Posted on 04/01/2024 11:28:58 AM PDT by Miami Rebel
When Donald Trump chose to be interviewed by Israel Hayom, he did not intend to send Israelis a warning message – but anyone who reads the content of what the most sympathetic president ever to sit in the White House said cannot miss the bright red light. Trump remains loyal to Israel, supports it and justifies the war it has waged, but warns: "You have lost the support you had. Once upon a time, 15 years ago, Israel had the strongest lobby. If you were a politician, you couldn't say anything bad about Israel. That was the end of your political career. Today it's almost the opposite." This is one of the sentences he said to Israel Hayom editor Omer Lachmanovich and the undersigned, which, frankly, shocked us.
Because if there's anything the former president, and perhaps the future, understands, it's public relations and image. And the man who reached the highest position in the world after years of media career, also explained in an interview exactly where the problem lies. "Bombs dropped into buildings in Gaza, it's a terrible portrait. It's a bad picture for the world... You didn't have to show the pictures. Every night I see buildings falling on people. And it is said that this (publication) was given by the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Why do they provide it? It's a bad image. Do what needs to be done, but you don't do that... People don't need to see it. Israel wanted to show that it was tough, but sometimes you don't have to do that," Trump said.
This enormous damage to his image apparently led to the fact that during the interview, Trump refused to say clear things against Hamas and in favor of Israel. Despite our obvious questions, he refrained from saying that Israel should destroy Hamas, and settled for general phrases such as "finish the job." More importantly, Trump actually overtook Biden on the left, expressing a desire to "end the war and return to the great country you were."
There is no way to embellish, diminish or whitewash this problematic message.
True, Trump is first and foremost an American politician running for president. As such, he wants to maintain the advantage he has gained in the state of Michigan, where there are strong anti-Israel elements. This is probably why he distanced himself from the Jewish state. It should also be emphasized that rhetoric is not necessarily policy. This rule also applies to Biden, who in the real world still backs Israel. But if there is anyone in Israel who knows that in the United States words are translated into actions, it is Benjamin Netanyahu, the king of information in the American media, or perhaps more accurately, the former king of information.
Netanyahu has argued many times, including in his autobiography, that his unique ability to communicate with American audiences is a powerful political tool that no other Israeli politician possesses. Six months into the war, there is no choice but to state that these abilities of the prime minister are not doing the job. The two US presidential candidates, Biden and Trump, are turning their backs rhetorically on Israel. That is, Netanyahu's media appearances did not deliver. While most of the American public (including Biden and Trump) supports Israel in principle, when it comes to translating this support into concrete steps (first and foremost the operation in Rafah), both men are unwilling to stand by Israel. In other words, Netanyahu and his subordinate PR apparatus lost the tactical battle for American public opinion.
Trump has made explicit statements on this matter. To this failure must be added the murky personal relations Netanyahu has with both men.
The original is in Hebrew and this translation is a bit clunky. It might be that the essay reflects more of Israeli paranoia than it does a change in President Trump's support, but since it does convey the thinking of Netanyahu's hardcore supporters it's worth reading.
You can’t dismiss it. Trump essentially said the same in his book (and first tweet after the raid). Probably because Israel created Hamas so as not to have to negotiate with the PA it is quite obvious that Netanyahu didn’t really want a settlement and he preferred dealing with Abbas.
Stupid headline and stupid article - not reflective of what President Trump actually said.
At least in translation it seems to misrepresent what Trump was saying (I did not see or read the actual interview). One has to take care to understand Trump (e.g. there are fine people on both sides, bloodbath, etc)
Trump is obviously correct that anti-Israeli sentiment has risen in this country especially among the left. But the left (unfortunately) holds powerful positions throughout society. Blowing sunshine up skirts does no one any good.
His advice was about how to manage their PR compaign. The Israelis would be wise at least to consider this advice.
Trump said finish the job. Take him at his word.
Let’s not forget that bibi was rather quick to accept joey bags biden as the “winner”... and that he comes from a parliamentary system that not the US Constitutional system or form of government. Look how much kowtowing he has to do to the very non-independent Israeli judiciary fighting him and working closely with US Leftists who incidentally do not support Israel whatsoever— the “two state” ripoff Left.
This may be ultra rightist media— but what does that mean in a parliamentary unity government that supports Netanyahu? Really very little. Would like to see the interview which clearly they try to parse in real time. Trump’s point about the near constant images foisted by IDF to westernsources— is valid— don’t brag, just get it done. (”Like I did to Qesam Suleimanai”.. remember?). Todays flattening Iranian consulate bldg ramps this ups- and few photos should be allowed out. Also, Knesset voted to shut down Al Jazeera in Israel— conduit blocked.
One sits in the Oval Office, the other is a private citizen.
But both are elevated to the same import, at least for sharing a headline. Almost as if everyone, and I mean everyone, knows who’s opinion really matters.
- not reflective of what President Trump actually said.“
That was my first reaction. Bibi calling to congratulate Traitor Joe when the results were still very much in doubt was a stupid and naive move that got him nothing. The rats hate Bibi and nothing will change that.
Don’t forget that Trump wants to win Michigan again (IMHO he won in 2020 except for voter fraud). In Dearbornistan, the quickest way to get 100% vote for the Dims is if the Republicans say too much positive about Israel.
Israel Hayom started as a Rightist Israeli paper. It has since become a typical Leftist mouthpiece after the death of owner Sheldon Adelson, not different from Times of Israel or Jerusalem Post.
Gee...Anther anti-Trump concoction....I’m stunned...NOT
“ Israel created Hamas”
I think we know who you stand with.
An Israeli patrol of two showed up, not wearing their helmets, flak vests open, and just sauntering down the middle of the street. The first barrage of rocks hit one of them in the head, and he went down bleeding profusely. The second soldier opened fire with a rubber bullet and hit the eye of the 6 year old girl, blinding that eye.
A reaction platoon arrived quickly and fired energetically at the kids (including ball ammo), but they didn't appear to hit anybody and the kids ran off.
I met with that platoon's commander, an American-born lieutenant and criticized the tactics used. He was furious that I condemned them for the laxity of the patrol and the heavy-handed response and asked me what he should have done (I was a Marine Major at the time, so he couldn't allow himself to be too furious). I told him that the patrol should have been bigger - 3-4 soldiers, minimum - and they need to always wear all of their protective gear. They need to stay out of the center of the streets and they need to be given better less lethal alternatives than rubber bullets from a high velocity rifle. More importantly, his troops need to be better trained in responding to these obviously carefully orchestrated provocations designed to give their country a black eye: the hamhanded responses give the rest of the world the tools needed to damage them.
He still sullenly listened, so I said, what Israel needs to understand is that while the Gazans are under Israeli control, they belong to you and their protection, feeding, supply and medical support are Israeli responsibility. If you don't understand that, Israel might be beaten in the world opinion and eventually destroyed.
What President Trump is trying to tell them is that image is important and the sight of 1,000 pound bombs hitting among civilians (like the White Phosphorus artillery rounds a few years ago) does not convey of an Israel trying to protect them while destroying Hamas. It projects the image of omnidirectional revenge without regard to bystanders.
“ he refrained from saying that Israel should destroy Hamas, and settled for general phrases such as “finish the job.””
Finish the job.
There’s a phrase “do I have to spell it out?”
The headline is provacative and inaccurate. If the reporter can’t figure out the meaning of Trump’s comments, then that’s on him. Trump refuses to step into traps that journalists set for him. In the past, he’s unambiguously condemned Hamas and supported the Israeli objective of dismantling them. He’s not going to keep repeating it to give some reporter an inflammatory sounding sound-bite.
He made it clear - “Do what has to be done”. And he also made it clear. Do it quickly and quietly. Remember Trump talking about his decision to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem? He had leaders calling him in the days leading up to it, hoping to change his mind. His response? “Tell them I’ll return their call”. Once Trump made the move official then he returned their calls, when it no longer mattered. The moral of the story? When you have a difficult decision to make, just make it, then get it done with minimal theatrics.
It's too late to "manage" Gaza. So what needs to be done is to destroy Gaza.
Israel is already going to suffer the consequences. They'll have to be prepared for the Americans cutting them off eventually.
Trump absolutely won MI in 20.
“This enormous damage to his image...”
Reminds me of the old UK newspaper headline “Huge Fog in Channel — Continent Cut Off.”
How Hamas amassed thousands of rockets to strike at Israel
May 2021
August 2021
Hamas' Advanced Weaponry: Rockets, Artillery, Drones, Cyber - EXCERPT:
In the 11 days of the 2021 war, Hamas launched 400 rockets a day, nearly four times the daily average number of launches in 2014. Hamas also launched six suicide drones during the war. All were intercepted by Israel, some by classified means.
August 2021
Hamas' Advanced Weaponry: Rockets, Artillery, Drones, Cyber
HAMAS UNDERSEA NAVAL COMMANDOS:
The IDF identified a Hamas naval base in 2016, before announcing the sea tunnel [discovered in 2018] . . . A senior Israeli Navy officer said. "We consider it a 'blue tunnel'—from land to sea.
[August 1, 2021], after the 2021 Gaza conflict, evidence suggests that Hamas imported weapons through an underwater tunnel on the Mediterranean coast.
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Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel [Wikipedia] EXCERPT:
"Attacks began in 2001. [As of August 2014 data] almost 20,000 rockets had hit southern Israel . . ."
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Rocket & Mortar Attacks Against Israel by Date [2001 - 2023]
- - -
That is just a fact. Reported by Haaretz a few weeks after the war started. I don’t stand with Israel on that particular policy. Most Israelis don’t stand with Netanyahu either.
Israel did not create Hamas. This a bs assertion. Israel created free elections from the PA and the Gazans chose to build Hamas. Big difference. I think most Israelis were surprised how hated they were by the Gazans since they employed so many. As a neighbor told me once, never trust an Arab.
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