How does Trump benefit from his political and economic largesse towards Israel? What drives his support? Is Israel really safer under this President and his Enablers?

Trump’s past is filled with Jewish relatives, colleagues and friends. Certainly, access to the President for their generally supportive attitudes towards Israel is a given. In turn, many of those individuals sympathize with the hard-line views and government of Prime Minister Netanyahu. With their shared perspective(s) clogging the policymaking/advice channels, no-one should be surprised at the policy outcomes that result. Even when the opportunity arises to secure concessions from both Israel and the Palestinians in return for benefits that could strengthen the peace process, Israel is granted an embassy in Jerusalem at no political cost, and the Palestinians are not offered any concession that might boost their willingness to negotiate a deal.

American Jews number 5 to 7 million individuals depending upon whom you include in the definition. But, that relatively small number translates into strong political support as the American Jewish community makes up 6%-8% of the electorate and contributes heavily to candidates for office. In all, they are an important voting bloc. Yet despite Trump’s professed sympathies for Israel, their overall political support for the President  remains in the 30% range. Why?

The most likely answer to that question, according to pollsters, is the growing liberalism of American Jews. Not only are liberal attitudes and voting patterns evident, increased identification and support for Democrats is the natural result. In turn, over the last few years Israel has become less of a bi-partisan issue; for almost Israel’s entire existence the opposite was true. The new reality does not bode well for the future. Although Evangelical Christians and  rightward-leaning Jews still register strong support for Israel’s government, the warnings remain. When  increased foreign aid for Israel becomes a divisive factor in the American body politic–along with a slew of other issues–Israel is in trouble. Unfortunately, that is where matters seem to be moving.

What about Congress and the general electorate? Presently, there are nine Jewish Senators (two of them Republicans), and twenty-one Jewish House Members. They have generally been in the vanguard of protecting Jewish interests. Their non-Jewish colleagues in both Houses of Congress traditionally follow their lead on Middle East related issues. Increasingly, Republican support ( especially among the religious right), has grown exponentially.  But, as I have noted above and in earlier blogs, Jews provide votes and campaign donations. If trends play-out, diminishing support for Israel within the American Jewish community will eventually translate to less sympathy for the Jewish state in Congress, regardless of political affiliation.

Despite Trump and Netanyahu’s respective efforts to the contrary, it remains unlikely that  strong negative attitudes towards both leaders will diminish among American Jews, especially the under forty, non-Orthodox segment of that population. That’s why I am so concerned for Israel’s future. I have always contended that the best protection for Israel is a safe and secure America. If, in fact, the present administration does significant damage to the American economy, the climate, and international security, then Israel–a country that is moving in a less democratic, more apartheid-like direction–will be less safe, more threatened and searching for new friends and alliances that can replace a weakened, perhaps less-friendly America. Will the Enablers among us provide a pathway to safety for the Jewish State? History would bet against it. What is to be done?