Posted on 09/16/2019 10:18:54 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
US President Donald Trump told Jewish Republicans on Saturday that Israel’s election on April 9 is a close contest between “two good people,” a reference to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz.
Trump’s mention of the election came as he regaled the Las Vegas gathering of the Republican Jewish Coalition by ticking off conservative victories of his first three years in office, including his decision to recognize Israel’s control over the Golan Heights two weeks ago, which many called a major boost to Netanyahu’s reelection campaign.
“How’s the race going, by the way?,” he asked the audience. “Who’s going to win the race? Tell me, I don’t know.” Many in attendance started chanting: “Bibi! Bibi!” using Netanyahu’s commonly used nickname.
“It’s gonna be close,” the president continued. “I think it’s gonna be close. Two good people. But I stood with your prime minister at the White House to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights,” he told the American audience.
He defended the move and said it didn’t ignite the region as some warned it would. “No repercussions,” he said. “We’re in there to protect Israel. We did the right thing.”
Trump has been widely seen as tacitly backing Netanyahu, with whom he is said to have a close rapport. He has not mentioned or met with Gantz, a former army chief and political debutante whose Blue and White party is projected as running neck and neck with Netanyahu’s Likud but as unlikely to have enough political allies to prevent Netanyahu forming the next government.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesofisrael.com ...
It appears that Trump and Bibi get along. Not sure if they've ALWAYS agreed though every detail when it comes to Syria/Iran stuff or general 'Mideast peace plan' deal-making approaches...but I don't know much about Israel's DOMESTIC politics. Anyone care to share insight?
Trump prefers Bibi, but he must deal with whomever is elected. Leaders may change, but national interests remain the same.
If Bibi doesn’t pull it off, media will call it the Jewish people’s referendum on Trump. *eyeroll*
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