Tag Archives: Pres Trump

Most of you are probably familiar with the phrase, spoken by someone who feels neglected or left out, “What am I, chopped liver?” Well, broadly I apply this sentiment now to Israel, which has taken a back seat in the focus of my last few postings. (Apply it with a …

FACT: “I never expected this poison dagger to come from an Arab country,” Saeb Erekat complained after the UAE-Israel agreement was signed. “You are rewarding aggression. … You have destroyed, with this move, any possibility of peace between Palestinians and Israelis” (“Palestinians Say UAE Deal Hinders Quest for Mideast Peace,” …

Please, be sure to read this to the end. I turn first today to President Trump’s State of the Union address, delivered on Tuesday night. I found it to be brilliantly executed. But what resonated most strongly for me were the values he espoused. I have been mourning big-time for …

I am a strong supporter of President Trump, as my readers know.  Starting with cancellation of the Iran agreement, he has taken bold and constructive stands on many issues. But the “Deal of the Century”—which he undoubtedly considers to be bold and constructive and which has major good points—also has …

Devastating drought and bush fires in Australia and extreme flooding in Israel. On the political level regarding satisfaction/action assessments by the electorate, much centres on image and perception. Just ask Prime Minister Scott Morrison for one. We are fast approaching the third act of the continuing Israeli election process in …

It did not have to be this way, but it is.  Israel is headed to the third election in less than a year. I point a finger of accusation, first, at Avigdor Lieberman, head of Yisrael Beitenu. He fomented the electoral instability and took some perverse satisfaction in refusing to …

Both here in Israel and in the US, there is so much dissension, so much hostility.  My thought again and again is that this is not how it is supposed to be. With a couple of exceptions, I will try to move past this, or around it, as I have …

In issuing his recent presidential decree, recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, President Donald Trump followed the commendable policy pattern he has set … of not following the policy patterns set by his predecessors. Recognizing reality. Much like his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Trump’s decision was, …

Yesterday I moved to get a posting out without delay, in order to begin to provide perspective on the election. But of course there is more. ~~~~~~~~~~ Before I proceed with that election perspective, and related issues, I want to simply express my horror at the Wednesday night killing of …

Or, in the Israeli vernacular, Kol Hakavod! It was Shabbat here when President Trump announced the strike on Syria we had been waiting for; I did not access the news until Saturday evening. Friday evening, 9:00 E.T., (4:00 AM Saturday morning here), the president spoke to the nation. “My fellow …

“But why does he have to make provocations with these declarations of his?!” I was shocked to hear this sentence come out of the mouths of my Jewish American relatives. Yes, they were referring to Trump (who they hate) and to the Jerusalem Declaration. I love my relatives but they …

President Trump’s declaration and recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is undeniably a major symbolic milestone and one that is to be welcomed and applauded. It is also a courageous move that changes 70 years of Unites States policy. We should savour the moment. Symbolism, particularly in that …

We’ve had the big announcement from President Trump, an announcement that was – as has been pointed out – both morally courageous and historic. In case you didn’t catch his speech, you can see it here (move directly to minute 34): Or you can read it here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/12/06/statement-president-trump-jerusalem ~~~~~~~~~~ In …

President Donald Trump, in a speech delivered from the White House, has announced that the United States, in accordance with the 1995 Embassy Act (about which more below) now recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. He has instructed the State Department to begin arrangements for establishing the US Embassy …

On the second day of Rosh Hashana, the Haftora (prophetic reading following the Torah reading) is from Jeremiah 31. So said Hashem…’I have loved you with an eternal love, therefore have I extended kindness to you. I shall yet rebuild you and you will be rebuilt…You will yet plant vineyards …

LOVE IS IN THE AIR (with apologies to John Paul Young) Love is in the air everywhere I look around Love is in the air every sight and every sound And I don’t know if I’m being foolish Don’t know if I’m being wise……. So things are getting a little …

How fraught with energy this past week was, with one event running into another.  Moving backwards… Yom Yerushalayim was celebrated on Tuesday night and Wednesday.  Yes, I already focused on this in my last posting.  But that was before the fact; now there is additional sharing to do. Below you …

On Monday afternoon, the President of the United States, Donald Trump touched down in Israel after a visit to Saudi Arabia. The flight from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to Tel Aviv, Israel was an historic one given it was the first direct flight between the two countries, which have no official diplomatic relations. Prime …

The Hebrew word “balagan” means confusion or muddle. “Ezeh balagan”: what a mess. It is a most appropriate term, I think, for describing the news as it is coming to us these days. ~~~~~~~~~~ The most recent, and potentially serious, flap has to do with what is presumed to be …

It’s AIPAC time again. A year ago about 18,000 members of American Jewry’s prime pro-Israel advocacy organisation was trying to work out whether and how to welcome Donald Trump to its annual conference. And let’s be clear, since Israel is now unfortunately struggling to retain general American bipartisan support, that …