Trump is a work in progress on Israel and the “Palestinians.” In his first term, he performed admirably. He moved the American Embassy to Jerusalem. He closed down the PLO office in Washington. He recognized Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights.
And he has shown by his appointment of such pro-Israel stalwarts as Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, Mike Walz as National Security Adviser, Elise Stefanik as our ambassador to the UN, and Mike Huckabee as the American ambassador to Israel, that he intends to continue the strong pro-Israel policy he put in place in his first term. He has supported Israel completely both in its war on Hamas in Gaza, and on Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. He has removed the sanctions on some “settlers” — as they are mean-mindedly described — in Judea and Samaria, that the Biden administration had put in place.
But he may not be willing to accept an Israeli move to annex Judea and Samaria, and the reason has nothing to do with historical rights and wrongs. Trump is apparently much taken with this whole business of “Israel’s normalization of ties with Saudi Arabia.” The incessant talk about this “normalization” — even by some Israelis who ought to curb their enthusiasm — endows it with an importance it does not deserve. Israel can get along very well without normalizing ties with Saudi Arabia. It already has security ties with the Kingdom that mostly benefit the Saudis, including intelligence information about Iran and its proxies, including the Houthis who have in past attacked Saudi oil installations. Besides, Israel already has ever-closer ties with one fabulously rich Sunni Arab state in the Gulf, far more welcoming to the Jewish state than the Wahhabis of Saudi Arabia could ever be. I mean, of course, the United Arab Emirates.
When Trump talks about “normalization of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia,” he knows that the Saudi price for such normalization is Israel’s return to something close to the 1949 armistice lines, and its acceptance of a state of Palestine erected on the lands it would have thereby given up, along with Gaza. Israel would have to give up its ancient claim to Judea and Samaria, save for a handful of the largest settlements. It makes no sense, historically or militarily, for Israel to cut out its territorial heart and hand it to its mortal enemy, the completely unnecessary state of “Palestine,” in order to receive some supposed huge benefits from the “normalization” of ties with Saudi Arabia. It is curious that the exact nature of those benefits is never explained.
Trump supports Israel, but he does not understand — so few do — why it is essential for Israel to retain control of Judea and Samaria, and especially of the Jordan Valley, in order to prevent an invasion force from the East that could cut the Jewish state in two within hours. Nor does he feel along his pulse the cultural, religious, and historical significance of Judea and Samaria to the Jewish people. But what he does feel along his pulse, and in his, or rather America’s, purse, is the promise just made by Saudi Arabia to invest $600 billion in the United States. Trump wants to keep on the good side of the deep-pocketed Muhammad bin Salman. But he needn’t sacrifice Israel’s interests to do so. MbS will invest in the US not for sentimental reasons, but because America happens to have the most secure and stable economy in the world. There is no need to do favors for the Saudis. Remember the folly after the quadrupling of OPEC’s prices in the fall of 1973? The Arabs had us believing that the price rose as “punishment” for Western support of Israel. That trebling of oil prices only reflected the realization by OPEC’s members that they possessed oligopolistic powers, for oil demand was in those days largely inelastic, and would stay strong despite such a price rise; OPEC’s so-called “oil weapon” was an economic decision disguised as a political one.
In fact, not only would Israel be imperiling its own survival if it were to agree to the stated Saudi terms for the “normalization”of ties with Israel —the creation of a Palestinian state that would include Gaza, Judea, Samaria, and east Jerusalem — but once Israel had withdrawn from those territories as the Saudis want, the “normalization” they would then deign to grant the Jewish state could be undone overnight if Israel failed to meet further demands. Saudi Arabia is not, and never will be, a firm friend of the Jewish state. How can it be, given that its people are raised on Wahhabism, the most fanatical version of Sunni Islam?
Walter Sieruk says
The quotes in the heading article along should serve as a reminder that there never has been nor are there now any genuine ethnic or race of people who are the “Palestinians.”
In reality, they are the Arabs of the area of the Middle East. The idea that there are a distinct “Palestinian people’ is a modern fiction. Likewise the “Palestine flag is a fake flag.
Those Arab/Muslims who call themselves “Palestinians” have applied that term only for themselves in the hope of giving them some kind of “valid” claim on the land that is the State of Israel, in the view in the people of the other nations of this world.
Walter Sieruk says
This article s title by putting quotes in the word “Palestinian” does raise an important question which is “Are there really an ethnic or race of people who may be , rightly called the “ Palestinians” or is that just a hijacked term that the Arabs of the area in the Middle East now exclusively only to themselves without valid genuine proof that such a term is actually fitting for them.
Many reliable scholars and historians on Israel and the entire Middle East have ,rightly, answered that question. Two of them had together have compiled a book on this subject and had revealed, “The Palestinian leadership has repeatedly sought to legitimize their right to the land, by claiming it belongs to them and not the Jews. One of their BIG lies is that the land was always referred to as Palestine. Historically, this is inaccurate ! There has never been a Palestinian state in the history of the world.”
The authors further explain that “The Roman Emperor Hadrian , following the second Jewish revolt led by Simon Kochba , changed the name of Israel to Syria Palestina which he took from the Hebrew word Pelesheth, which we know as Philistia . Why ? Because the Jews hated the Philistines and this was a slap in the face to them.”
Those writers also added that “”What difference does this make ? …. “ They then explained, because it gives the false impression that there was a land of Palestine in ancient times and perpetuates the lie that the Jews took away the Palestinian land.”
In conclusion, “Palestine’ is a man- made fiction therefore, there is no ethnic group or race of people who are real“ Palestinians.” Likewise, the “Palestinian flag is a fake” flag.”
By great contrast, Israel is an historic and Biblical reality, Psalm 135;4.
The book source is entitled Miracle of Israel by Gary Frazier and Jim Fletcher , pages 177,178 179.
Jim Harmon says
A good nickname for them might be “Phoneystinians”.
joanofark06 says
Someone should find out how many times, the name of “Israel” is mentioned in the bible. Seems like THAT would be the end of the discussion, right? But no, satan has blinded those, so they cannot read or understand God’s Word on the subject, sadly.
So if no one cares about Israel, then they don’t care a thing about God, or what He says on the matter, which the conclusion of THAT statement, only means, that they are on Satan’s side!
Well, I like to look it up online, so I make sure I don’t say “hundreds”, so on the first page of the results of the answer to that question, and with just looking at two websites, the answer would be, between 2,400+, to 2,500+.
I would say “Case closed”, but it’s not. God gave the boundries of the land that Israel was told to take and live on, and I’ll let someone else, look up what those boundries are, if their curious enough. I mean someone wouldn’t have to read very far, because it’s in the first book of the bible, Genesis!
But I’ll even make it easy for people, and show them a link, where God said the boundaries of Israel, and who is to claim it.
Biblical Boundaries of the Land:
https://theisraelbible.com/biblical-boundaries-land-israel/
Cynthia says
The Saudis attacked us on 9/11, were funding the indoctrination of our universities, and continue to be a violent, misogynistic society. We should make a lot of promises for a slow pathway to some Palestinian rule. No decisions on borders or a state until proven law and order and institutions not based on corruption are functioning.
The US can produce enough energy now that Trump is allowing our potential to be opened up again. This is not the 70’s.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Like I mentioned yesterday, Saudi Arabia is not gonna normalize relations w/ Israel while King Salman is alive, and he has said that he won’t do it unless and until the Palestinians either get their state, or are satisfied w/ that they get. He is 89, so I doubt there is any persuading him otherwise. So just like President Trump put Israel’s negotiations w/ the Palis on the backburner and instead worked on the Emirates and Bahrein, this time, he should put Saudi Arabia on the backburner and instead focus on other Arab countries, like Oman, Haftar in Libya (who he should recognize), Lebanon, Iraq….
I do worry about what promises he had made to muslim voters last year while campaigning in Michigan. Was it just on LGBTQ+, which would be fine given everything about the latter that everyone had been hit w/ since 2015? Or did he make promises to them about pressurizing Israel to end the war? Since the war wasn’t started by Israel, that would have been an imprudent commitment to make. Honestly, I’m very disappointed on this one issue, although he definitely shines in everything else he has done since returning to power
Oh, one more thing he should tell Saudi Arabia, Emirates and others – exit BRICS & SCO. I’m not sure that tariffs are a weapon he can use on Arab countries the way he did against Colombia, bringing them to their knees, since the US is a net exporter, not importer, of products to those countries
Saul orbach says
Thanks for your analysis. I tend to agree that Trump doesn’t quite understand the complete ramifications of the Saudi deal for Israel. My immediate concern, greater than that is removing Qatar from such a central role in the future of Gaza and the West. That Biden was fooled or agreed is no surprise. But Trump?
Billy says
Trump is good on some things but not great in dealing with Islam and its Muslims. Muslims NEVER peacefully coexist with Non-Muslims as taught in Islam’s Quran. NEVER. Look at the Muslim attacks in Europe and America and the West.
Like a Foreign Terrorist Organization(FTO) as designated by the USA Secretary of State, Islam is a MUSLIM TERRORIST ORGANIZATION against all Non-Muslims as taught in the Quran(Quran 2:216; 4:95; 8:12,39,74; 9:5,29,41,49; 88,111,123;49:15 and more). More specifically, Islam is a Muslim Terrorist Ideology and Criminal Organization of discrimination, segregation, supremacy, genocide, polygamy, deceit, hatred, incitement, sedition, rape, terrorism, and violence against all Non-Muslims as taught in the Quran. Fundamentally, Islam is a Terrorist Criminal Enterprise. The FRUIT of Islam is continual WAR, terrorism, discrimination, and violence against all Non-Muslims; this FACT must be taught and broadcast to the general public to prohibit Islam, its Mosques, and its Schools. Also, Islam is an Antichrist System terrorizing Israel, Christians, and Non-Muslims. Plus, there is NO EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW in Islam or in Islamic Law(Quran 98:6-7; 9:29 and more). In Sahih Bukhari(V6,B60,N80), Abu Huraira narrates, “‘You(Muslims) are the best of peoples ever raised for mankind.’ means, the best of peoples for the people, as you bring them[Non-Muslims] with chains on their necks till they embrace Islam[see Quran 3:110].” See also Quran 3:22,151; 69:30-32; 98:6.
Non-Muslims CANNOT have peace with Islam and its Muslims because Islam and its murderous god, Allah, demand a continuous, Muslim war against unbelievers where Non-Muslims are CRIMINALS under Islam as Allah in Qur’an 8:39 says, “And engage in war with them[Non-Muslims] until there will not be sedition and the religion will be completely to Allah…” HENCE, NON-MUSLIMS MUST MAKE ISLAM, ITS MOSQUES, ITS SCHOOLS, ITS ORGANIZATIONS, ETC. ILLEGAL UNDER THE LAW. Similarly, Islam and its many Organizations must be identified and publicly declared to be MUSLIM TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS for their funding, teaching, and support of terrorism, violence, and discrimination against Non-Muslims(eg. Quran 9:5,29,111 and more).
Islam promotes a terroristic, Muslim war against unbelievers when Allah in Qur’an 49:15 says, “Surely the believers are only those who believed in Allah and his messenger. They do not doubt, and they performed JIHAD with THEIR MONEY AND THEIR LIVES for the sake of Allah. Those are the truthful.”
Deceitful Allah promises Heavenly Paradise to Muslims for acts of Muslim killing in a terrorist war against Non-Muslims and hypocrites when Quran 9:111 says, “Surely Allah has purchased from the believers[Muslims] their souls and their money so that they may have the garden[Heavenly Paradise]. They engage in war for the sake of Allah, so they kill and are killed…”
James Lincoln says
Pres. Trump needs to seek out guidance from top anti-jihadists.
Beneath the Veil of Consciousness says
It seems Trump might be making the same mistake that Biden made when Biden rushed the disastrous American withdrawal from Afghanistan in order to coincide with some symbolic date in the hopes of cementing his name in the history books. Let’s hope Trump keeps a level head and doesn’t fall victim to the same vain glory chicanery.
joanofark06 says
I’ve wrote enough about what I feel I was shown, in the future. On the last day of Trump being in office, the first time, I feel I was shown so much, that it was almost overwhelming! So I’m not going to write it all down again. No one said anything back to any of my comments, anyway. That doesn’t bother me, I’m supposed to just let people be aware, and if all people do, is at least read about what’s coming, then their a step ahead of those who won’t.
The first thing I was shown, was that Trump would back in this same office again. So anytime there was an article about any subject about Trump, I tried so hard to tell people, over and over again (the whole time OBiden was in office), and any website there was a comment section, exactly what I knew, in detail.
So anyway against all odds, through all of the anger and hatred, the wanting to exterminate him, and the people on top, who wanted him off the ticket, so he couldn’t even RUN for president, and etc., ete., he made it! Even I was worried, even though I knew he was going to make it!
I’m 64, and this was the HARDEST election I’ve EVER BEEN through!!
Not to write every little detail down, like I said, but I have to say, when Trump announced it publicly, that he was going to run for president again, I won’t say how crazy I went, lol. Brought me to my knees, that’s for sure!
Let me just get on, with what I know what Trump is going to do now (or sometime within his 4 years) but hopefully the damage OBiden did to this country, will keep Trump busy for awhile.
Because I’m not in any hurry, to watch Trump pick up that “peace plan” he has, with those few signatures on it, and head back over to the Middle East with it, and get “enough” signatures on it, of rich and powerful leaders over there, that’ll sign up to have peace with Israel.
And I won’t say what happens next, unless asked. Just that people should know, what he does is like lighting THE torch, and then passing it along. Not literally. Well, it is kinda, in that he gives all of the leaders over there, HIS document, and THEY’LL look at, and see that a certain signature isn’t on there.
But that’ll be all God will need him for. He’s done with his part. Get the signatures, give THEM the document, and he’s done. And he leaves there.
But this will be the beginning/start of the 7 year Tribulation. Or in other words, the “beginning of the end”, OR, have you read the last book of the bible, called Revelation? I suggest that when Trump picks up that old peace document, that you should start reading!
But about this article, and to everyone who commented, someone should find out how many times, the name of “Israel” is mentioned in the bible. Seems like THAT would be the end of the discussion, right? But no, satan has blinded those, so they cannot read or understand God’s Word on the subject, sadly.
So if no one cares about Israel, then they don’t care a thing about God, or what He says on the matter, which the conclusion of THAT statement, only means, that they are on Satan’s side!
Well, I like to look it up online, so I make sure I don’t say “hundreds”, so on the first page of the results of the answer to that question, and with just looking at two websites, the answer would is, between 2,400+, to 2,500+.
I would say “Case closed”, but it’s not. God gave the boundries of the land that Israel was told to take and live on, and I’ll let someone else look up what those boundries are, if their curious enough. I mean someone wouldn’t have to read very far, because it’s in the first book of the bible, Genesis!
But I’ll even make it easy for people, and show them a link, where God said the boundaries of Israel, and who is to claim it.
Biblical Boundaries of the Land:
https://theisraelbible.com/biblical-boundaries-land-israel/