Israel’s Trump Card
I am not American. I was born and raised in Canada. The president of the United States was, for the most part, an abstract concept. American social justice, economic policy – these issues were not relevant to us as Canadians. For me and for most of the people I know, the measure of a good American president was his attitude toward Israel. Harry Truman recognized the state of Israel approximately 20 minutes after its declaration of independence. There is a street in Jerusalem that bears his name. Richard Nixon’s place in history is framed by the Watergate scandal, and his resignation in disgrace, but for Jews there is a respect and gratitude for making sure that Israel could properly defend itself during the Yom Kippur War.
This view of the American president seemed to change with Barack Obama. In Israel it was pretty clear that Obama was not good to or for Israel. Family and friends in Canada would insist that this was simply not true – after all, look at the deal he arranged for Israel to receive U.S. aid. They ignored the fact that the deal in fact increases Israel’s dependence on U.S. aid, thereby increasing America’s influence on Israel’s decision making. There was also the atmosphere of the U.S. – Israel relationship. It seemed like every day there was some kind of criticism coming out of the White House or the State Department.
Then, along came Donald Trump. He seemed to, for want of a better way to put it, get us. He understood the need for a strong secure ally in the region, he recognized the benefit of business and technology opportunities with us. That he moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and defunded pro-terror organizations were very important, but even without those decisions, he was clearly a better-for-Israel president.
And everyone I know in Canada has nothing good to say about him. Not during his first term, and not now.
I cannot dispute or refute the claims and accusations made against him. He is a buffoon, a misogynist; he clearly lacks tact or a diplomatic manner. That seemed to be the prevailing attitude. His perspective and approach to the Israel-Arab conflict made no impact on their opinion of him. One told me that his support for Israel, “was not enough” to influence her opinion.
This time around is a little different, but only a little. Canada’s economic issues with the present administration aside, one would think that the people Trump has put in place to deal with the Middle East – Marco Rubio as secretary of state and Mike Huckabee as U.S. ambassador to Israel – would indicate a positive change of direction of U.S. MidEast policy that would allow for some softening of the hostility to Trump as president.
It has not.
Some have accepted that well, at least he’s pro Israel, but a whole lot have not. I find this to be truly enigmatic.