Tag: palestine

WILL TRUMP’S MIDDLE EAST PEACE PLAN HOLD TOGETHER?

The following is based on multiple media reports supplemented by my opinion as indicated.

Phase One of Trump’s Middle East Plan (the “Plan”) the exchange of 20 surviving hostages and the remains of four deceased hostages being held by Hamas for some 1,900 Palestinian prisoners that had been held by Israel is just the first step of Trump’s 20-point Plan. (It is thought that there are 24 additional deceased hostages whose remains were not returned, and as reported by NBC NEWS it is unclear when they will be.)

This was widely hailed as a great success and rightly so. The man whose enemies have characterized him as “unstable,” “power-hungry,” and a “warmonger” managed to arrange a miraculous peace agreement that few thought was possible. The euphoric and poignant sight of hostages being greeted by members of the Knesset in Jerusalem and then being reunited with their families was something to see. Of course, Trump haters such as Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and AOC could not manage to say anything positive. As I write this, they have remained silent. Other Dem politicians tempered their praise and/or did not mention Trump by name. Also silent are the protesters who had been claiming Israeli genocide.

So, how did Trump pull this off? How did he manage to accomplish in just nine months what a host of past presidents could not? (1) Through a plethora of past actions, he established his bona fides as a tough, decisive person who means what he says and says what he means. (2) He convinced Netanyahu that America was a staunch ally in its fight against Hamas and would support it unwaveringly. (3) He demonstrated to the various Arab heads of state that he could eliminate the threat of a nuclear Iran. Everyone knew Iran was within months of attaining nuclear capability, and regardless of politics everyone was terrified what the unstable mullahs would do with it. He gave Iran a deadline to dismantle its nuclear program. Unlike prior US presidents he followed through. When Iran failed to comply, he bombed the s**t out of its reactors, thus destroying its nuclear capability. This was done precisely and decisively remotely from the US. The Arab world took notice. It was awed and cowed by America’s power and its president’s willingness to employ it. (4) He assembled a consortium of 27 nations who wanted peace and were willing to support his efforts to attain it.

(5) Along the way the US succeeded in eliminating several key senior terrorists, again precisely and decisively. (6) It decimated Hezbollah and the Houthis and convinced Qatar to cut off its support to Hamas. (7) Hamas was now weakened and isolated; its allies had been neutralized; and it knew Israel was poised to “finish the job.” Essentially, that was how the “dealmaker” brokered the peace deal.

As I said, Trump has assembled a consortium of some 27 world leaders to support his Plan. It appears that they all want this chance of peace in the ME to succeed. Trump hailed the Plan as “not only the end of a war, [but] the end of an age of terror and death and the beginning of the age of faith and hope and of God. It’s the start of a grand concord of lasting harmony for Israel and all the nations of what will soon be a magnificent region.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that he is “committed to this peace [Plan]. Many other world leaders and US politicians expressed similar views. Even former President Barack Obama and former VP Kamala Harris managed to express tepid praise for the Plan and for Trump’s role in its success. However, Harris refused to mention Trump by name, citing “the president.”

In accordance with the first phase of Trump’s plan, Israeli forces have moved to an initial withdrawal line within Gaza (the “yellow line”). However, as miraculous as Phase One was, it was the easy part. Now comes the hard part, securing the agreement of all parties to the rest of the Plan and then maintaining the peace. As I delineated in my previous blog on this subject the Plan contains several contentious points, each of which is a potential dealbreaker, that need to be ironed out or else the Plan will fall apart. As the expression goes, “the devil is in the details.”

Hamas is moving quickly and decisively to fill the power vacuum that currently exists in Gaza. Some 300 miles of its vast tunnel system remain intact. They are purported to contain considerable amounts of weapons, food, and medical supplies that could easily support further fighting.

In addition, there have been multiple reports of Hamas soldiers indiscriminately and arbitrarily murdering persons of rival clans that they perceive as opponents. It claims that these clans collaborated with Israel, which is unlikely. This bloodletting is a danger to the Plan’s success. It is essential that the powers that be establish a central governing body in Gaza to stabilize and administer it. More on this later.

According to NBC News many Palestinians fear the resumption of Israel’s offensive in Gaza. They are cognizant of the fact that Netanyahu and other members of his right-wing government have said that the struggle isn’t over yet. Indeed, Netanyahu has maintained that Israel’s “campaign is not over” until Hamas’ fighting capacity has been totally destroyed. Recently, as Israeli planes carried out strikes in Lebanon, he asserted that “some of our enemies are trying to recover in order to attack us again.” Many people have interpreted those comments as a disquieting indication that the halt to the fighting in Gaza did not mean an end to the wider conflict in the region.

The NY Times correctly denoted that persuading Hamas to disarm will be difficult (an understatement in my view). Hamas has steadfastly refused to disarm, and many (including me) doubt that it will. Israel has estimated that there are as many as 18,000 Hamas fighters still at large and armed. Indeed, Hossam Badran, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, has declared that “the proposed weapons turnover is out of the question and not negotiable.” Conversely, Netanyahu has asserted that “if Hamas does not disarm there will be no further compromises,” and Trump has asserted that Hamas will disarm or “we will disarm them.”

According to the NY Post the Plan is unlikely to reduce the deep and bitter enmity between Israel and the Gazans. On the contrary the Post opines that it will exacerbate as the Israelis ascertain more details of the inhumane treatment of the hostages and as the Gazans return to their homes only to find a pile of rubble. The war has killed close to 70,000 people, according to Palestinian health officials, and most of the buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed. Moreover, most of the population is still living without adequate access to food, shelter, care and other vital needs. These abhorrent conditions are not sustainable.

As I explained in my previous blog on this topic perhaps, the most problematic bone of contention is the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Support for this two-state solution has been growing internationally. Conversely, the idea is deeply unpopular among Israelis. According to a recent Pew Research Center poll only 21% of Israelis believe their country and a Palestinian state could coexist. This is the smallest percentage ever recorded since the survey commenced in 2013. Recently, when asked to opine on this issue Trump was noncommittal. He said “a lot of people like the one-state solution; some people like the two-state solution. We’ll have to see.” There is still a plethora of Muslim countries that do not recognize Israel as a country.

The rebuilding of Gaza will be an enormous task. For what it’s worth the UN has estimated that the area is covered with some 50 tons of rubble and debris that would take 30 years to remove completely. Additionally, the area is strewn with live ordnance, which must be removed for obvious reasons. It estimated the cost would be $50 billion, which will probably prove to be an understatement. Trump is expecting the various neighboring Arab nations to pony up the money, but as of yet there have been no volunteers. Furthermore, the area has suffered “brain drain” as many of the skilled and professional people have fled and are unlikely to return.

The issue of who will govern Gaza is another contentious point. The Plan calls for it to be governed initially by a “technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee” overseen by a “Board of Peace” led by Trump and others such as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Some of the Arab states have suggested the Palestinian Authority. Netanyahu has declared he would “never” agree to that.

The situation is fluid and fraught with uncertainty and contradictions. For instance, according to the NY Post Iran has expressed support for terminating the “genocidal war” in Gaza but asserted it will continue to support Hamas “if Israel continues its expansionist and racial plans.” There have already been indications that the Plan is fragile and may not hold together.

Conclusion

As I said, Phase One of the Plan was a rousing success, but there is still much work to be done in order to achieve a lasting peace. For the Plan to succeed will require a considerable amount of time, money and fortitude. It will probably fall to the US to hold the current coalition together. It will be important to prevent the rise of new terrorist groups and to keep guard against outsiders who will seek to take advantage of what they perceive to be a power vacuum.

Finally, once again, one must be mindful of the lessons of history. Often, ill-advised decisions made after a war have sown the seeds for the next one. For example, during WWI the ill-conceived Balfour Declaration was intended to secure Jewish support for the Allied war effort. The declaration boosted the legitimacy of the Zionist movement and influenced the British Mandate for Palestine, leading to increased Jewish immigration and the eventual establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Unfortunately, it was made without the consent of the majority Arab population in Palestine and came after Britain had made conflicting promises of independence to Arab leaders.  This double-dealing, which many historians believe was intentional (since Britain needed both sides’ support to win the war) laid the groundwork for the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian wars that have plagued the Middle East ever since.

Also, the Allies’ harsh peace terms foisted upon Germany after WWI planted the seeds for the rise of Hitler and Nazi Party, which led to WWII.

On the positive side we should seek to emulate the success of the Marshall Plan following WWII by which the US propped up the war-torn countries of Europe which, in turn, prevented the spread of communism to those areas.

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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S MIDDLE EAST PEACE PLAN

First, my standard disclaimer. The following blog constitutes my personal opinion, except where otherwise noted. Feel free to disagree, but to paraphrase the late Leslye Gore, “it’s my blog, and I’ll write what I want to.”

President Trump, whom some detractors unfairly and inaccurately, have labeled a “warmonger,” among many other unsavory characterizations, deserves much praise for attempting to accomplish what many, if not most, observers including me have long opined to be impossible, that is broker a lasting peace in the Middle East. He has proposed a comprehensive 20-point peace plan (the “Plan”), which, as I write this, is being negotiated between the combatants. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Prime Minister said on Saturday that he hoped to announce the release of the hostages still being held by Hamas, actually an exchange with Palestinian prisoners currently being held by Israel, “in the coming days.” According to the BBC Hamas has said it agrees to the peace plan proposals in part but has not responded to several key demands, including its disarmament and not having any future role in the governance of Gaza.

A senior Israeli security source said that initially the negotiations would focus only on the release of hostages and would give Hamas a few days to complete that phase. The 20-point plan, which has been agreed upon by Trump, Netanyahu and a plethora of other countries worldwide, proposes an immediate end to fighting and the release of 48 hostages held by Hamas, only 20 of whom are thought to still be alive, in exchange for hundreds of detained Gazans and Palestinians.

According to multiple media outlets the Plan is essentially just a framework for a potential deal. It states that within 72 hours of an agreement all remaining hostages would be released. Recently, Trump optimistically told reporters – “We have a really good chance of making a deal, and it’ll be a lasting deal.” He added that the hostages could be released “very soon,” perhaps within one week. I hope he is right, but I remain skeptical. It should be noted that Hamas is not fully onboard yet.

The Plan further stipulates that once both sides agree to the proposal “full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip.” It also states that Hamas would have no role in governing Gaza, and it leaves the door open for an eventual Palestinian state.

The BBC has cautioned that Hamas’ agreement is contingent upon certain “field conditions” being met. What does that mean? Who knows? I view that response as too vague to be meaningful. Don’t forget, the hostages are Hamas’ only bargaining chip. I want to see them freed as much as anyone, but I don’t see why Hamas would willing to release them until a deal has been signed.

More on that below.

All of the above optimism should be taken with a huge grain of salt. After the Plan was announced publicly a week ago, Netanyahu reiterated his longstanding opposition to a Palestinian state, saying in a video statement: “It’s not written in the agreement. We said we would strongly oppose a Palestinian state.” In addition, in my view Hamas has been insisting on a Palestinian state and furthermore will not abide by any plan that includes recognizing Israel. That would contradict Hamas’ long held foremost view that Israel is an illegitimate country and has no right to exist. I don’t know how those diametrically opposed positions get reconciled.

The Plan is the closest both sides have come to a deal since the war began two years ago, but I believe it has too many unresolvable points to achieve a lasting peace.

According to the BBC and other media outlets the major impediments to a lasting deal are as follows:

  1. Mutual antipathy– The two sides hate each other and don’t trust each other. Israel rightfully does not trust Hamas to abide by any peace agreement. Hamas’ longstanding goal has been the total destruction of Israel. It has continually refused to recognize Israel as a legitimate country, and it has long maintained that neither Israel nor Jews in general has a right to exist. Hamas is afraid that once the hostages have been released there would be nothing to prevent Israel from completing its stated mission to destroy it once and for all. Israel’s stated goal throughout the war has been the destruction of Hamas, and President Netanyahu has repeatedly reiterated Israel will not stop until [Hamas] is “finished.” This is not a realistic basis for a lasting peace agreement. This alone would likely prevent Hamas from agreeing to the Plan.
  2. Future governance of Gaza – According to The Plan initially Gaza would be governed by a temporary “transitional body of Palestinian technocrats” supervised by a “Board of Peace” headed and chaired by Donald Trump and involving former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. Eventually, control would be handed over to the Palestinian Authority. Hamas would not have any role in governance. I don’t see any way that Hamas would agree to that.
  3. Israeli withdrawal – The Plan envisions three stages of Israeli troop withdrawal. The first stage leaves about 55% of Gaza under Israeli control, the second 40%, and the third 15%. That final stage would consist of a “security perimeter” that would “remain until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat.” In my view the vagueness of the wording and lack of a clear timeline for full Israeli withdrawal is problematic.
  4. Hamas’ disarmament – Hamas has consistently refused to disarm until a Palestinian state has been established, and even if they were to agree to do so who would believe them? Conversely, Netanyahu has reiterated consistently that “Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza will be demilitarized.” He has vowed to accomplish this “either the easy way or the hard way.”
  5. Netanyahu’s Political Future – Netanyahu is dealing with strong political opposition internally chiefly due to his prosecution of the war. His popularity is waning, and he is facing an election next year. A majority of Israelis are tired of the war and want it to end. They claim he is only continuing the war in Gaza to remain in power. This group is supported by recent polls that have disclosed that approximately 70% of Israelis want the war to end in exchange for the release of the hostages. Conversely a group of far-right members of his cabinet have threatened to dissolve his coalition government if the war were to end before Hamas is completely destroyed. Finally, Netanyahu would likely have to deal with a major corruption trial once the war ends.

Due to the foregoing, I am not optimistic regarding the likelihood of the Plan being agreed upon and even less optimistic that it would last if it were to be.

Hamas has been losing on the field of battle, but it has been winning bigtime in the court of public opinion. This is its biggest advantage, and I believe it has been the biggest impediment to a cessation of hostilities. I believe that Hamas is playing a delaying game in the belief that eventually public opinion will force Israel and the US to agree to more favorable terms. In the meantime, it will play lip service, but it has no intention of agreeing to the Plan.

Since October 7, 2023, open hostility towards Israel and, by extension, Jews in general has been increasing. I believe this antisemitism is not new. It’s always been there. Throughout history it has lain dormant, like a volcano, only to erupt at certain times of stress or misfortune. There have been many examples of this, which I have detailed in previous blogs. However, due to limitations of time and space I will only cite a few current examples to illustrate my point.

  1. Recently, the NY Post reported that the Democratic Socialists of America (which includes Zohran Mamdani as a member) promulgated a resolution in support of boycott, divestment, sanctions and armed resistance against Israel. Moreover, they are threatening to expel any members who do not support this position. According to the Network Contagion Research Institute, a nonprofit that tracks extremism, this resolution “signals intensifying ideological rigidity, intolerance and radicalism” towards Israel and Jews. Also, Mamdani’s extreme antipathy toward Jews has been well documented over the years. Accordingly, Matthew Schweber, a member of Columbia University’s Jewish Alumni Association, characterizes him as “unfit to be mayor of NYC.” Inexplicably, polls still show him to have a double-digit lead among NYC Jews in his campaign for mayor. Either they are being gaslighted or just don’t care about his antipathy, but if he wins, they will come to rue the day.
  2. The UN, which is supposed to be neutral, has long been dominated by antisemitic/anti-Israel sentiments. In 1975 it declared Zionism to be “a form of racism.” In the current conflict it ignores the facts and views Hamas terrorists as “freedom fighters.” Its current narrative is that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza by blocking shipments of food and other necessities, whereas in reality it is Hamas that is stealing the relief supplies and reselling them on the black market. In the entire history of the world Israel is the only victim of aggression that has been criticized for retaliating against the aggressor.
  3. Various nations, including China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom, have already expressed support for a Palestinian state and its membership in the UN. Trump has correctly opined that this would, in effect, reward Hamas for its attack on 10/7/23 and its ongoing terrorism.
  4. Public support for Israel has been waning even in the US. According to a recent NYTimes/Siena University poll only 34% of respondents sympathize with Israel in the current conflict compared to 35% for the Palestinians. Last year a similar poll reported 47% for Israel and 20% or the Palestinians. The same poll reported that 40% of Americans believe Israel is intentionally killing civilians in Gaza whereas the complete opposite is true. Even more disturbing is that 70% of voters under 30 oppose further economic or military aid for Israel. In addition, not surprisingly the same poll reported that 54% of Dems sympathized with the Palestinians

Conclusion

President Trump has worked hard to put this comprehensive Plan together and to garner widespread support for it. For that, he is to be commended. It is yet another example of his oft-stated desire for peace around the world.

That said, in my opinion he is “pissing into the wind.” Based on the foregoing, there is no way that Hamas would feel compelled to agree to the Plan. And, if it does sign it, it will not abide by it.

It knows it is winning the publicity battle, which makes it inclined to delay and delay some more. Quite simply, most of the world hates Jews. Always has; always will. At times this hatred has been covertly lurking just below the service. And then, at other times it has erupted like a volcano. This is not just my opinion; it is a historical fact as I have delineated in various previous blogs. It will not change.

Currently, this antipathy has been extended to Israel as well. It has often been said that the US is Israel’s only friend in the world. As sad as that is, I maintain that it is overly optimistic. I maintain that Trump is Israel’s only friend. Witness the above polls. Unfortunately, Trump will not be president forever. The GOP, which is more supportive than the Dems will not be in power forever either.

American Jews have grown complacent and content. Inevitably, the Dems or the Socialists with their strong antisemitic/anti-Israel faction will gain power. What will happen to Israel and the Jews then? That was a rhetorical question. The answer, based on history, is nothing good.

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MAMDANI AND THE JEWS

To put it succinctly, Mamdani is a communist and an antisemite. I have said this before, and I will say it again. This characterization is not just my opinion. It is not hyperbole. It is gleaned from his own statements. The far-left Dems and their allies in the media have largely soft-peddled or ignored his antisemitic proclivities and opinions and have labeled him a “socialist,” which though abhorrent to most voters, has a more benign connotation than “communist.”

The Dems have been falsely describing President Trump as a ” fascist,” “Hitler,” and a “threat to democracy” for the past ten years. In reality, it is comrade Mamdani who is Hitler reincarnated as a communist and who is an existential threat to our democracy. In my opinion, this is obvious, but many Dems, even Jews, don’t perceive it. Why? This is the conundrum. See below for possible explanations.

Some examples based on M’s own words:

  1. He refuses to acknowledge Israel as a Jewish state.
  2. He has consistently been critical of Israel’s policies regarding the ME. For instance, he continues to accuse it of committing apartheid and genocide in Gaza, according to The New York Times. Furthermore, he believes the US is “subsidizing a genocide” through its support for Israel.
  3. He actively supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which advocates for economic and cultural pressure on Israel over its treatment of Palestinians. 
  4. According to The Forward, he authored a bill to penalize charities that assist Israeli settlements, which some critics say targets Jewish organizations.
  5. He has refused to condemn the chant “globalize the intifada,” a phrase widely interpreted by many in the Jewish community as condoning violence against Israel. (As I have often said, in this context “Israel” is code for “Jews,” much like bigots used “states’ rights” as code for “segregation” in the mid-20th century.) He has also stated that Palestinians have a right to resist and characterizes the war with Israel as combating a “colonial occupation.” 
  6. He has advocated government owned and operated grocery stores, freezing rents, defunding the police, free bus fares, and many other freebies that sound enticing but are, in reality, unworkable and unrealistic, if not sheer lunacy. The allure of free stuff is a mirage; nothing is really free. Somehow, someone, somewhere has to pay for it.

Lately, M has been attempting to moderate some of his extreme prior comments, particularly those regarding the police. In a recent interview he assured reporters “I am not running to defund the police.” Ladies and gentlemen do not be fooled. His current reversal is disingenuous. He is merely following the time-honored strategy of moving toward the middle in order to get elected. I believe his true feelings are those he has been espousing for years before he began his campaign for NYC Mayor, not the current iteration. Tatana Timoshenko, whose son, NYPD Detective Russel Timoshenko, was recently killed during a routine traffic stop derisively characterized M’s reversal as “too little, too late.” Likewise, Grace Machate, the widow of recently slain NYPD officer Robert Machate, dismissed his current promises as “not reality.”

According to the latest polls M has a sizeable lead in the current five-person mayoralty race as well as head-to-head against each of the other candidates. Incredibly, according to the same polls he has a commanding 17-point lead among Jewish voters. There is no logical reason for this. So, as I said above, why? In my view, (1) many Jews are unaware of or ambivalent toward his views; (2) it has become acceptable in some quarters to criticize Israel; (3) many Jews are being gaslighted by the prospect of “free stuff;” and (4) most significantly, the Jewish community in NYC and elsewhere has grown complacent and believes it is safe and secure in America from bigots like M.

In this regard Jews should be more cognizant of history. For example, Jews lived safely and securely in Germany for some 500 years before the advent of Hitler and the Nazi Party. Much like in the present-day US they were an integral part of the financial, economic, and social fabric of the country. We all know what happened then. There is a plethora of other examples, but that is the most extreme one. The lesson is Jews cannot take anything for granted. M is eerily similar to Hitler other than the fact that he is a communist whereas Hitler was a fascist. He is charismatic, glib and connects with the people in the way that few politicians do. His antisemitic views are real and very dangerous. His influence within the Dem Party is growing by the day. At the moment, his appeal is primarily local and limited to the far left, however, there is a real possibility that prospectively it will spread throughout the country like a contagion.

Many GOPers believe that M’s popularity and influence may cause more moderate Dems like (Up)Chuck Schumer to lose in the 2026 primaries to more radical candidates. If that were to occur, I would shed no tears. Readers of my blog are fully cognizant of my opinion of (Up)Chuck, but the election of a far leftie like AOC would not be any better for Jews and the country as a whole. On the other hand, Senate Majority Leader John Thume has opined that if M were to become mayor the Dem Party will be “in big trouble nationally.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that M’s election would change NYC to “Caracas on the Hudson.” I concur as far as the short run is concerned, but as I said long term I have some misgivings.

Conclusion

As the Dem nominee for mayor in NYC where, according to the NYC Campaign Finance Board, registered Dems outnumber registered GOPers by roughly six to one Mandani’s election is virtually guaranteed. In that case, with a far-left city council we can expect most of his policies will be enacted. NYC will be in mucho trouble financially, economically, socially, and every other way. A great city that in many ways is a representation of America, itself, will commence an inexorable slide into oblivion. Furthermore, eventually what happens in NYC affects NY State and perhaps much of the rest of the country as well.

Let the exodus from NYC and NYS begin! Florida, Texas and other low tax, low cost, low crime states beckon and entice.

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ANTISEMITISM ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

Antisemitism on college campuses is still prevalent. I have discussed this situation in previous blogs but is still problematic. In fact, in my opinion it has metastasized into a full-blown existential crisis. It’s not just the students; it’s the faculty; and most disturbingly, it’s the administrators as well. As we know, many “protesters” are not even students but paid agitators. Even worse many are in the US illegally. They have no love for America, and will eagerly participate in any action to bring it down

In my opinion, the vile and violent demonstrations we see on tv and read about in the news are just the tip of the iceberg. The core of antisemitism has festered unchecked like a cancer in academia for decades, maybe forever.

In previous blogs I have denoted that antisemitism has been omnipresent in society throughout history. Often it has been covert, but in times of crisis like now it has bubbled to the surface like an erupting volcano. This is not just my opinion; it is a historical fact that can be verified easily if one cares to research it.

It has been overt on many college campuses the last few years due to the Israel-Hamas War in the ME, the timidity of the federal government leadership, and its reluctance to take decisive corrective action to penalize those responsible. Much of the mainstream media has been portraying Israel and the Jews as the aggressors and Hamas and the Palestinians as the victims. Of course, the opposite is true.

Most of the protestors have been gaslighted. The news they have been getting has been distorted. Probably, many of them are completely ignorant of the issues and the history of the region and could care less. I dare say, many of them could probably not even find Gaza on a map

The indifferent, if not hostile, attitude of the Biden Administration toward Jews, in general, and Israel, in particular, and its weak response to the violent demonstrations have given “cover” to and emboldened the crazies. They have sensed that they had free rein and would not be punished by either the college administrators or the federal government for their actions, and until now they have been correct.

This has been and will continue to be an ongoing crisis, but some of the recent developments include:

  1. As reported in the NY Post US government officials have stated that some 60 colleges are presently being investigated for alleged religious discrimination. That is a significant number, and it is indicative of a long-running, persistent and widespread problem.
  2. These colleges are failing in their primary mission, which is provide an atmosphere in which ALL students can receive a quality education. That includes, among other things, a free and unfettered exchange of ideas and beliefs.
  3. In my view, many Dems have been and are continuing to avoid criticizing these violent protestors for political reasons. They feel they need the support of the far left in order to win elections. I have long maintained that the worst offender is Senate Majority Leader Chuck (the “Chameleon”) Schumer. He is Jewish and represents NYS, the electorate of which is heavily Jewish. He should be at the forefront of supporting Israel and the Jews, and yet as I have written in previous blogs, in my view he has remained silent and, at times, even hostile to them. To me, that is inexplicable and unconscionable.
  4. Many Dems have been defending Mahmoud Khalil, an unabashed terrorist, who was recently picked up by ICE and slated to be deported. Supposedly, Khalil is a graduate student at Columbia University, but in reality, he is also a known terrorist and is one of the leaders of the current violent protests. Many Dems have made him into a symbol of free speech being denied. His actions are indefensible, yet, for some unfathomable reason many Dems have been rushing to his defense. They have been touting him as a victim. Have they lost their minds!? Perhaps, or maybe it is yet another example of TDS by which Dems feel they must oppose any Trump action regardless of what it is.
  5. Today, the NY Post reported that a second anti-Israel demonstrator at Columbia has been picked up. Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian, is allegedly guilty of overstaying his student visa and other immigration -related violations.
  6. The Dems’ defense of Khalil’s civil rights is especially perplexing since they have failed to support the civil rights of Laken Reilly, Jocelyn Nungaray, and the many other women and children who were raped and murdered by illegal aliens thus depriving them of their civil rights. Their message is that your civil rights depend on which side of the political spectrum you are on.
  7. Similarly, at Trump’s recent speech before a joint session of Congress they refused to acknowledge and honor individuals such as the 13-year-old who had beaten brain cancer, the orphan of a slain law enforcement officer who was accepted into West Point, and various widows of slain police officers. This mixed messaging is reminiscent of a quote by John Feinstein, a sportswriter of some renown. Bobby Knight, a well-known college basketball coach who did not mince words, once called Feinstein a “whore and a pimp.” Feinstein quipped, “I wish he’d make up his mind, so I would know how to dress.” Similarly, the Dems have to decide if they are for or against civil rights.

Conclusion

President Trump has inherited a very dangerous situation. As described above, many, if not most, college campuses are in a racial crisis. Jewish students’ civil rights are being violated on a regular basis, physically, mentally and emotionally. Many Jews have taken to hiding their “Jewishness,” i.e. jewelry such as mezuzahs and Stars of David, for their own safety. Moreover, it is likely that many Jews and non-Jews are eschewing these universities in favor of ones with a more tolerant religious climate.

Non-Jews should not make the mistake of assuming they will be safe. History has shown repeatedly that like the Nazis of 1930s Germany, the communists of Soviet Russia, and other extremist groups Muslim radicals will not be satisfied with just discriminating against the Jews. If left unchecked, they will move on to all other people whom they consider not to be “true believers,” such as Catholics, Protestants and even moderate Muslims.

On many campuses the situation has deteriorated to such an extent on that students who want to go to classes or the library are being precluded from doing so. They or their parents are paying tens of thousands of dollars per year for a quality education, and they are not getting it. I’m surprised more parents have not protested.

To no one’s surprise the Trump Administration has demonstrated the guts to take college administrators to task. Many of them have been dragged before Congressional committees to defend their discriminatory policies; DOJ and ICE personnel have begun to investigate, detain, prosecute and deport the perpetrators; the Administration has commenced to withhold federal funding where appropriate. The cancelation of $400,000 of Columbia’s federal grants and contracts is likely just the beginning. Trump’s actions will affect these colleges not only financially but reputationally as well.

As far as I’m concerned, it’s well deserved and long overdue.

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THE RECENT ESCALATION OF ANTISEMITISM

In the past couple of years I have posted several blogs detailing the state of antisemitism both in the US and the world at large. I believe that the one-year anniversary of the brutal and heinous surprise attack by Hamas against Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023 is an appropriate time to review and update the issue. We are all familiar with the repulsive details of those heinous terrorist attacks and the resultant war. There is no need to repeat it all here. One might say the attack was Israel’s 9/11.

Rather than generating sympathy for the victims the attack seems to have unleashed a level of antisemitism not seen since the 1930s and 1940s. Below please find my analysis of the root causes of this, citations of some of the numerous examples, and a warning to American Jews.

  1. Without repeating what I have posted in some detail in previous blogs suffice to say that the root causes of antisemitism go back some 5,000 years. Jews have always been perceived as being “different,” different religion, different God, different day of worship, different appearance, and different customs. People tend to mistrust and even hate those who are different.
  2. Throughout history Jews have been persecuted (e. g. the Spanish Inquisition, the pogroms of Russia and Poland, and of course the Holocaust.
  3. Until the advent of the State of Israel in 1948 Jews did not have a land of their own, a land where they would be safe and secure. Wherever they lived they were subject to the whims of that country’s rulers.
  4. Many, if not most, rulers were not welcoming. Some were even downright hostile. Others would tolerate Jews for a time. One reason was that in times of strife, for example, a plague or a famine or other misfortune Jews would provide a handy scapegoat. By blaming the Jews rulers would be able to distract the masses from their own culpability and their own miserable existence. For instance, Jews co-existed in harmony and prosperity in Germany for some 500 years before the rise of the Nazis who found them to be a convenient scapegoat for Germany’s post-WWI misery.
  5. More recently, Jews have lived in the US in peace and prosperity since its founding. They have grown secure and complacent, and they are not aware that it can all be taken away. Many of them are oblivious to the depth of antisemitism extant in the US and the world in general. History has demonstrated that it can all be taken away either violently or gradually so that one would not notice until it was too late.
  6. With respect to the war in the ME both the Jews and the Muslims consider Jerusalem and the surrounding area to be their “Holy Land,” and they have fought numerous wars for the control of it over thousands of years.
  7. The Muslim terrorists dispute the validity of the State of Israel and want to obliterate both it and the Jews who inhabit it. They have made no secret about it. Hamas has included that goal in its charter. Furthermore, that is the meaning of the chant “from the river to the sea, the Holy Land will be free.”
  8. On the other hand, the Jews are determined to destroy Hamas, Hezbollah and the other terrorist groups as a fighting force decisively once and for all.
  9. The Israelis don’t want a ceasefire at this time. They are winning, and they want to finish the job. They know that if they don’t, they will just have to fight another war in the future, and another, and another, and another. Eventually, they may lose one, and then it would Sayonara.
  10. Neither side is in favor of the much-ballyhooed two-state solution. Hamas would not honor any ceasefire anyway. They would just use it as a chance to regroup and rearm for the next war.
  11. The smart strategy for BH would be to support Israel 100%, get out of its way, and let it finish the job, but as one can see it is not doing that. I believe it is either out of ignorance, a desire to placate the antisemitic left wing of the Dem Party, or a combination of the two. In addition, they lifted the Trump sanctions against Iran, which very effective. Iran was practically broke. Instead BH’s policy has provided it with untold billions of dollars of oil money that it is using to fund the terrorists. That is an ill-advised policy, geopolitically, economically and militarily. Israel is our only dependable ally in the volatile and strategically critical ME. BH’s policy has actually lengthened the war and endangered the lives of the hostages.
  12. BH have urged Israel to show “restraint” in its response. They have provided Israel with only tepid support to avoid offending the radical left wing of the Dem party.
  13. Incredibly, the bulk of world opinion is against Israel. It was the one that was brutally attacked, yet most of the world’s sympathy has been directed toward the Palestinians. Obviously, that is because of antisemitism. In the history of the world Israel is the only country that was attacked that was then urged to show restraint or even standdown.

That brings us to the main subject of the blog, the alarming expansion of antisemitism in the US and the world. There are a plethora of examples of this, but I will only cite a few to illustrate my point.

  1. Recently, the NY Post reported that 61% of American Jews claim they have “faced bigotry” since last October 7.
  2. According to a recently released survey by the National Opinion Research Council at the University of Chicago 3.5 million Jews have reported that they were victimized by antisemitism in some manner during the past year. This includes violent crimes such as rape and assault and threats such as targeting synagogues, homes and/or businesses with swastikas, graffiti and the like.
  3. Approximately 25% of the respondents expressed fear or reluctance over identifying themselves as Jews, for example by wearing particular clothing or jewelry.
  4. Roughly 40% of college students responded that they felt “uncomfortable” or unsafe at a “campus event.”
  5. Nearly 30% felt that they had been “excluded from a group or event.”
  6. The Anti-Defamation League disclosed that there have been in excess of 150 occasions of “physical assault,” approximately 1,840 instances of “vandalism” and about 8,000 incidents of “written or verbal abuse” against Jews in the past year. Approximately 1,200 of these incidents occurred on college campuses. To put these numbers in some context they represent a 200% increase over the prior year. 200%!
  7. If you know your history you will recognize this as being reminiscent of what occurred in Germany in the 1930s and early 1940s.
  8. What I have described has not been limited to the US. The UN has long exhibited feelings of antisemitism. The membership includes many Islamic countries that have long been sympathetic to the Palestinian or even terrorist viewpoints. Moreover, recently French President Emmanuel Macron has been advocating cutting off arms shipments to Israel. It is important to understand that there are only 15.8 million Jews in the world whereas the Muslim population is 1.8 billion, and a goodly number of them live in the US and various European countries where they wield some political influence. Even though relatively few of them are radicalized, I believe most of the moderates are still sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.

CONCLUSION

The heinous nature of the October 7 attacks should have generated some sympathy for Israel and Jews in general. In fact, as demonstrated above, the opposite has occurred. It has unleashed latent, covert antisemitism, which I believe has always been lurking just below the surface, like an inactive volcano, waiting to explode. The outpouring of blatant, overt antisemitism in the last year is no coincidence.

BH have done nothing to quell the antisemitism either on college campuses or in general. Nor has Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is Jewish. They have not pushed back against politicians like Ilhan Omar who have continually expressed antisemitic views. They have not provided support to the US Jewish community. They speak in vague generalities and platitudes, but as I keep saying, actions speak louder than words.

Schumer’s case has been particularly disturbing to me. He is one of the most powerful and influential politicians in the country. He represents NY State, which is heavily Jewish. He, of all people, should be advocating for Israel and the Jews. Instead, he has done the opposite by criticizing Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu’s prosecution of the war, even calling for him to resign. As I wrote in a previous blog in my opinion, his actions have been despicable.

In my view, the main takeaway from the current climate is that we Jews are not as safe and secure as we think we are in the US or anywhere else. This is no time to be complacent. We have an election next month. Historically, a majority of Jews has voted for Dems, and for the most part they have delivered. However, the BH administration has not supported Jews. They have not been loyal to us. Why should we continue to be loyal to them. When Trump was president, he was a staunch supporter of Israel. In addition, he has exhibited the conviction and strength of character to support Israel regardless of world opinion and to stand up to the antisemites extant in the US. In my view, it is time to switch and vote for the GOP.

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KAMALA AND ISRAEL

Kackling Kamala(“KK”) is trying to walk a fine line with respect to the Israel-Hamas War. On one hand, she is offering disingenuous platitudes in support of Israel to try to convince it and the Jewish portion of the electorate that she backs our ally and is not antisemitic. In that vein she has told the story that as a child she helped raise money to plant a tree in Israel. (Even if that is true, and the likelihood is that it is a Bidenesque tall tale, it does not have any relevance to her positions today.) On the other hand, she is trying to convince the pro-Palestinian, antisemitic portion of the electorate that she supports them. Biden had been pursuing this two-faced, dichotomous approach, and it did not work for him. Both sides saw right through it and criticized him for it.

Neither side is happy. Pro-Palestinian voters in Minnesota have criticized what they perceive as her lukewarm support. They have made it abundantly clear that they want nothing less than for the US to withdraw its support for Israel entirely and support Hamas unequivocally. Also, a sizeable chunk of Dems in Michigan expressed their displeasure by voting “uncommitted” in the 2024 primary rather than voting for Biden. I don’t think this vacillating approach will work for KK either.

Jews, do not be deceived by KK’s current utterings. She has a long record of antisemitism and support for extreme Palestinians. As with everything else, she says one thing but does another. Her actions speak louder than her words. For example:

  1. She has continually demonstrated empathy and support for Palestinian rioters, such as those who occupied college campuses earlier this year. She minimized or overlooked that they committed various crimes, such as assault on Jewish students, breaking, entering and occupying university buildings, and harassing Jewish students with hateful antisemitic slogans and signs.
  2. She has been and is in compete lockstep with Biden and the Dems tepid support for Israel in its war with Hamas. In the immediate aftermath of Hamas’ unprovoked terrorist attacks on October 7, they first tried to dissuade Israel from retaliating at all. When that didn’t work, they tried to get Israel to “show restraint” in its response. That was absurd on its face. Name one other instance in the history of the world in which a country that had been attacked was urged to show restraint. For instance, did the US show restraint after Pearl Harbor or 9/11? Then, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, aka “The Chameleon,” gave a speech in which he urged Israel to force out Netanyahu and hold new elections. Such interference in the internal workings of another sovereign nation is traditionally reserved for “banana republics,” not an ally.
  3. Last week KK “dissed” Israel’s President Benjamin Netanyahu by not attending his speech before Congress. Not only did she disrespect Netanyahu, but also Israel, our staunchest and most dependable ally in the ME and Jews, in general, as well. Her feeble excuse was that she had to attend a previously-scheduled speech at a college sorority. That snub was consistent with the Dem Party’s policy of criticizing Netanyahu rather than Israel itself in the hope that it will prevent or at least minimize Jews’ defecting to the GOP. I think and hope most Jews will see that for what it is, code for antisemitism. Several Republicans sharply criticized this obvious snub. Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s comment that this “made it clear that Harris stands with the woke antisemitic members of her party” was a typical example. She even drew criticism from some Dems. One, speaking anonymously in fear of retaliation, said “it makes zero sense that for our most important ally [in the ME] she’s skipping out on the speech.” The representative added “a bunch of us have [made] calls [to her office] saying, ‘what are you doing.'” Later, she tried to mend fences by meeting with Netanyahu privately, but in my view that was just for optics and too little, too late. Again, actions spoke louder than words.
  4. Recently, she offered a weak statement of support for Israel, proclaiming “Israel has a right to defend itself.” Well, duh. That was a typical KK non-sequitur. Of course, any country has that right. Rather than meaningless words how about some action such as sending needed weapons that Israel keeps on requesting.
  5. She has continually expressed sympathy for the plight of Gazan civilians. While it’s unfortunately true that many have been murdered and have been deprived of necessities like food, medicine and shelter that is primarily the fault of Hamas, not Israel. It was Hamas that started the war. It is Hamas that is stealing much of the aid being supplied by the Red Cross and others, and it is Hamas that has been using civilians as human shields. War is hell. In all wars throughout history civilians have been caught in the middle. They have been dispossessed, robbed, raped, enslaved and murdered. It is a sad fact, but it’s true. As anyone who has fought in a war will tell you that’s the very nature of war. It’s why we say, “war is hell.” In this case, I would like to denote that Israel has gone overboard to minimize civilian casualties.
  6. A few days ago, Hezbollah launched a rocket attack on a Druze village that borders on Lebanon. A dozen young children were killed while playing soccer. How about expressing sympathy, condemnation and outrage regarding that. As I write this, I have not heard a peep from KK.

CONCLUSION

This entire debacle is a prime example of cause and effect. Biden’s ME policies have been the cause, and the effect is what we see now. KK fully endorses those policies, and her comments and actions as delineated above have not been helpful. In actuality, they have served to encourage Hamas to keep holding the hostages and keep fighting and have extended the war. It’s clear to objective observers that her motives are disingenuous. In reality, she’s trying to placate the radical, antisemitic left wing of her party for political reasons, for votes in the upcoming election.

Israel is embroiled in an existential battle against enemies that have vowed to exterminate it as evidenced by their mantra “from the river to the sea.” They have consistently proclaimed they don’t want a two-state solution. They want a one-state solution. Theirs. Their desire to negotiate a cease fire is just a ploy to stop Israel from destroying them. When they feel the time is right, they will attack again. This is what they have always done.

Israel’s entire history has been characterized by a series of wars and terrorist attacks. All of them have been started by their enemies. If they don’t finish the job this time by destroying Hamas and Hezbollah entirely there will just be another war, and another, and another. Ultimately, it will cost more lives and treasure. I say to KK. Just get out of the way, and let Israel do what it has to do to finish the job.

One final comment. Let’s not forget that Iran has been sponsoring all these terrorist groups. Also, let’s not forget the root cause of all the terrorist attacks that have plagued the region in the last 3 1/2 years. Iran has been able to fund the various terrorist groups because Biden, in one of his more fatuous decisions, stopped domestic drilling for oil and ended the embargoes that Trump had put in place, which has allowed Iran to make a fortune selling its oil and use those funds to sponsor terrorism in the region.

Cause and effect.

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    ANARCHY AND ANTI-SEMITISM ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

    The anarchy we have been witnessing on college campuses is not merely about antisemitism. It is not merely about Israel. It is not merely about the Palestinians. It is not merely about the war in Gaza. It may have begun as such. But it has metastasized into a war on America itself. The anarchists are flat-out announcing their evil and sinister intent by displaying signs with words such as “death to America.”

    Yes, these anarchists, for that is what they are, are out to destroy America, itself. They are not “demonstrators.” They are not “protesters.” Those characterizations are way too benign and grossly misleading. They are criminals and anarchists pure and simple. They have trespassed on school and city property; they have threatened students, primarily but not exclusively Jews, and have prevented them from attending classes. Just listen to the chants “death to America” and “we are Hamas.” That tells you all you need to know, and we’d best pay attention. This is not just about Jews, Israel, the Palestinians, or the hostages. Their aim is broader and more sinister. It is to destroy America, itself.

    One thing we should have learned about Hamas, Hezbollah and all the other radical Muslim terrorist groups by now. Their hatred is not limited to just Jews. They also hate Christians, Blacks, Hispanics, women, gays and anyone else who is not a “true believer,” even Muslims that are not of their particular sect. Wikipedia lists seven different Muslim sects – Sunni, Shia, Wahabi, Salafi, Berelvi, Sufi and Deobandi. Each one hates all the others, and they have been at each other’s throats for centuries.

    If the terrorists get the chance, they will slaughter all of us. Non-Jews beware and heed the famous words of Martin Niemöller who was a prominent Lutheran pastor in Germany in the 1920s and early 1930s. His famous quote regarding the Nazis was true then, and it is still true today regarding radical Muslim terrorists.

    “First, they came for the communists, and I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then, they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a trade unionist. Then, they came for the Jews,
    and I did not speak out, because I was not a Jew. Then, they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me.”

    These riots are not spontaneous. They are well-planned and well-coordinated through social media. Many of the rioters are not even students. We know this because many of those arrested have produced identification that shows they are in their mid or late 20s. It may have started as a student protest, but it has been hijacked by anarchists, and the authorities need to treat them as such. The truth of the matter is that we have no idea who most of them are. We don’t even know if some of them are even US citizens. Some of them are likely illegals who crossed the open southern border; some of them could very likely be foreign-based agitators looking to foment trouble. We need to stop treating them as misguided, misinformed, rowdy students.

    Where are our leaders? Where are the presidents of these universities? Moreover, where are our elected leaders – President Biden, Governor Hochul, Mayor Adams, and Chuck (the “”Chameleon”) Schumer to name a few? None of them has taken any effective action. To my knowledge, none has even condemned the riots.

    Biden refuses even to address the matter. He wouldn’t even answer a question about it at his last press conference. He seems oblivious to the entire matter. It makes me wonder if in his cognitively-challenged state he even knows about the riots. In my view, Biden’s lack of attention to these riots is not an anomaly. It is eerily consistent with his ignoring the loss of American lives resulting from his hasty, ill-advised withdrawal from Afghanistan, his lack of empathy for all those murdered by illegal aliens, his ignoring the East Palestine tragedy for a whole year, his failure to empathize with the families of slain police officers, and many other tragedies.

    Hochul and Adams have been nowhere to be found. They appear to be overwhelmed and incapable. The worst, however, is the Chameleon. It is one thing for the others to exhibit a lack of support and empathy for Israel and the Jews, in general. But Schumer is Jewish, and he represents a heavily Jewish constituency. Moreover, he is the Senate Majority Leader, one of the highest-ranking politicians in the country. He has enormous influence. Unfortunately, all we have gotten from him are empty platitudes and “The Speech.” Frankly, his attitude disgusts me. I wrote a whole blog about him a few weeks ago, and I don’t want to waste any more time and space on him at the present time. (Full disclosure – some governors, notably Governor Abbott in Texas and Governor DeSantis in Florida, have taken effective action, but they have been the exceptions.)

    It is clear to me that the Dems are trying to walk a fine line to avoid offending the radical left wing of the Dem Party in an election year. They are willing to sacrifice America and Israel, our one reliable ally in the volatile and strategically critical ME to win an election. So far, that strategy has been backfiring as they have been offending all sides. All of them have shown a total lack of leadership at a time when we need it desperately. Instead of addressing the matter, they waste time, energy and money trying Donald Trump on bogus, politically-motivated matters. The longer they sit on their hands and ignore the problem the worse it will get.

    Conclusion

    For those of us who know our history these riots are eerily similar to those in Germany in the 1930s. Those, too, were ignored, and we all know how that turned out.

    So, what can we do? What should we do?

    In no particular order, I advise the following initial actions:

    1. Prompt decisive action.
    2. Biden and Congress should express clear, unequivocable support for Israel and condemn the rioters’ actions.
    3. Biden should reiterate that the State Department has designated Hamas as a terrorist organization, and anyone who claims to be a supporter, or worse, a member will be prosecuted. If they are a student, their school will suspend and/or expel them. If they are here on a visa or illegally they will be deported.
    4. The federal government has the hammer. It should use it. If these riots were aimed at any other group – Blacks, Hispanics, women, or gays, for example, the government would have cracked down immediately. But with respect to Jews, it doesn’t seem to care.
    5. The governors should consider utilizing state troops to restore order.
    6. Donors should strongly consider cancelling further donations (as a few have done already).
    7. Pressure should be brought on the presidents of these universities to resign immediately.
    8. Schools should investigate whether radical tenured professors who support terrorist groups can be terminated for cause.
    9. Perhaps, schools could require all students to view a tape of the October 7 massacre and even the concentration camps of the Holocaust in order to gain an appreciation of the horror of those events and gain some perspective.
    10. Parents don’t get a free pass either. Any self-respecting parent whose kid is spouting such hateful antisemitic garbage should be horrified. I don’t think they raised their kids that way; at least, I hope not. Also, they should reconsider if they want to continue to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for these universities to “educate” their kids.

    The deterioration of America’s social and moral fabric as exhibited by these riots is most shocking to me. Our college-age kids may be well educated, but many of them are ignorant of history, are devoid of common sense and a sense of right and wrong, have a distorted view of current events, and are easily manipulated by social media and radical professors. It should be shocking to you as well. We’re talking about America’s future leaders. I hope and pray that it is not too late to repair the damage.

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    CHUCK SCHUMER – POLITICAL CHAMELEON

    Chuck Schumer has been a strong supporter of Israel for all of his nearly 50-year career in public service – until last week. Now, I sense that his formerly strong support of Israel has waned. Furthermore, he has not been as supportive of American Jews as he should be in light of the recent plethora of antisemitic incidents in our schools and in general. He has not condemned, criticized, or even commented. His silence has been most disappointing as he is in a unique position. Many Jews feel he should be more outspoken. What has caused this seminal change? See below for my opinion.

    In my view, Chuck Schumer is the consummate politician, and I don’t mean that as a compliment. He epitomizes what I always say about politicians: their best abilities are to get elected and to get re-elected. He sees the seismic shift in the Dem Party to the left on major issues, plus away from Israel, and toward antisemitism that we all see, and he is reacting to it. Sure, he could stick to his guns and resist the trend. He could continue to espouse unwavering support for Israel, but the politician in him won’t permit him to do it. His overriding instinct of preserving his Senate seat against a possible primary challenge in 2028 won’t permit it (even though four years is a lifetime in politics). Moreover, his desire to maintain his Majority Leadership position in the Senate won’t permit it. And so, we have “THE SPEECH.”

    Schumer began his political career in the NY State assembly in 1975. In 1981 he was elected to the House of Representatives. In 1998 he was elected to the US Senate. Currently, he is serving his 5th term, which makes him the longest-serving senator ever from NY. He has worked his way up to the very influential post of Senate Majority Leader.

    For most of his career Schumer has been a staunch and outspoken supporter of Israel. This was understandable since he is Jewish, and he has represented a heavily Jewish constituency.

    For instance:

    1. In 1994, Schumer joined the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Congress in a campaign to petition the IRS to revoke the tax-exempt status of the Palestinian-American charity the Holy Land Foundation, which by the time it was shut down in 2001 was the largest Muslim charity in the US.
    2. In June 2010, while speaking at an Orthodox Union event in Washington D.C., Schumer expressed support for Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip, which was then a controversial topic.  He buttressed his position by denoting statistics to demonstrate that the Palestinian citizens of the West Bank were experiencing “economic prosperity”, crediting this to their government’s cooperation with the Israeli government on combating various terrorist groups.
    3. When the Palestinian citizens of the Gaza Strip voted to be governed by Hamas he advocated for Israel to “strangle them economically until they see that’s not the way to go,” while also stating that Israel should continue providing “humanitarian aid” to Palestinian civilians.
    4. He has steadfastly supported Israel in its various conflicts involving others in Gaza and elsewhere. He defended the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip in 2007 as being justified not only because it kept weapons out of the Palestinian territory, but also because it showed the Palestinians living there that “when there’s some moderation and cooperation, they can have an economic advancement.”
    5. In May 2017, Schumer co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act, Senate Bill 720, which made it a federal crime, punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, for Americans to encourage or participate in boycotts against Israel and Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories if protesting actions by the Israeli government.
    6. In May 2018, Schumer praised Trump for opening the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem, saying, “I sponsored legislation to do this two decades ago, and I applaud President Trump for doing it.”
    7. In the past he has frequently criticized the Palestinians for opposing a Jewish state or even a two-state solution, although presently he appears to be supporting the Biden Administration’s party line of a two-state solution.
    8. Schumer was a co-sponsor of a Senate resolution expressing objection to the UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which condemned Israeli settlement-building in the occupied Palestinian territories as a violation of international law.

    The US and Israel have been strong allies since Israel’s inception. Some of you students of history may recall that the US under President Harry Truman was the first country to recognize the State of Israel a mere eleven hours after it declared its independence. Over the years through Administration after Administration both Republican and Democrat, both liberal and conservative, the US and Israel have forged and maintained a symbiotic relationship that has worked out very well for both countries. The US has realized that Israel is its only reliable ally in the dangerous, mercurial and strategically critical Middle East, and Israel has realized that the US is its only staunch and powerful defender in an otherwise very hostile world.

    Unfortunately, it appears clear to me that the US’s support has grown tepid in the last few years. It began in the Obama Administration, and the trend has accelerated under the Biden Administration. Both Biden and his administration have exhibited anti-Israel and pro-Iran and Hamas attitudes, particularly with respect to the aftermath of the October 7 terrorist attacks. More on that later.

    Prime Minister Netanyahu has long had a contentious relationship with certain US presidential administrations. Most notably, I recall President Obama declined to invite him to the White House during his 2015 visit to the US in March 2015 to address Congress. Obama’s excuse was that it was policy not to meet so close to an election, but many interpreted it as a snub.

    The Netanyahu-US relationship has deteriorated significantly following Hamas’ terror attack of October 7. Briefly, the Biden Administration has been pressuring Israel to exercise “restraint.” It has been pressuring Israel not to retaliate militarily. It favors negotiation and cease fires. It has been trying to balance its policy between the anti-Israel far left wing of the Dem Party and the majority of the rest of the country. Based on the polls I have seen it is not succeeding, and there is much concern. Many people in the US, particularly Jews, have interpreted the foregoing as anti-Israel and antisemitic. Israel has been adamantly pursuing a strong military response. Its attitude is that Hamas will continue to attack prospectively unless and until it is totally wiped out. It resents what it perceives as US interference.

    Hence, we got “The Speech.” Essentially, Schumer threatened Israel. He said, in part, that “it’s become clear to me that the Netanyahu coalition[‘s reaction to Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack] no longer fits the needs of Israel. … If Netanyahu won’t step down and continues to pursue dangerous and inflammatory policies that test existing US standards for assistance [the US will be forced to] play a more active role in shaping Israeli policy by using our leverage.” President Biden doubled down by calling it a “good speech” that had been cleared in advance by his staff.

    The speech was interpreted by many as blatant and inappropriate interference in the elections of a sovereign nation and a clear threat. “Do what we want or else.”

    Reaction was immediate and fiercely critical. Benny Ganz, Israeli’s opposition leader stated “Israel is a strong democracy, and only its citizens will determine its leadership and future.” Former PM Naftali Bennett, no fan of Netanyahu’s, stated “we are an independent nation, not a “banana republic.” In the US Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader, called the speech “unprecedented,” and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson called it “just plain wrong.”

    CONCLUSION

    I would characterize it in stronger terms as a “sell-out” and “antisemitic.” In my experience such outrageous, blatant interference of a nation’s self-governance should be limited to dictatorships with massive human rights violations, not a staunch and reliable ally. Furthermore, every nation has a right, even an obligation to its citizens to defend itself in a manner in which it sees fit. Think what our reaction would have been if after the Japanese sneak attack of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 or the terror attacks on 9/11 if the world had urged us to stand down and not retaliate with force. Why should Israel be any different? Because it’s a Jewish state? You decide.

    So why did Schumer give that speech? It was especially odd especially given his past support of Israel. Only he knows for sure, but I think he wanted to ingratiate himself with the members of the far-left wing of the Dem party, many of whom have expressed clearly antisemitic opinions. They are small but vociferous, and they have been pressuring the Biden Administration to scale back its support of Israel. They are particularly influential with the election looming. I don’t think Schumer is antisemitic, but, as I said, he is a political chameleon, and he perceives the trend of his party is to offer only tepid support to Israel in its fight with Hamas.

    I seriously doubt that Israel will allow itself to be bullied by the US or anyone else, so it remains to be seen if the US will follow through on its threat.

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    ANTISEMITISM AMONG YOUNG AMERICANS

    The following is my opinion based on a plethora of news reports and personal experience and observation over my lifetime. Of course, you are free to disagree. Unlike the radical left, I welcome dissenting opinions. Unless I time traveled while I was asleep last night and woke up this morning in Soviet Russia or Nazi Germany circa 1935 this is still America, and the Bill of Rights is still in force.

    What are the schools teaching our kids? What kind of biased information are they presenting to them as “facts?” These are rhetorical questions. Anyone paying attention has come to realize that the schools have been radicalizing our children. An entire generation of children has been indoctrinated by the radical left. Many of them are being taught to hate America and any Americans who look, think, act and worship differently from them. Moreover, Caucasians are being portrayed as the oppressors of minorities. In some of the more radical school districts this indoctrination is beginning as early as grade school or even pre-school. [Note: I’m not referring to all kids and all schools, just a goodly portion of them.] 

    As has been the case for some 5,000 years the focal point of this hate has fallen disproportionately on the Jews. Make no mistake, the criticisms of Israel regarding the Israel-Hamas War are “code” for antisemitism. There is no need to analyze this hate in detail in this blog. Most of you are fully cognizant of the history of Israel and the Jews, and I have discussed the current situation thoroughly in previous blogs regarding antisemitism The issue here is the radicalization of young adults and what it bodes for the future.

    Most of us have seen on TV and read about the disturbing and violent protests on our college campuses. In my view, this is primarily the result of the aforementioned bias in America’s education systems. By the time these kids go to college their indoctrination is well and firmly established.

    Before the advent of COVID most parents had limited, if any, involvement in or knowledge of the details of their children’s school curricula. Typically, they were busy concentrating on their own lives and trusted the school systems to educate their children. 

    Since the advent of Covid and the resultant school shutdowns they have, by necessity, become more involved, and many of them have come to ascertain that their school systems have betrayed that trust. Consequently, there have been frequent well-publicized clashes between parents and school boards. 

    This bias is continuing in many, if not most, institutions of higher learning. College is supposed to be a venue where young people are exposed to a variety of ideas and experiences. It is an integral part of the maturing process of children into adults. Unfortunately, this has not always been the case. Often, it has been the opposite. Led by far-left administrators and faculty many schools have been shutting down views and values that are not in accord with their own. This trend has permeated into even our most reputable colleges. It’s enough to make parents question why they should spend hundreds of thousands of dollars or take on massive debt to pay for their child’s college education.

    For example, most of us have seen all or part of the recent sworn testimonies given by the presidents of Harvard, MIT and Pennsylvania Universities before Congress. Although antisemitism has long existed on many, if not most, college campuses to some degree these universities have become the lightning rods of the issue. The aforementioned presidents all refused to condemn antisemitism, evaded the question of whether or not the antisemitism on their respective campuses (including calls for genocide of Jews) violated their schools’ codes of conduct, and failed to express support for Jewish students, many of whom are extremely fearful of the hostile environment to which they are being subjected on a daily basis. Those responses have provoked a severe backlash from many donors, alumni, and politicians, predominantly Republicans. The presidents came across as arrogant, pompous, supercilious, and condescending. Penn’s president resigned; as of yet, the others have not. Noted Harvard alum and former Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz was particularly vehement in his condemnation of Harvard’s board for failing to terminate President Gay.

    Gay has come under increased fire in another area. Recently, the NY Post disclosed that she has been accused of multiple instances of plagiarism. It actually used the term “serial plagiarism” to describe her actions. It further denoted that the school was cognizant of these accusations and had been conducting a secret investigation into the matter. The story has since been picked up by various other media outlets, and it has even attracted the attention of Congress. According to the Post a bipartisan group of Congresspersons has introduced a resolution demanding Gay resign or be fired. The House Committee on Education and the Workforce has added these charges to its current investigation of antisemitism. In the wake of all this pressure and negative press why hasn’t Gay been fired? Good question. It’s just speculation on my part, but perhaps, it is because she is a black female, and the stuffed shirts at “Hahvid” are afraid of a lawsuit. Incidentally, on a humorous note, read Gay’s fatuous justification of her response or lack thereof: “We [Harvard] embrace a commitment to free expression – even views that are objectionable, offensive [and] hateful [unless] that speech crosses into conduct that violates our policies against bullying and harassment. That speech did not cross that barrier.” Huh? Calling for genocide is as hateful as it gets, and in her opinion that did not meet Harvard’s standards for hateful speech?! Wow! I rest my case.

    CONCLUSION

    A recent Harvard/Harris poll disclosed some extremely distressing news regarding antisemitism among 18-24-year-olds. Some of the results were inconsistent, even contradictory, but the general gist concurs with what I believe most of us have observed to be true. For example:

    1. Although a majority of respondents still expressed support for Israel the 18-24-year-old age group was the only demographic group that did not. It should be noted that support for Israel grew stronger among the older age groups reaching its highest level in the 65+ group.
    2. Approximately 60% of the overall respondents advocated a two-state solution, although both Israel and Hamas have repeatedly rejected that idea.
    3. Some 2/3 of the 18-24 group thought that Jews, as a class, are oppressors. In the interest of being fair and balanced I should denote that one publication, The Volokh Conspiracy, went so far as to state that “we should not give much weight to that question” as it “is poorly worded and at odds with other data.” But it was the only dissenter I found, and also the other age groups were not misled by the wording.
    4. Approximately 60% of the 18-24s thought Hamas’ attack of Israel was justified based on Palestinians’ grievances even though it was widely viewed as genocide. The Times of Israel interpreted that as the 18-24 group endorsing genocide of Jews, but I wouldn’t go that far. I would view it as one of many inconsistencies.
    5. Some 64% of the 18-24s stated a cease fire should be contingent upon the release of all hostages and Hamas being booted from power, but 67% of the 18-24s were in favor of an unconditional agreement that would retain the status quo.
    6. 63% of the 18-24s conceded that antisemitism is prevalent on college campuses. Another inconsistency, if not contradiction, was that 53% opined that college students should be allowed to advocate Jewish genocide on campus without punishment even though 70% recognized that such talk constituted “hate speech.”  
    7. As another example of a contradiction, a majority thought Israel should be “ended” and replaced by a Palestinian state or entity such as Hamas. However, 69% opined that Israel does have “the right to exist.” Those statements are mutually exclusive.
    8. And, most disturbing, 20% of the 18-24s thought the Holocaust was a “myth.” This boggles my mind in view of all the eyewitness and photographic evidence of it.
    9. The survey asked who was responsible for antisemitism on campus. The results were all over the place and surprising – has always been present – 24%, students – 20%, left wingers – 18%, school administrations and staff – 11%, foreign funding and student groups – 11%, professors – 7%, and none of the above – 9%.

    My original reaction to the survey results were shock, dismay and anger even though I am fully cognizant that widespread antisemitism is and has been omnipresent. Despite the inconsistencies and outright contradictions of some of the answers in my opinion the basic results are accurate. It is clear that 18-24s are more antisemitic than the overall population. I think it is due to a combination of antisemitism, disinterest, ignorance and indoctrination. 

    What I have found most glaring is the thought in some areas that Israel should not retaliate with all its might. How ludicrous and idiotic. I should like to remind those morons that in the entire history of the world there has not been one other case where an attacked party has been urged not to retaliate against an aggressor. Can you imagine our response if after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the world had told us to standdown? Yet, much of the world, including many in the Administration, has done just that. 

    Regardless, the result of the above survey is yet another reason to fear for the future of America.

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