To provide greater exposure to primary Israeli news sources and opinions in order to become better informed on the issues, and to gain a better understanding of the wide range of perspectives that exist in Israeli society and politics. Issue 1026 • October 14, 2016 • 12 Tishrei 5777

DIRECTOR GENERAL OF FOREIGN MINISTRY RESIGNS (YNet 10/13/16) On Thursday afternoon, just hours after announcing his resignation, Gold sat Dore Gold, Director General of the Foreign Ministry, has resigned from his down with The Jerusalem Post in his office in the Foreign Ministry that had position due to personal reasons. Gold, a former Israeli ambassador to the already been cleared of its content, save the tables and chairs. Gold UN, took the position a year and four months ago and is considered very dismissed any suggestion that his resignation had to do either with close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. disagreements with Netanyahu, or frustration that Netanyahu's top envoy Officials in the foreign ministry say Gold has felt frustrated that Netanyahu Yitzhak Molcho, or his new deputy minister for public diplomacy Michael has both excluded him from core issues in international relations and dealt Oren, had cut into his responsibilities. directly with Yitzhak Molcho and acting head of the National Security Council, “I have worked with Molcho for many years and accept that he is a very Yaakov Nagel. Gold was not involved in secret contacts with Turkey and was skilled diplomat,” Gold said, noting that Molcho works widely in the Arab excluded from talks with Egypt, the Palestinians, the Americans and others. world. “I have always enjoyed my time with him.” Gold found himself dealing only with Africa and employee disputes within the Regarding Oren, Gold said he knows him from Columbia University where Foreign Ministry. Additionally, large budget cuts at the Foreign Ministry they were both students in 1970s, and they would go over Arabic flashcards showed that Gold doesn't really run the ministry. He recently raised the issue together. “I never felt that he was taking my thunder,” Gold said. of leaving, but Netanyahu asked him to wait a bit. Gold, 62, with two children and two grandchildren, said he wanted to devote Among candidates set to replace Gold are Alon Ushpiz, the Deputy Director more of his time to his family. “I have a family, and have to give them time,” General for Diplomacy and Yuval Rotem, Head of Public Diplomacy. he said. “I have personal obligations, but I am not planning to retire to a In a message from Foreign Ministry administrators, Gold emphasized that he rocking chair in Kansas.” wanted to retire because his family was growing, and he wanted to spend He said he will return to the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs and once more time with his grandchildren. In the accompanying statement, the again take up the position there as the think tank’s president. “I've learned Foreign Ministry said, "Dr. Dore Gold asked the Prime Minister and Minister how important that institutions like that can be if used correctly,” he said, of Foreign Affairs, Benjamin Netanyahu, to tender his resignation for personal noting that his connection with General Anwar Eshki of Saudi Arabia was reasons. Dr. Gold has served in his position since June 2015 and has been developed when he was at the think tank, not in the foreign ministry. with the Prime Minister for 25 years, since the Madrid Conference." Asked about the current situation in the Foreign Ministry, where morale is low In personal comments, Gold said, "I would like to thank the Prime Minister for because much of the organization's authority and responsibilities have been his confidence in me and I will continue to make myself available for every bitten off by other ministries, Gold recalled that in 1974 – at a time when the task imposed on me in the future. The role of Director General of the Foreign eloquent Abba Eban was foreign minister – public diplomacy was taken from Ministry was a personal and professional peak reached while serving on the the ministry and given to a newly formed Hasbara Ministry. diplomatic front. I am grateful for the professional and dedicated employees “My point is that for years there have been cases where certain of the Foreign Ministry. Together, we navigated Israel's diplomatic struggles. In the period I served as Director General, we experienced a boom in foreign Israel Report is a Student Publication of relations led by Prime Minister Netanyahu. I feel proud to have been a part of this and wish luck to my successor." Daniel Zolty, Editor-in-Chief Gold is considered one of the people closest to Netanyahu. In the past, he Yonatan Kurz, Moshe Davis, Alex Ostrin and Yoav Zolty, Editors We are proud to be distributed by these institutions, though they do not necessarily support or condone served in several diplomatic positions, including Israel's ambassador to the any of the material published: UN (1997-1999) and political advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Anshei Chesed Cong., Boynton Beach, FL Hillel at Brandeis University (1996-1997). As political advisor, Gold served as the Prime Minister's envoy Bergen County High School of Jewish Studies Hillel at California State University - Long Beach Boca Raton Synagogue, FL Hillel at Columbia University to Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf States. Carmel School, Hong Kong Hillel at Johns Hopkins University Cong. Agudath Achim, Bradley Beach, NJ Hillel at Yale University Cong. Ahavas Achim, Highland Park, NJ Hillel High School, Deal NJ NO BAD BLOOD WITH NETANYAHU (JPost 10/13/16) Cong. Ahavath Achim, Fairfield, CT Jewish Center of Teaneck, NJ Denying any bad blood with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Cong. Anshe Shalom, Jamaica Estates, NY Kehillas Bais Yehudah Tzvi, Cedarhurst, NY Cong. Anshe Sholom, New Rochelle, NY Kemp Mill Synagogue, Silver Spring, MD Ministry Director-General Dore Gold unexpectedly resigned on Thursday, Cong. Beth Aaron, Teaneck, NJ Mizrachi Shul, Johannesburg, SA citing “personal reasons” for his decision to leave his job immediately as the Cong. Beth Shalom, Monroe Twp, NJ North Shore Hebrew Academy HS, NY Cong. Bnai Yeshurun, Teaneck, NJ Suburban Torah Center, Livingston, NJ country's top diplomat just 15 months after taking over the position. Cong. Etz Ahaim, Highland Park, NJ The Learning Shul, Columbia, SC Gold is the second top foreign policy official around Netanyahu to opt out of Cong. Ohr Torah, Edison, NJ Woodsburgh, NY Minyan office in less than three months because of “personal reasons.” Yaakov Cong. Rinat Yisrael, Teaneck, NJ Young Israel Bet Tefilah of Aberdeen, NJ Cong. Shomrei Torah, Fair Lawn, NJ Young Israel of Brookline, MA Nagel, the acting head of the National Security Council, turned down an Cong. Sons of Israel, Allentown, PA Young Israel of East Brunswick, NJ appointment to head the organization in August, also citing personal reasons. Cong. Zichron Mordechai, Teaneck, NJ Young Israel of Fort Lee, NJ Cong. Zichron R. M. Feinstein, Brooklyn, NY Young Israel of Hancock Park, CA Netanyahu thanked Gold, who has served at his side in various capacities for Delray Orthodox Synagogue, Delray Beach, FL Young Israel of Holliswood, NY some 25 years, for his dedicated service. He quickly named veteran diplomat East Denver Orthodox Synagogue, CO Young Israel of Houston, TX Flatbush Park Jewish Center, Mill Basin, NY Young Israel of New Hyde Park, NY Yuval Rotem as Gold's replacement. Harvard University Library Young Israel of North Woodmere, NY Rotem, a former ambassador to Australia, is currently the ministry's deputy Hebrew Academy of Long Beach, NY Young Israel of New Rochelle, NY Hillel at Baruch College Young Israel of Sharon, MA director-general for public diplomacy. He served as Netanyahu's chief of staff YI Shomrai Emunah, Silver Spring, MD in the ministry when Netanyahu – who was then prime minister – held the We encourage our readers to subscribe to our sources on the internet. For more information or to foreign minister's portfolio for 10 months in 1998. subscribe by e-mail, reach us at [email protected] 2 responsibilities have been taken away and given to others, who tried their latest UNESCO decision, are a clear message to Israel that the international hand at it, and then it was given back,” he said. “The best way to handle this community doesn’t agree with the occupation, and that the occupation only is not to get in fights it the newspapers, but to do good work.” contributes to chaos and instability. “There is no replacement for the foreign ministry, and for embassies around He stressed that the decision is an important message to the Israelis that the world, and the knowledge that is based in this building,” Gold said. “What they must end the occupation and recognize a Palestinian state with its we do need are resources. The ministry tends to be underfunded.” capital in east Jerusalem, and that the Palestinians must have exclusive Gold said that rather than “folding up the flag” in Israeli representations sovereignty over all Christian and Muslim holy sites. abroad to save money, “the country needs to open new embassies in Africa.” The spokesman ended, saying that Israel must internalize the fact that its policies are only creating and maintaining a negative athmosphere, and that RIVLIN: DENIERS OF JEWISH CONNECTION TO JERUSALEM ARE negative athmosphere radiates throughout the region. He added that the EMBARRASSING THEMSELVES (JPost 10/13/16) international community sees this, and is therefore against the State of Israel. Those who deny the Jewish connection to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount are simply embarrassing themselves President Reuven Rivlin, a seventh YOM KIPPUR HOLIDAY AN ENVIRONMENTAL BLESSING, SAYS EPA generation Jerusalemite, said on Thursday. (Arutz-7 INN.com 10/13/16) Rivlin was speaking to children decorating the sukkah at his official Air pollution in Israel's main cities dropped by at least 90 percent as the residence, in advance of the projected UNESCO vote on a Palestinian country marked the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, when few cars are on the resolution to rewrite history and ignore the fact that Jews made pilgrimages roads, Israel’s environmental protection agency said Thursday. to the Temple in Jerusalem long before the advent of Islam. Israel shut down for the holiday, which began on Tuesday night and ended at Rivlin recalled that when he was a boy prior to the establishment of the state, sunset on Wednesday, with shops, airports and even radio and television he used to accompany his father to the Western Wall before the recitation of stations all closed. Driving is frowned upon and families and children walk the final Yom Kippur prayers, so that they could hear the shofar at the and bicycle through the empty streets. conclusion of the service. In Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and their surrounding areas, nitrogen oxide pollution Today, he said, there is an attempt to silence the shofar. “It’s not that they declined drastically to between seven and 17 parts per billion by air volume, don’t want to hear it. They just don’t want us there,” he said of Wakf and the agency said in a statement. UNESCO attempts to remove the Jewish presence from Jerusalem. Before the holiday, levels were 178 parts per billion in Jerusalem and 95 After the vote, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the decision was a parts per billion in the Tel Aviv area. continuation of the "theater of the absurd" at UNESCO, and suggested that "The significant improvement in air quality during Yom Kippur shows the soon the body would claim that the arch of Titus in Rome, depicting the impact of transportation as a main source of air pollution in large cities,"the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.D., is a piece of Zionist agency said. propaganda. "However, I believe that the historical truth is stronger, and that Israel's rail network remains underdeveloped and it is among the OECD it will prevail," he said. countries with the highest number of vehicles per resident.

PA: DENIAL OF JEWISH HISTORY 'VICTORY FOR PALESTINIAN SAUDI LOBBYIST CALLS FOR NORMALIZATION WITH ISRAEL (Ha’aretz PEOPLE' (YNet 10/13/16) 10/13/16) The ruling Fatah party has welcomed a UNESCO decision which negates the A U.S.-based Saudi lobbyist called for closer economic ties between Israel connection between Jews and the Temple Mount. “This decision is an and Saudi Arabia in an op-ed on The Hill, in possibly yet another sign of a important victory for the Palestinian people, the protectors of al-Aqsa, and in thaw in traditional Saudi hostility to Israel. terms of national defense,” a Palestinian spokesperson said. Saudi Arabia technically still does not recognize Israel's existence. In his op- A Fatah press release said that the importance of the decision lies in its ed, however, Salman al-Ansari, the founder and president of the Washington- content, specifically that it denies any historical connection between Jews based Saudi Public Relation Affairs Committee, asserted that "the prevailing and Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. political discourse might not only indicate that it is in the interest of [Saudi The statement also stressed the important timing of the declaration, which Arabia and Israel] to form a collaborative alliance, but in the interest of the comes “at a time of increased Judaization of Jerusalem, and an increase in greater Middle East and their global allies as well." the number of infringements (by Jews) into al-Aqsa, along with the number of Ansari added that, although some may suggest that "rapprochement" home demolitions.” between Israel and Saudi Arabia may be found in the common threat that Fatah also made sure to highlight the fact that the decision would never have they see in Iran, "a more solid foundation for establishing deep-rooted ties been taken had it not been for Abbas’s diplomatic skills, and without help between the two countries could manifest in the context of a mutually from both Arab countries and other countries throughout the world. This part beneficial economic partnership." of the statement was seen as a jab at PA and Fatah rivals Hamas. In July, a Saudi delegation headed by retired Saudi General Anwar Eshki that The organization then thanked the countries of the world who “supported the included Saudi academics and business people visited Israel, a development Palestinians", and called on the countries who voted against the initiative to that would presumably not have been possible in tightly controlled Saudi reconsider their positions as they relate to “the legitimate rights of the Arabia without government consent. Palestinian nation.” And in a country where the press is also tightly controlled, the Saudi Gazette Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s bureau has sent a direct suggested last month that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas may have message to the US over that country’s vote against the Palestinian resolution reacted too quickly in turning down a public invitation that Israeli Prime negating Jewish existence in Jerusalem. Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended to him to address the Knesset. “This decision highlights the need for the United States to re-examine its In his column on The Hill website, Ansari noted that Saudi Arabia is seeking erroneous policies and stances which only encourage Israel to continue to to diversify exploitation of natural resources – presumably meaning beyond occupy Palestinian lands,” he said. oil – and added that this represents "a rare, golden opportunity for Israel to Palestinian Spokesman Nabil abu Rudeineh added that international participate in and help bolster the Saudi economy." Ansari also noted how resolutions against the Israeli occupation and Israeli policies, including this Israel's expertise in water technology and desalination might help his country. 3 And more broadly, Ansari wrote, normalization of relations between the ministerial visit to Turkey since a breakdown six years ago. countries, "will promote security and weaken extremism in the region." Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said he would welcome more The website of Ansari's Saudi Public Relation Affairs Committee describes involvement by Turkish firms in the Israeli energy sector, particularly in gas the goal of the Washington-based group as aiming "to further strengthen the exploration, and said "detailed dialogue" between the two governments would historic relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States, both begin in the coming months. politically and economically." He told the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya television, After meeting in Istanbul with his Turkish counterpart Berat Albayrak, who is when his Washington office opened earlier this year that his office would be President Tayyip Erdogan's son-in-law, Steinitz said the two had discussed financed largely from "online subscriptions, conference fees, membership the possibility of building a natural gas pipeline from Israel to Turkey. fees, as well as through US based corporations that are interested in the "I was a great proponent of the normalization of ties between Israel and initiative, especially those who are interested in investing in Saudi Arabia.” Turkey, and the meeting today is the beginning," Steinitz said. "The result, If it is also being used as a Saudi government mouthpiece, his op-ed takes the economic results, should be to the benefit of the people of Turkey and on added significance. Israel." Relations between the two regional powers crumbled after Israeli 92% OF ISRAELI BUSINESSES DON’T WANT TO OPEN ON SHABBAT commandos stormed an aid ship in May 2010 to enforce a naval blockade of (Arutz-7 INN.com 10/13/16) the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, killing 10 Turkish activists on board following Ninety-two percent of Israeli business owners say that they don’t want to clashes. open on Shabbat, according to a recent study, while 98% of businesses said However, in June both countries announced that they would normalize ties, a they wouldn’t take customers' calls on the Jewish holy day. These were the rare rapprochement in the divided Middle East, driven as much by the statistics that emerged from a study conducted on Israeli businesses. prospect of lucrative Mediterranean gas deals as by mutual fears over CofaceBDI, an Israeli Business information group, conducted the study on growing security risks. 135 businesses across the country. The results of the study, contrary to Speaking in the capital Ankara, Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said the opinions voiced by the secular community, revealed that most business two countries would exchange ambassadors, as agreed in June, in the next owners don’t want to open on Shabbat. week to 10 days. In addition, 21% of businesses said that their business would have more Israeli officials said the committee meeting to decide on the appointment of proceeds if it were open on Shabbat while 32% said their proceeds would the Israeli envoy would not take place until Oct. 27, and that a new remain the same. Nearly half (47%) said their proceeds would be lower if ambassador was only likely to be in Ankara towards the end of the year. they opened on Shabbat. At stake are under-sea natural gas reserves worth hundreds of billions of More than four-fifths (81%) said the decision to open for business on Sabbath dollars. To exploit them, Israel will likely require the cooperation of Turkey. should be left to the discretion of the owner and 19% said it should not be. Steinitz said Israel had so far discovered around 900 billion cubic meters of Just over half (51%) said public transportation should run on Shabbat. natural gas, but that next month, Israeli waters would be opened up for The 'Shabbat Shivyon' organization, which represents the interests of exploration and that scientists estimated another 2,200 bcm could be found. businesses that are working to remain closed on Shabbat, said that “the "This is a lot of gas, much more than we can consume," he said. "Exporting results of this poll show that business owners are not interested in remaining gas to our neighbors in the region or to Europe through different pipelines, open on Shabbat but would rather spend quality time with their families.” this is of course very important and of course one of the important options is connecting to Europe through a pipeline to Turkey." ISRAEL TO JOIN EXECUTIVE BOARD OF UN AGENCY FOR WOMEN'S Detailed discussions between the Israeli and Turkish governments would RIGHTS (Israel Hayom 10/11/16) begin in the coming months, he said. Israel is set to join the executive board of the U.N. Entity for Gender Equality Steinitz also said Israel was open to greater involvement by Turkey, once its and the Empowerment of Women. only Muslim ally, in supplying power and aid to the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. According to Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon, the deal will allow "We are careful to keep our security," he said. "But if the Turkish government for cooperation between various Israeli government agencies and the U.N. and companies are involved in improving the life of ordinary people in Gaza agency for women's rights, and will pave the way for Israelis to join the ranks ... we will do our best to enable this." of the organization and establish opportunities for further cooperation between U.N. organizations and Israel. SINGAPORE AIRLINES EXPLORES LAUNCHING DIRECT FLIGHTS TO In addition, Danon said that the agreement will serve to highlight the work ISRAEL (Israel Hayom 10/11/16) Israel does around the world and help prevent Palestinian attempts to Singapore Airlines, considered one of the world's top air carriers, is looking politicize the body, as well as the delegitimization of Israel. into launching direct flights to and from Israel. According to sources in the Danon will sign the agreement with Executive Director of U.N. Women Israel Airports Authority, the airline has submitted a request for permission to Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. According to Danon, the agreement will serve as land in Israel starting in the summer of 2017, but there is no guarantee that the U.N. equivalent for establishing diplomatic relations between countries. the flights will begin this summer. Israel's delegation to the UN is already planning a series of follow-up A number of similar requests by other airlines have been submitted and agreements that will deepen Israel's ties with the organization. approved, but several months went by before the flights began operating. According to the organization's official website, "U.N. Women, among other Last year saw a sharp uptick in the number of Israelis traveling to Singapore, issues, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; growth that would justify direct flights. Over 10,000 Israelis visited Singapore empowerment of women; and achievement of equality between women and in the first six months of 2016 alone, compared to 15,000 Israelis who men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, traveled to Singapore in 2015. humanitarian action and peace and security." Singapore is a gateway to the Far East, as well as a hub for flights connecting to Australia. Currently, Israelis can travel to Singapore on ISRAEL AND TURKEY DEEPEN ENERGY TIES (YNet 10/13/16) Ethiopian Airlines, Royal Jordanian and Turkish Airways, or fly to Singapore Israel and Turkey agreed to deepen cooperation in the energy sector on from Europe. Thursday, taking a further step towards normalizing ties with the first Israeli 4 In 2015, Singapore Airlines, like other premium Asian airlines, experienced a vote on Thursday denying the Jewish ties to Jerusalem. They’ll take support drop in the number of business class passengers and lower demand for full- wherever they can get it. price tickets caused by the new budget airlines operating in Southeast Asia. But just like Trump, the GOP’s unequivocal, unqualified and unquestioning The airline is seeking new markets, which is apparently one of the reasons it support is no fluke. It is not an aberration. It’s not the exception, but the rule, is looking into Israel. part of the same loony-tune GOP tapestry that found itself anointing Donald Singapore Airlines is slated to present its plans for Israeli in November, when Trump. Accepting Netanyahu’s basic pessimistic view of the Middle East is three of its senior officials, who are based in Switzerland, are scheduled to one thing, but how rational is it, really, for presidential contenders of a serious visit. party to sound as if their statements on Israel were formulated at Likud Party Headquarters? TRUMP’S DOWNFALL DISMANTLES NETANYAHU’S REPUBLICAN IRON How logical is it for American politicians who propose to lead the free world to DOME AS WELL (Chemi Shalev, Ha’aretz 10/13/16) declare that the first thing they’ll do in the White House is phone Netanyahu Donald Trump is going down. No presidential candidate so far behind has (Carly Fiorina), that Palestinians should be moved to Egypt (Ben Carson) that ever recovered in such a short time. After the recording of his repugnant there’s no two-state solution to be had (Marco Rubio) that Judea and words on women, after five victims and counting have now come forth to Samaria belong to Israel (Mike Huckabee) that they’ll move the American complain of his sexual assaults, after his harsh, take no prisoners, “Let me Embassy to Jerusalem (Ted Cruz) or, the blockbuster of this political season, die with the Philistines" reaction, it’s impossible to see how Trump can that they’ll tear up the Iran nuclear deal on their first day in the White House, recover. as Trump halfheartedly and his deputy Mike Pence have enthusiastically If a catastrophe does not befall America, if nothing too terrible is discovered promised? about Hillary Clinton, if the world isn’t upside down and no one knows Seriously? That’s the first thing they’ll do? Tear up a deal signed by the anything, Trump will suffer a humiliating defeat on November 8. The world’s major powers, ratified by the United Nations Security Council and Republican Party might lose its majority in one if not both houses of supported by the entire international community? Create an immediate Congress. The Evangelical movement, which provides the GOP with diplomatic crisis and risk war in the Middle East? Really? And this passes for ideological and logistical support, could be torn apart by internal strife. Jewish “rational?" Republicans will be deserting the party in droves, leaving Sheldon Adelson The echo-chamber discourse between Netanyahu and the GOP bestows a alone among the ruins. And the political Iron Dome that Benjamin Netanyahu sense of legitimacy and reasonableness on Netanyahu in particular and the has relied on for the past quarter century to support and protect him against Israeli right wing in general. It allowed many Israelis to pretend that their leftist, liberal U.S. Democrats could corrode and crumble, leaving him - and government’s position was within the bounds of the acceptable, because a Israel, if you are so inclined - alone and vulnerable. major U.S. party, one that could return to the helm at any moment, supported It’s not Netanyahu’s fault, his supporters might say. He couldn’t have it wholeheartedly. It alleviated Israel’s sense of isolation, because even when anticipated a problematic candidate like Trump, they’ll add. Nonetheless, it is the world is against us, we’ll always have the GOP. Netanyahu who decided to put all our eggs in the GOP’s basket, against Now, along with Trump, this facade is collapsing. The GOP is in disarray. The most people’s better judgment. It is Netanyahu who’s relied on Republicans Evangelicals are facing what could turn out to be a historic rupture. The Jews to rebuff President Obama’s peace initiatives. It is Netanyahu who colluded are running for their lives. Netanyahu’s Defensive Shield is crumbling. He with the GOP leadership, alienating many Democratic lawmakers, before could be facing a bad situation, with a Democratic President, that could go to making his famous speech in Congress against the nuclear deal with Iran. It worse, with a Democratic Senate, to worst of all, if the Republicans lose the is Netanyahu who openly and brazenly supported Mitt Romney in 2012. And House as well, a development that seemed unthinkable a short while ago but it is Netanyahu who three weeks ago inexplicably initiated a last minute New now? Not so much. York meeting with Trump, that could only benefit the Republican candidate. And make no mistake: Clinton might be “to the right” of Obama on Israel, but Left with no choice, Clinton showed up as well, 24 hours before her first she is no less committed to pursuing a two state solution, and it won’t be debate, but the event registered with her and her advisers. along the delusional lines supported by Netanyahu and the GOP. It is Netanyahu who enlisted the Moral Majority’s Jerry Falwell a quarter of a In a normal country, voters would be demanding the prime minister’s head for century ago, on the eve of the Monica Lewinsky affair, to deter President Bill betting their house on a horse that not only seems destined to lose but also Clinton, just as he and the Israeli right wing have preferred ever since to could collapse before the finish line. But be patient. This is no time to seek court the settlement-supporting two-state-opposing Evangelicals rather than revenge. If the rosy predictions of Democrats and the hellish projections of contend with the more complex, challenging and critical Jewish community. Republicans are borne out, the composition of the next American Congress Because the Evangelicals will go along with whatever meshugas the Israeli and right can invent, and then some. Administration Netanyahu fans as well as many Republicans will try to make you believe will supply that Donald Trump is a fluke, an aberration, a bug in an otherwise rational more than and coherent operating system. He isn’t. The Republican candidate may hold enough different views than Republicans and may not have grown in their garden, but consolation, he is nonetheless a natural outgrowth of the xenophobia, racism, anarchism satisfaction, and adherence to lurid conspiracy theories that have overtaken the GOP in entertainment recent years. and One can understand why most Israelis have preferred not to look a gift horse Schadenfreude in the mouth, to take Republican support at face value and to view it as for Netanyahu’s somehow unconnected to the party’s aversion to science, oppression of critics in Israel women, hostility to immigrants, fear of minorities and racially-tinged attitude and abroad. towards America’s first black president. Israelis yearn for international love. And Trump will All too often, they are rejected for irrational reasons, such as the UNESCO deserve all the credit.