Israel Vs. The Donald
The American president, Donald Trump, has issued a stern warning to our leaders and the chevra in the Knesset regarding expansion of settlements and annexation of Judea and Samaria (aka the West Bank).
In spite of his friendship with Israel, it has its price. And the Donald will require payment in full. Comrade Regev’s not-thought-out-clearly remark was sheer insanity. “Israel can do whatever it wants; we are a sovereign state”. Sovereign, yes. Totally independent. NO. We rely upon the USA for most of our security needs. We rely upon them to defend our cause in the Halls of Nations. We rely upon them for economic development. In short, we dare not defy the president of the USA.
A two-state solution is not something we dream of, not something we really wanted. But a one-state solution is national suicide. Zionism would die and our beloved State of Israel would be populated by an Arab majority. We could have, chass v’chalila, an Arab president and an Arab prime minister.
The Donald can be a very good friend or a very bad enemy. Our extreme right-wingers and pro-settler advocates need to be very careful in proposing demands. The power lies not in our hands but in his.
Lo navi anochi v’lo ben navi. Amos’ words to the high priest Amatzia. I am not a prophet nor the son of a prophet. But I prophesize that the Donald will sign the six month waiver in May, as did all his precedents, and will put the Jerusalem Bill on ice. At least for six more months. The move of the American embassy to Jerusalem is not so quickly assured.
Don’t get the Donald wrong. He is on our side……well, at least for the moment. But we are not his # 1 priority. We are down the ladder after North Korea, Iran, Ukraine, pal Putin, dead Obamacare, tax reforms, infrastructure rebuilding and then….maybe then… he remembers his commitment to our little Jewish state.
We are the David. He is the Goliath. And our slingshot is not very effective.
So Jewish Home and Naftali Bennet and Yehuda Glick et al….. hold your tongues. Keep your hope alive. But do it as diplomatic cultured educated Israelis, not like Jews of the ghetto.
In an Israel vs. the Donald, if it comes to that, there can only be one winner. And sadly, it won’t be us.