Former President Trump’s national press secretary Karoline Leavitt said it best when she told NBC News that the eventual GOP nominee “did more for Israel than any American President in history.” So when the New York Times tried to criticize Mr. Trump for his apparent “hands-off approach” in a front-page story entitled “Trump Offers No Clear View On Gaza War” on Sunday March 3, they could not have been further from the truth.
Having presented an award to President Trump for the Abraham Accords on February 26, the New York Times article struck me as odd. Mr. Trump is one of the most persecuted individuals in the world today. Despite the heavy toll it has taken on his life, he has managed to do what few thought was possible. He is as much in Israel’s and the Jewish people’s corner today as he was when he was president. He made sure to discuss the horrific videos of the atrocities committed by Hamas. He felt tremendous pain for the hostages and the torture they are going through every day.
In an interview with Brian Kilmeade of Fox News, he said, “You’ve gotta finish the problem.” “You had a horrible invasion. It took place. It would have never happened if I was president, by the way.”
I mentioned to President Trump that Hamas is an “existential threat” to Israel and he fully agreed. We spoke also about Iran and the destabilization of the region as well as their sights being set on the destruction of America, which they consider the “Great Satan.” President Trump was fully engaged and supportive of all efforts to thwart Iran. As Leavitt put it, “When President Trump is back in the Oval Office, Israel will once again be protected, Iran will go back to being broke, terrorists will be hunted down, and the bloodshed will end.”
Unlike the current administration, which said that the so called “settlements” in Judea and Samaria are “inconsistent with international law,” Trump’s Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the exact opposite on November, 18, 2019. Indeed, he said in point of fact they are “not inconsistent with international law.” Secretary Blinken chose a very inopportune time to make his declaration. Israel is suffering tremendously and does not need to have a reversal of American policy brought up, as they are in utter agony and pain. Similarly, Israel does not need to be forced to accept a two-state “solution” as it fights for its very existence. The current administration seems hellbent to push this notion despite Israel’s objections and worry that it will only lead to more October 7s. Trying to use this agonizing and distressing time to foist old and unworkable ideas on Israel is not only inappropriate but foolhardy. This is a treacherous path in an election year. It will only help President Trump, who has always had Israel’s back.
Joseph M. Frager is a physician and lifelong activist.
