Benny Gantz and the U.S. Democrat Party

23 Shevat 5780

18 February 2020

The News on the Israeli Street

Palestinian terror in the last 24 hours . . .

Along the Gaza Border:

The insanity continues. One day work permits are reduced but some are still issued, the next day they are increased. One day the fishing/smuggling range is reduced but still fishing/smuggling is allowed to 10 km, the next day it is 15 km. No matter what the terrorists in Gaza do, they always end up reaping benefits from our farcical government. 

Today, permits and the fishing/smuggling range were increased despite what you see below:

*A Palestinian terrorist was captured this afternoon while attempting to breach the border fence.

*Palestinian terrorists sent more than a dozen explosive balloons into southern Israel again. This is a photo of one that landed at Kibbutz Alumim:

In Judea and Samaria:

Umm Salamuna, Khoresa, the Gush Etzion spring, Mt. Hevron, Beit Says, the T-Junction in Gush Etzion, Tekoa, Ofra, Hevron, and Luban A-Sharqiya were 10 places where Israelis were attacked with “rocks” and Molotovs by Palestinian terrorists.

A meeting between a PLO leader and Israeli journalists . . .

Several days ago, Israeli journalists were invited to a Ramallah restaurant to listen to a spokesman for the terrorist organization rant about the Trump Peace Vision. That spokesman was senior Abbas adviser and PLO Religious Affairs Minister Mahmoud Al-Habash (glumly seated at the end of the table with the red tie above).

In the midst of the rants, they were able to insert a few questions (as reported by Jerusalem Post reporter Lahav Harkov). For example:

Reporter: “Why do Palestinians name schools and squares after terrorists who have killed Israelis?”

Habash: “We are not working for you.”

———-

Another series of questions:

Reporter: “What is your opinion about Jews?”

Habash: “There are no Jews, only a Jewish religion.”

Reporter: “So what are most Israelis?”

Habash: (no answer)

———-

And a final question:

Reporter: “How does Mahmoud Abbas view security coordination with Israel following the release of the Trump Plan?”

Habash: “The moment we decide the coordination doesn’t serve Palestinian interests we will stop coordination.”

———-

To summarize: Palestinians will continue to glorify murderers of Israelis; there are no Jews; Palestinians will continue to cooperate with Israeli security as long as Israeli security protects the PLO.

TODAY’S BLOG:

Benny Gantz and the U.S. Democrat Party

Speaking in Tel Aviv last night, Kahol Lavan leader Benny Gantz said that one of his major efforts when elected Prime Minister will be to repair ties with the U.S. Democrat Party. In the same breath, he accused PM Netanyahu of “neglecting bipartisan ties” and even more, “alienating Democrats” by supporting Donald Trump.

He ended with this piece of nonsensical drivel:

“We don’t care if the American president is a Republican or Democrat. If he is a good president for the United States, he will be a good president for the State of Israel as well.”

Perhaps it is time to once again point out what has happened since 2008.

Twelve years ago, Benjamin Netanyahu became Prime Minister of Israel, and Barack Obama of the Democrat Party became President of the United States.

From the outset, Democrat Obama let it be known that his administration would pursue a different path with Israel. At his very first meeting in the White House with American Jewish leaders, Obama threw traditional organizations such as AIPAC under the bus in favor of self-described “progressive ones” such as J Street.

At the same time, Netanyahu almost immediately announced a 10 month freeze of all construction in Judea and Samaria in deference to President Obama. That deference was not repaid when Netanyahu visited the White House.

As the years of the Obama tenure in office rolled by, the American president became obsessed with Iran–looking at the Shi’ite theocracy as the cornerstone of a new, more stable Middle East. As part of his outreach to Iran, Obama put together his Iranian Nuclear Weapons Appeasement Agreement.

As we all know, this agreement was eventually approved despite fierce opposition from Netanyahu who argued that Iran was and is the leading sponsor of terrorism on the planet. But very few members of the U.S. Democrat party listened. The approval of the Agreement was made possible by a nearly unanimous vote for it on the part of the Democrats.

One month before Obama left office in January of 2017, Obama–and the Democrats–signed on to a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Israel.

Since then, here is what the Democrats have done:

*opposed President Trump’s withdrawal from the Iranian Nuclear Agreement

*opposed President Trump’s declaration that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel

*opposed President Trump’s moving the American embassy to Jerusalem

*opposed President Trump’s support of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights

*opposed the Trump Administration declaration that the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria are not illegal

*opposed the Trump Peace Plan which requires among other things Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state and disarmament of Palestinian terror groups in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza

Not only this, but virtually every major candidate for President on the Democrat side has also come out against the Trump Peace Plan. 

And these are the people and the Party that Benny Gantz wants to cozy up to.

One final thought: of course, Israel wants and needs bipartisan support in the United States, but it needs bipartisan support that supports Israel. Such bipartisan support has been sadly lacking from the Democrats in recent years as they have gradually adopted a “progressive” agenda that places more value on supporting Palestinians than supporting Israel.