Page 76 - issue
P. 76
ELECTION 2016
WHERE DO AMERICAN
Tby Dr. Kenneth S. Friedman JEWS TURN NOW?
hese are trying times to be a
Jewish voter in America. his radio program that “voting against Bibi Netanyahu, placed much of the
For the past couple decades, Trump at this point is really treason to responsibility of the peace process on
support for Israel and the Jews your heritage.” Trump was slow to dis- Israel’s shoulders, and was wishy-
has grown increasingly strong avow Duke’s statement. Just days later, washy on the long-term status of
among Republicans. This trend Farrakhan said, “[Trump] is the only Jerusalem remaining Israel’s undivided
has continued in Congress member who has stood in front of capital. He did, however, say, “Israel
(though there is vast bipartisan [the] Jewish community and said, ‘I needs more than just our support.
support for Israel among senators and don’t want your money.’” He contin- They need strength; they need real
congressmen). Assaults on the tradi- ued, “Any time a man can say to those power behind that.”
tional U.S.-Israel alliance have come who control the politics of America, ‘I
more recently from the Democratic don’t want your money,’ that means There is thought to be (though I
Party. This has continued – and wors- you can’t control me.” Seemingly at don’t think anyone knows for sure) a
ened – which we will discuss below. odds with each other ideologically, large percentage of Donald Trump
But some alarming events have tran- Duke and Farrakhan found common supporters who are “racists,” and
spired among Republican and their ground with the “enemy of their would likely push for ending American
backers, as well, that should cause enemy,” as both built their organiza- aid to Israel. Trump, for his part, has
worry among Jews. The meteoric rise tions on the hatred of the Jew and the moved away from such ideas, but this
of populist Donald Trump has come Jewish people. new wing of GOP support for isolation-
with its share of worrisome anti- ism tinged with anti-Semitism seems
Semitic incidents and connection to Trump’s Anti-Semitic Tropes to have a place, at least in part, among
the shady “alt-right,” the Caucasian At the Republican Jewish Coalition, Trump’s supporters.
“anti-left-wing-racism racists.” Trump made several cringe-worthy
comments (at best), which could be Trump: Israel’s Champion?
United by Hate viewed as anti-Semitic canards (at Trump essentially did a “180” at the
Incredibly, Donald Trump has been worst). “I’m a negotiator like you folks; AIPAC Policy Conference a few months
able to receive support, if not outright we are negotiators,” Trump said. “Is later. Perhaps this was Trump with
endorsements, from strange bedfellows there anybody that doesn’t renegotiate more research on the matter? Perhaps
– former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux deals in this room? This room negoti- this was the (obvious) influence of his
Klan, white supremacist David Duke, ates them, perhaps more than any son-in-law Jared Kushner and
and head of the Nation of Islam, other room I’ve ever spoken in.” Trump American-born Israeli ambassador to
African-American Louis Farrakhan. hyperbole aside, the portrait of the Jew the United States, Ron Dermer, who
Certainly, what unites these two men is as Shylock, always looking to get a bet- heavily consulted on the speech. At
a hatred for Jews and Israel. ter deal, always taking advantage of the AIPAC, Trump could not have been
other party, is unsettling. more strongly supportive of Israel, say-
In February, Duke told listeners of ing, “We will send a clear signal that
At the same event, Trump seemed there is no daylight between America
leery of a possible future meeting with and our most reliable ally, the State of
72 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
WHERE DO AMERICAN
Tby Dr. Kenneth S. Friedman JEWS TURN NOW?
hese are trying times to be a
Jewish voter in America. his radio program that “voting against Bibi Netanyahu, placed much of the
For the past couple decades, Trump at this point is really treason to responsibility of the peace process on
support for Israel and the Jews your heritage.” Trump was slow to dis- Israel’s shoulders, and was wishy-
has grown increasingly strong avow Duke’s statement. Just days later, washy on the long-term status of
among Republicans. This trend Farrakhan said, “[Trump] is the only Jerusalem remaining Israel’s undivided
has continued in Congress member who has stood in front of capital. He did, however, say, “Israel
(though there is vast bipartisan [the] Jewish community and said, ‘I needs more than just our support.
support for Israel among senators and don’t want your money.’” He contin- They need strength; they need real
congressmen). Assaults on the tradi- ued, “Any time a man can say to those power behind that.”
tional U.S.-Israel alliance have come who control the politics of America, ‘I
more recently from the Democratic don’t want your money,’ that means There is thought to be (though I
Party. This has continued – and wors- you can’t control me.” Seemingly at don’t think anyone knows for sure) a
ened – which we will discuss below. odds with each other ideologically, large percentage of Donald Trump
But some alarming events have tran- Duke and Farrakhan found common supporters who are “racists,” and
spired among Republican and their ground with the “enemy of their would likely push for ending American
backers, as well, that should cause enemy,” as both built their organiza- aid to Israel. Trump, for his part, has
worry among Jews. The meteoric rise tions on the hatred of the Jew and the moved away from such ideas, but this
of populist Donald Trump has come Jewish people. new wing of GOP support for isolation-
with its share of worrisome anti- ism tinged with anti-Semitism seems
Semitic incidents and connection to Trump’s Anti-Semitic Tropes to have a place, at least in part, among
the shady “alt-right,” the Caucasian At the Republican Jewish Coalition, Trump’s supporters.
“anti-left-wing-racism racists.” Trump made several cringe-worthy
comments (at best), which could be Trump: Israel’s Champion?
United by Hate viewed as anti-Semitic canards (at Trump essentially did a “180” at the
Incredibly, Donald Trump has been worst). “I’m a negotiator like you folks; AIPAC Policy Conference a few months
able to receive support, if not outright we are negotiators,” Trump said. “Is later. Perhaps this was Trump with
endorsements, from strange bedfellows there anybody that doesn’t renegotiate more research on the matter? Perhaps
– former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux deals in this room? This room negoti- this was the (obvious) influence of his
Klan, white supremacist David Duke, ates them, perhaps more than any son-in-law Jared Kushner and
and head of the Nation of Islam, other room I’ve ever spoken in.” Trump American-born Israeli ambassador to
African-American Louis Farrakhan. hyperbole aside, the portrait of the Jew the United States, Ron Dermer, who
Certainly, what unites these two men is as Shylock, always looking to get a bet- heavily consulted on the speech. At
a hatred for Jews and Israel. ter deal, always taking advantage of the AIPAC, Trump could not have been
other party, is unsettling. more strongly supportive of Israel, say-
In February, Duke told listeners of ing, “We will send a clear signal that
At the same event, Trump seemed there is no daylight between America
leery of a possible future meeting with and our most reliable ally, the State of
72 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
