and I did it quickly. Done. It’s all done.”

Netanyahu Will Name Town After Trump

April 23, 2019 at 1:55 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Israeli Prime Mininster Benjamin Netanyahu said he will name a town in the Golan Heights after President Trump, the Jerusalem Post reports.

Israeli Firm Boasts of Lowering Turnout

April 10, 2019 at 3:53 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Haaretz: “An Israeli public relations company headed by a settler leader boasted Wednesday that it was behind the Likud initiative to place 1,200 hidden cameras in Arab polling stations on Election Day. The firm added that it was to thank for the historically low turnout among Arab voters.”

From the company’s statement: “Thanks to us placing observers in every polling station we managed to lower the voter turnout to under 50 percent, the lowest in recent years!”

Netanyahu Edges Ahead In Israel

April 9, 2019 at 9:49 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s conservative prime minister for the past decade, and his chief rival, Benny Gantz, a centrist former military chief, were locked in a tight race in Tuesday’s parliamentary election, according to partial returns and surveys of voters leaving the polls,” the New York Times reports.

“With about 65 percent of the ballots counted, Mr. Netanyahu’s Likud party appeared to have edged ahead of Mr. Gantz’s Blue and White, and a count of the broader blocs supporting each party gave Likud a clear advantage in being able to form a governing coalition.”

It’s Election Day In Israel

April 9, 2019 at 9:15 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

First Read: “Today’s election represents more than Benjamin Netanyahu trying to become Israel’s longest-serving prime minister – and certainly more than President Trump trying to get his preferred choice (Netanyahu) to win.”

“At stake is arguably the future of the West Bank – after Netanyahu promised to extend sovereignty to parts of it if he’s re-elected.”

The Washington Post notes that final polls gave “an edge to the party led by Netanyahu’s main rival, former military chief Benny Gantz.”

“While the polls suggest that Gantz’s party will win the most seats in parliament, Netanyahu still seems to be in a stronger position to assemble a governing coalition, which is what ultimately matters.”

Trump’s Golan Heights Surprise

March 21, 2019 at 4:53 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“President Trump’s tweet recognizing the Golan Heights as Israeli territory surprised members of his own Middle East peace team, the State Department, and Israeli officials,” McClatchy reports.

“No formal U.S. process or executive committees were initiated to review the policy before Trump’s decision, and the diplomats responsible for implementing the policy were left in the dark.”

“Even the Israelis, who have advocated for this move for years, were stunned at the timing of Trump’s message.”

Trump Recognizes Israel’s Claim to Golan Heights

March 21, 2019 at 1:19 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Trump will officially recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, the Middle East Monitor reports.

Said Trump: “After 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel’s Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability!”

Playbook: “This could be a massive boost to Benjamin Netanyahu, who will be in the United States next week to meet with President Trump. Elections in Israel are April 9.

Israel Braces for a Wild Election

March 2, 2019 at 9:39 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Israelis were confronted with a rude new reality on Friday: a prime minister running for re-election while facing indictment for corruption,” the New York Times reports.

“While there were hints that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be losing support, his right-wing allies appeared to be sticking with him and no one was foolish enough to write off a politician who still retains a strong base and has shown Houdini-like skill in escaping seemingly impossible jams before.”

“The only certainty was that Israel was in for a wild ride between now and the April 9 ballot, with analysts predicting that the country’s political scene — loud, fractious and heated at the best of times — would become only more divisive as Mr. Netanyahu, who is seeking a fourth consecutive term, fights for his political life.”

Netanyahu’s New Rival Surges In Polls

February 26, 2019 at 6:15 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“In April, Israeli voters will head to the polls to elect a new government. Despite corruption charges, surveys have shown Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party with a comfortable lead over the largely fragmented opposition,” the Washington Post reports.

“Yet in the past two weeks, Benny Gantz, a former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff with no political experience, has surged in the polls. After joining forces with Yesh Atid, Israel’s second-largest opposition party, Gantz has emerged as Netanyahu’s principal rival for leadership of the country.”

Netanyahu Challengers Unite In Bid to Defeat Him

February 21, 2019 at 7:08 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Two of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strongest challengers in April elections have announced a centrist alliance in a bid to defeat him,” the BBC reports.

“Ex-army chief Benny Gantz and centrist politician Yair Lapid agreed to rotate as prime minister if they win.”

“Separately, Mr Netanyahu forged an alliance with several far-right parties to try to shore up votes. His right-wing Likud party leads the polls despite an investigation into corruption allegations against him.”

Axios: “The joint list does not have a common political platform — and, on many issues, there are big differences between the factions. However, the main issue they all agree on is the need to replace Netanyahu.”

Netanyahu Makes Deal with Racist Far-Right Party

February 20, 2019 at 3:39 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“After two weeks of efforts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu succeeded in forming a united ultra right-wing party that will run in the April 9 elections, paving the way for Jewish supremacists from the ‘Jewish Power’ party to make it into the next Knesset,” Axios reports.

“This is an unprecedented development in Israel’s history and is equivalent to a U.S. president cutting a political deal with David Duke, the former KKK leader. The prime minister and the ruling Likud Party are legitimizing a racist, xenophobic and homophobic fringe party in hopes of bolstering a right-wing bloc after the elections.”

GOP Candidate Said No Peace In Israel Until Jews Convert

November 4, 2018 at 8:55 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

North Carolina congressional candidate Mark Harris (R), a former Baptist pastor in Charlotte, said in 2011 that there would be no peace in Israel unless Jews and Muslims converted to Christianity, The Forward reports.

Said Harris: “You cannot be in that land, as powerful and as moving as it is, without realizing the incredible tension that is constantly in that land between the Palestinians and the Jews. There will never be peace in Jerusalem until the day comes that every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”

Netanyahu’s Wife Charged with Fraud

June 21, 2018 at 12:15 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was indicted “for alleged systematic fraud involving hundreds of thousands of shekels in connection with meal expenses incurred at the Prime Minister’s Residence,” Haaretz reports.