Next Moves

By Larry Gordon

So, what happens now that President Trump is back from his whirlwind trip through three Gulf Arab nations where he met with an array of other leaders including the newly selected president of Syria? (There was no election.)

First, it is important to take note of those who felt this tour of rich Arab countries with multi-trillion-dollar economies and hundreds of billions in oil sales neglected to include Israel in the process.

To those who feel that way, it’s important to bear in mind that when Mr. Trump mentioned the Abraham Accords (and he did frequently mention them in each country he visited) those two words are a euphemism for Israel. If you take a closer look at the reality we’re dealing with, if the Abraham Accords are not a direct reference to Israel, then there is no need to have them to begin with.

The Accords are about the diplomatic and economic ties between the Muslim countries and Israel. An additional point to remember is that without the complications of Gaza and Hamas, relations with the Saudis would probably already take place. But then again, we know and it has been conclusively reported, that the reason why the terrorists attacked Israel on October 7th was precisely because Hamas leaders were worried that the Saudis and Israel would move closer to each other in international agreements and leave the Gazans in the dustbin of history. And frankly, that is exactly where they belong and now all those Gaza leaders are dead.

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Then there is the matter that some supporters of President Trump are deeply troubled by some of the things that took place in the Gulf states and perhaps even felt that the warm welcome they gave Trump would come at a steep cost for Israel.

At the same time, it is important to note that here in New York, two of the most outspoken critics of Mr. Trump, namely Shabbos Kestenbaum and Lizzy Savetsky, were not originally supporters of the president. Mr. Kestenbaum, a graduate of Harvard Divinity School, recently settled a lawsuit he brought against Harvard, but prior to his supporting the president, he was a vocal supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders for president and describes himself as a lifelong Democrat.

Ms. Savetsky, likewise, was an ardent supporter of President Biden and once he was forced to step down, she supported Kamala Harris for president until it became apparent that if Harris was elected, U.S. support for Israel would greatly diminish. Thus, she switched her support to Trump.

But last week, especially when it was reported that Qatar was offering a $400 million plane to the Defense Department to be used as Air Force One, both spoke out critically and were quick to demonstrate that their support for Mr. Trump was a little wobbly.

The fact of the matter is that it was probably wrong at this point for Washington to accept a gift of that size from Qatar. The Qataris are a problem that needs to be dealt with, and that is especially so as the Abraham Accords hopefully moves forward.

In this case the president does not necessarily make the final decision about accepting a gift of this size. Sitting in Riyadh or Abu Dhabi, he might have at first thought it was a nice gesture and a good idea. The ultimate decision belongs to the defense chiefs. As we go to print, it is reported that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has accepted the Boeing 747 officially from Qatar once the Pentagon upgrades it to include “proper security measures and functional-mission requirements.”

As far as the fair-weathered Trump supporters are concerned, they are also losing their patience with the way Israel is conducting the war against Hamas in Gaza. Trump, who is making his best effort to end the vicious war, is also losing patience with Israel, but quite possibly his reasoning is far different from other leaders around the world.

According to Trump, the war should have been over a long time ago, with Hamas mostly wiped out. But Israel, which found itself in a difficult set of circumstances due to the savage nature in which their hostages were being held by Hamas, chose to stop and start the war at various junctures. If Israel has been tip-toeing around Gaza, it is due to their concern for the safety of the remaining hostages.

Then there are other issues that are somewhat unique to Israel when it comes to urban warfare. A war of this nature is not fought while marching up Fifth Avenue on a bright, sunny afternoon. Nor is it fought with high-priced dinners where men and women dress in their evening finery. A war—any war—is fought under brutal conditions by young men and women who are exposed to constant bombardment, sniper attack, and widespread death and destruction. It comes at a high price. But it is fought by Israel’s finest with a drive, determination, and a spirit of love for the State of Israel. None of the soldiers have an issue about what they are going to wear before loading their guns and continuing their job of controlling Khan Yunis and Rafah. In other words, if you are unsure about Netanyahu’s policy in Gaza, try keeping to yourself.

That is, unless you are Donald Trump or Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This idea that the president or the Secretary of State are losing patience with Israel is as absurd as it is wrong. On that count, not only do they want to be on the side of what is right, there is more at stake for both of them. Trump wants to ensure his place in history and in the future next world, and he certainly does not want to disappoint his Jewish grandchildren. As for Rubio he is hoping to be a future President of the United States after 2028.

And then there is the important matter of keeping the Gulf States out of the evil axis of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Fortunately for us and the future of the Free World, last week President Trump was warmly welcomed and achieved remarkable success with trade deals and business agreements between the U.S. and the Gulf States.

Trump has a great deal that he wants to accomplish over the short term, but before he gets there, he wants to achieve peace. That means first and foremost shutting down and eliminating Hamas and then making peace between Israel and the Muslim countries under the rubric of the Abraham Accords. These are the next moves and some of what we have to look forward to in the near future, G-d Willing. n

Read more of Larry Gordon’s articles at 5TJT.com. Follow 5 Towns Jewish Times on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates and live videos. Comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome at 5TJT.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.