We thought that we could not be more elated at the final tabulation of the Electoral College results that gave the presidency to Donald Trump. However, now we are truly flying high at his selection as Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, a true friend of the Jewish State. Thankfully, he will replace our current emissary to Israel, Daniel Shapiro who blames that democratic nation for the BDS movement by its refusal to accommodate President Obama’s desire for a Two State Solution.
His words on that subject at a recent conference: “It has always been the case that one of our most effective tools to defeat boycotts and delegitimization (of Israel) is the presentation of a political process, negotiations, or some political horizon that gives hope for a two states for two peoples resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” So according to Shapiro, the BDS movement is the result of Israeli intransigence to caving in to the Obama/Palestinian demands.
And more words from Shapiro attacking Israel that makes us yearn for his quick departure from his post: “Too many (Israeli) attacks on Palestinians lack a vigorous investigation or response by Israeli authorities; too much vigilantism goes unchecked; and at times there seem to be two standards of adherence to the rule of law; one for Israelis and another for Palestinians.” So again, according to Shapiro, marauding, murderous Palestinians are treated unfairly by Israelis. His encouragement for more terror is outrageous. Enough said about our impatience for the slamming door as Shapiro walks out into hopefully, obscurity.
But now back to Ambassador Friedman. There can be no better argument for his selection than the harsh, hysterical responses to his appointment from the anti-Israel organizations such as J Street, Americans for Peace Now (APN), The New Israel Fund (NIF), T’ruah and the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). Jeremy Ben-Ami of J Street said he would “vehemently oppose Friedman’s confirmation” and called his nomination, “reckless.” APN blurted out that the nomination was “destabilizing,” and “We will oppose Friedman’s nomination on Capitol Hill and in the public sphere.”
The URJ whined about the loss of possibility for a Two State Solution and fears about “the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians.” The NIF, with tears running down their cheeks, states the nominee “stands for neither democracy nor the Jewish value of tsedek (justice) that are so desperately needed in these times.” Of course, all these anti-Israel groups stand firmly behind Black Lives Matter and have no negative comments about the nomination of Keith Ellison to head the Democrat Party. We wonder why?
Upliftingly, Ambassador Friedman gets the thumbs-up nod from the Zionist Organization of America which is truly the most outstanding pro-Israel/Jewish group around. Mort Klein, its president, stated that Friedman; “has the potential to be the greatest US Ambassador to Israel ever. (He) has a powerful grasp of Israel’s defense needs, the dangers they face and the danger now of a Hamas/P.A. state. No previous ambassador appreciates the political, historic, legal and religious rights of the Jews to Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem like David.
This, in addition to his heartfelt love of Israel and all its people, makes him uniquely qualified for this position.” Our sentiments at The New York Jewish Voice completely. So, to Friedman, good luck on the much needed re-cementing of good relations with Israel after eight years of its frustration with the hostile Obama administration. And to the faux JINO groups that are huddling and planning attacks against a staunch pro-Israel ambassador, we suggest they fold up their tents, crawl away and prepare for at least 8 more years of a positive, rewarding American/Israel relationship. And perhaps they should check out their ObamaCare psychiatric coverage for that span of time. They’ll need it.
This article was published by the Jewish Voice and may be found here.