Israeli Ministers Who Support Donald Trump for President Are Being Ignorant

Jewish sources are replete with exhortations to keep quiet in order to appear wise. Among them is Proverbs 17:28, attributed to King Solomon: “Even fools are considered wise if they hold their peace, and prudent if they hold their peace.” Could the wisest of all men have prophetically foreseen the harmful verbosity of some of our ministers, those who express opinions about the candidates in the American presidential elections?

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich praised Donald Trump for his performance in the recent debate. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has expressed similar sentiments before. Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli outdid himself in April when he said he would vote for Trump because President Joe Biden reflects weakness. In my humble opinion, sending two aircraft carriers at the start of the war and coordinating an international coalition to counter an Iranian missile attack are signs of strength. But I am not a minister.

Biden’s performance in the debate was undoubtedly poor. Discussions immediately began about whether he should stay or withdraw and, if so, who should replace him. In any case, in November, Donald Trump will face a Democratic rival, Joe Biden or someone else, and the Israeli cabinet members are expressing their preference. Well, why not?

First, it goes against the rules governing relations between countries. Imagine our reaction if a US Secretary of State announced his preferred candidate to lead Israel.

Second, most American Jews consider themselves Democrats. In recent years, relations between Israel and many liberals have become strained. Public support for a Republican candidate increases the alienation between us, at a time when rising anti-Semitism increases their stress and sense of isolation. Israel, which often turns to Diaspora Jews for various needs, should avoid embarrassing them.

A woman watches a “Stand with Israel” rally at Freedom Plaza in Washington, U.S., October 13, 2023. (REUTERS/EVELYN HOCKSTEIN)

As for Trump’s glorification (Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu compared him to none other than Cyrus, King of Persia, who authorized the return to Zion after the destruction of the First Temple!), it is excellent that he has moved the American embassy to Jerusalem and recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Let the reader judge how these results compare to the results of Washington’s withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear deal with Iran.

Shortly after the war began, Trump said in a November 2023 interview with Univision television: “Let them play their part.” In the same interview, he said that “there is no hatred like Palestinian hatred toward Israel and the Jewish people. And probably the other way around, too.” I will not quote his statements that may be considered anti-Semitic, nor his comments about NATO – Trump’s isolationist worldview will make room for Russia and China, at the expense of the West and Israel.

Expressing party preference

Perhaps most importantly, Ministers, a country so dependent on the United States should not express its preference for one party as if the other were a mere ATM.

Unlike in Israel, where the Knesset is a legislative body that approves the ruling coalition, the American system for passing laws has three separate pillars: the president, the Senate (now with a Democratic majority), and the House of Representatives (now with a Republican majority). Every bill, including the emergency aid, must pass both houses of Congress before the president signs a joint version. If one of the three objects, there is no law.

Even if after the November elections all three seats will be in the hands of a single party, the situation could change after the 2026 elections, when the House of Representatives and a third of the Senate will be up for re-election. It is therefore essential that we maintain bilateral support for Israel and do everything in our power to ensure that this issue does not become a partisan issue. If we side with a single party, this could easily happen.

The minister’s remarks show a lack of gratitude for a president who has stood by Israel in its time of need, and a preference for a candidate who is, at best, unpredictable. Moreover, instead of considering Israel’s long-term needs and remaining silent when it is better to say nothing, we are witnessing a resounding disregard for the rules between countries, a total disregard for the sensitivities of our Jewish brothers, and a complete ignorance of the inner workings of the United States.

The author served as Israel’s first ambassador to the Baltic States after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, ambassador to South Africa, and congressional liaison to the embassy in Washington. She is a graduate of Israel’s National Defense College.