New brooms

Monday, 20 January 2025, promises to be the start of a major political cleaning operation in Washington.

For the majority of Americans who voted for Trump and the overwhelming number of Israelis who hoped he would triumph, inauguration day heralds a beginning full of promise.

For the majority of Jews who voted for Harris and a Democratic Party veering ever closer to woke leftist policies, inauguration day spells doom and gloom.

A friend of mine who has just returned from visiting family in the USA recounted that the thought of Trump becoming President is a nightmare for many he met and spoke with during his visit. He recounted how one person ripped up the cover of TIME magazine, which featured Trump as “man of the year.” This outbreak of TDS, otherwise known as Trump Derangement Syndrome, seems to be a prevalent feature of those who cannot and will not reconcile themselves to the reality of the election results.

Of course, total detachment from reality reaches the very top. Joe Biden has maintained that he could have beaten Donald Trump. He even asserted that Kamala Harris could also have done so. It is very sad when such unhinged nonsense is reported and even excused by certain sections of the media which still live in denial.

The same sort of “make-believe” was evidenced in a media interview that the outgoing American Ambassador in Israel gave recently. As a Democrat appointee he naturally praised the Biden Administration for its support of Israel during the last four years. President Biden represents a dying breed of old-time Democrats who still have some sympathy for the Zionist enterprise. Unfortunately, his track record is rather uneven.

If Israel would have listened to all his “don’ts” Sinwar would still be alive, Hamas would still be smuggling weapons over the border from Egypt, the perpetrators of the 7 October pogrom would still be at large, Nasrallah would be still hiding in his bunker and Hezbollah would be menacing northern Israel. As it is, the Houthis are continuing their piracy and missile and drone attacks. Iran is unafraid of Biden, Harris and Blinken, whose weak responses have merely emboldened them. Biden cancelled the Houthis designation as terrorists so why should they fear him? He also unfroze billions of dollars enabling Iran to continue financing terror.

Naval vessels and anti-missile batteries, notwithstanding the hold-up and slowdown in the supply of critical munitions, sent a message to adversaries. Hamas and friends became emboldened after seeing US pressure on Israel to cease, withdraw and release terrorists. They realized that all they had to do was galvanize international pressure via the UN, ICJ and the ICC and wait for Israel to wilt. Washington under Biden/Harris refused to take action against The Hague ambush gangs and preferred instead to issue meaningless messages. The corrupt PA knew that they were immune to any sort of censure and continued to reward terrorists as the Biden Administration poured more money into bottomless buckets.

Every time that Israel took pro-active measures to eliminate terrorist leaders and thwart their nefarious intentions the Biden Administration was quick to distance themselves from any involvement. “It wasn’t us and “we knew nothing about it” became the standard mantra. The obviously intended intention was to create distance between the USA and Israel to placate the UN and other knee-jerk Israel haters. Needless to say, Iran took note of this US less than wholehearted support of Israel.

Taking all this into consideration, it was, therefore, with some incredulity that I read the outgoing Ambassador’s reasoning for Biden’s re-election collapse. He stated, “that Biden’s support for Israel amid huge opposition in the media and parts of his own party contributed to the collapse of his re-election bid.” In actual fact, foreign policy matters ranked very low on electors’ minds.

Crime, massive border illegal infiltration and the cost of living together with a gathering negative reaction to woke policies all contributed to sinking the Democrats. The incumbent’s increasing inability to articulate clearly and his increasing cognitive disconnect also had a part to play in his downfall.

Another failure has been an inability to deal with a rising tsunami of hate and incitement on university campuses against Jewish students and faculty. Many of these places of learning have become hubs of uncontrollable violence and virtual “no go” areas for anyone supporting Israel.

Worthless words of disgust are no substitute for resolute action. Unfortunately, this is what has occurred as the mindless mobs receive encouragement from every anti-USA revolutionary group and their supporters on the extreme left of the Democratic Party.

It is certain that the incoming Administration will hit the ground running on many fronts.

How will they impact Israel in general and American Jews in particular?

As someone who has a cynical view of politicians and their promises it would be foolhardy to claim at this stage that a golden age is about to dawn. There have been too many past occasions when expectations have foundered and harmful policies enacted.

At first glance, the nominated officials awaiting confirmation, as well as others, seem more aligned with realities on the ground. The incoming US Ambassador is a long-time Evangelical supporter and friend of Israel who makes no secret of his wholehearted embrace of Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem. This makes a welcome change from previous representatives who could never bring themselves to speak about these places being part of Israel going back over three millennia.

The incoming Secretary of State is also a staunch supporter of Israel’s historical legitimacy and seems unlikely to admonish Israel on a weekly basis with a series of “don’ts” and gratuitous advice. Others already nominated also have a positive track record when it comes to confronting terror and hate.

Will university administrators be held to account for the runaway anti-Israel/Zionist and Jew intimidation on their campuses? If promised retribution and sanctions materialize it will be a welcome start.

How will the isolationist wing of the Republican Party and the American “firsters” influence Trump and Vance when it comes to tackling international terror threats?

Can we expect decisive action against Iran’s malign intentions against Israel and, indeed, other democracies? Will the expected nuclear breakout be thwarted in time?

Sanctions against The Hague-based courts are promised. Will this be the start of determined action against UNRWA and other corrupt UN bodies which have been allowed to flourish unchallenged for so long?

President Trump is touted as the ultimate “deal maker.” The only trouble is that often, deals are struck at the expense of determined action. Churchill, Roosevelt and Truman refused to make any deals with Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan until they surrendered unconditionally. Will Israel be pressured to make dubious deals with those who have as their aim the elimination of Jewish sovereignty? Neville Chamberlain thought he had obtained the deal of the century when he returned from Munich. Will Trump’s desire to make deals follow the same disastrous path?

It has been reported that one of the religious leaders giving a prayer at the inauguration will be an Imam who has a track record as a Hezbollah supporter. If this is so, it would be a poor start to what we all hope might be a clear break with past woke pandering to political correctness.

Time will tell whether the new Administration is going to be a realistic breath of fresh air that sends a strong message to friends and allies that America is standing by them. Foes of democracy and those subverting international forums need to know that their efforts will attract negative and dire consequences.

Let’s hope that the incoming new brooms make a clean sweep and help to usher in a long-awaited era of peace through strength and justice.