Chicagoland Pro-Israel Political Update
Calling balls and strikes for the pro-Israel community since 2006
September 29, 2019
If you remember nothing else, at least remember this:
- Rosh HaShanah begins tonight amidst uncertainty about the future of governments in America and Israel. The impeachment inquiry is a necessary first step, but it is nothing to celebrate.
- Trump's corruption and foreign policy incompetence extend beyond the Ukraine.
- Trump's UN record is one of abdication and defeat.
- Trump's moves on Jerusalem and the Golan Heights made Israel neither safer nor more secure, and his proposed mutual defense pact has been rejected by previous Israeli governments.
- Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) pressed Trump on tariff waivers for Israel.
- Read to the end for fun stuff and information about our upcoming event with Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ). I love when you tell me about typos.
Friends,
On Wednesday, Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KA) became the
218th lawmaker to support the impeachment inquiry, putting a majority of the House on record in support.
Sharice said that "Congress being compelled to open an impeachment inquiry is nothing to celebrate. This is a sad moment for our country, but it is the right thing to do." More than
300 former national security professionals endorsed the impeachment inquiry, writing that they "consider the President’s actions to be a profound national security concern.”
We still don't know who will lead Israel's next government. President Rivlin gave Bibi the first crack at forming a new government because the pro-Bibi bloc leads the anti-Bibi bloc 55-54 (61 of 120 seats are needed to form a government), but
Yair Rosenberg writes that the opposition orchestrated this result hoping that "letting Netanyahu try and fail [to form a government] will significantly boost their own chances of success." Latest
reports indicate that this failure could come as early as today.
Rosh HaShanah begins tonight at sundown. Thomas Jefferson said "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just." Only we can make our country just and improve ourselves. As we begin the High Holiday season, my wish for all of us is a year of peace--not the peace that comes from knowing all is well, because we know it won't be--but the peace that comes from doing our best to fight injustice and make the world a better place. On a personal note, thank you for reading and sharing this newsletter and for your feedback: positive, negative, constructive, and otherwise. Shana Tova!
Trump's corruption extends beyond Ukraine. Trump has pursued personal advantage at the expense of the United States in
at least six other countries: Russia, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, China, Israel, and Turkey.
David Leonhardt explains that Trump "is a threat to virtually everything that the United States should stand for"
in 40 sentences.
Where Trump is not corrupt, he is incompetent. The
Washington Post reminds us that Trump "walked away from the nuclear accord, even though Iran was observing it, prompting Tehran to step up nuclear activities. He sided with Mohammed bin Salman’s reckless bombing campaign in Yemen, which has killed thousands of civilians and provided a pretext for the attacks on Saudi targets. He tried to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria. And, beginning in April, he sought to shut down all Iranian oil exports, a virtual act of war that led directly to [Iran's attack on Saudi Arabia's oil production facilities]."
Trump's record at the UN is one of abdication and defeat.
National Security Action details how Trump has "adopted an ineffective approach of vindictive and bullying diplomacy that has done little except erode American influence, weaken coalitions and alliances vital to our national security, and leave core American values without a champion." His ineffective UN ambassadors (Nikki Haley and Kelly Craft), his withdrawal from the UN Human Rights Council, and his breaking the Security Council consensus on Iran are only some of the blunders that have weakened America's ability to influence world events.
But what about Jerusalem? Have you noticed the countries lining up to get building permits for embassies in Jerusalem? Neither have I. Our embassy belongs in Jerusalem, but the embassy's location is hardly the most pressing issue facing Israel or the United States, and Israel is not safer or more secure today than it was when the embassy was in Tel Aviv. Moving the embassy became a big deal only when Republicans decided it would
bolster the presidential candidacy of Sen. Robert Dole (R-KA).
Open your Bible to the last page of Chronicles: "Thus said King Cyrus of Persia: The Lord God of Heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and has charged me with building Him
an embassy in Jerusalem." Isn't that how your translation reads? Mine neither. This isn't what we prayed for.
But what about the Golan Heights? Israel was under no pressure to return the Golan Heights.
Tamara Cofman Wittes and Ilan Goldenberg explain why Trump's move "damages Israeli security and undermines American interests in the Middle East and beyond, while stirring a hornet’s nest that didn’t need stirring."
Anshel Pfeffer writes that "Trump’s gesture is empty. Just as his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital was. It won’t change the status of the Golan in international law and with the exception of a few client-states in Latin America, no other country is going to follow suit." But it was a nice preelection gift to Bibi in the last election.
But what about the mutual defense pact? Trump's gift to Bibi this time around was to resurrect the idea of a mutual defense treaty between Israel and the United States, which would require approval of two-thirds of the Senate.
Gilead Sher and Alon Pinkus explain why a majority in the Israeli defense and diplomatic establishment oppose the concept.
Raphael Ahren reminds us that successive Israeli governments have always rejected the idea.
Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) pressed Trump on tariff waivers for Israel. Trump granted exemptions on the new steel and aluminum tariffs to South Korea, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada and Mexico, but not Israel. Brad and Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ)
wrote to Trump that "We do not believe imports of steel and aluminum from Israel are a threat to U.S. national security and are asking you to explain why Israel has not been granted an exemption.” The
America-Israel Chamber of Commerce called out the last round of tariffs for which Trump did not exempt Israel.
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: This newsletter usually runs on Sunday mornings. Unless stated otherwise, my views do not necessarily reflect the views of any candidates or organizations that I support or am associated with. I reserve the right to change my mind as I learn more. Intelligent, well-informed people may disagree with me; read opposing views and decide for yourself. A link to an article doesn't mean that I agree with everything its author has ever said or that I even agree with everything in the article; it means that the article supports or elaborates on the point I was making. I take
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