Mutual admiration, similar troubles: Donald and Bibi

By Ira Sharkansky

Ira Sharkansky

JERUSALEM — Bibi and Donald.

The two seemed to be linked closely. By friendship, if there is such a thing among ranking politicians? Or by common interests?

Donald has done a lot for Bibi: recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moving the Embassy from Tel Aviv; then recognizing the Golan Heights as Israeli. And perhaps the content of his Plan of the Century not including a Palestinian State, but some kind of existence, short of statehood, in cooperation with Jordan and Egypt.

Both are also linked by their opposition to Iran. Trump has pulled out of the agreement, and more recently has threatened countries that continue to buy Iran’s oil with US sanctions. Bibi’s shrill opposition pre-dates Trump’s presidency. Iran considers both the US and Israel to be evil empires, and its leaders have threatened Israel’s liquidation.

Yet an ancient community of Jews, now numbering several thousand, continues to live in Iran, entitled to Constitutional representation in the parliament.

Both Donald and Bibi are at the heads of their governments, but needled by charges, more pressing on Bibi than on Donald.

Bibi is facing hearings for indictments of bribery and violation of public trust.

The allegations about Donald haven’t come so far. In part because his office is protected by a Constitutional provision for impeachment, and the control of the Senate by his party colleagues. Without a two-thirds majority in the Senate, the House’s charges of crime will not produce a verdict.

Israel’s prosecutor made available to Bibi its records that led to his indictments. So far they have not been picked up. There exists a case about the payment of Bibi’s lawyers by money he borrows or is given. We’re wondering if the delay will produce a demand for more time given over to hearings, or if the date of those hearings is fixed. And if the prosecutor will continue with the indictments if there is no hearing.

Also pending is the possibility of Bibi’s majority in the Knesset extending the process of parliamentary immunity to a case in process, and how the Courts would respond to such an effort.

The two differ greatly in their experience. Trump is the first individual to reach the Presidency without previous political or governmental service, while Bibi’s election will make him Israel’s longest serving Prime Minister. One wonders if Donald reads the news and government reports, or makes decisions by Tweets on the spur of the moment. Bibi is known for involvement in the details of public policy, and standing against political colleagues. He’s also known for politically inspired promises with respect to Gaza and the West Bank that he seems to have no intention of implementing.

Trump won the presidency despite Hillary Clinton’s advantage of several million votes. Israel’s politics produced a victory, despite a majority who answered public opinion polls stating that Bibi should not be the Prime Minister.

Bibi’s future will depend not only on his successful completion of negotiations with several minor parties toward a new government, but the continuation of criminal proceedings. Donald’s will depend on what happens among some 20 Democrats competing for support as their party’s nominee in another year and few months, and then another national election.

The Donald-Bibi combine has heightened a split between Israeli and American Jews.

While the large majority of American Jews vote traditionally Democratic, especially the Reform and Conservative among them, those clusters are hardly represented in Israel. Their leaders have been critical of Bibi and his right-wing coalitions, and Bibi has waffled between support for them but a reluctance to implement agreements against opposition from Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox.

And American Democrats are struggling with increasing opposition in Congress and among presidential candidates to a continued warm embrace of the Israeli government. Attached here is support for BDS among some Americans, including American Jews.

Polls continue to show Americans’ support for Israel higher than support for Palestinians. Signs are that Americans haven’t absorbed the story of Gaza, or the problems of leadership transition in the West Bank.and how they challenge notions of a two-state solution.

Israel’s future rests with prosecutors and the courts, as well as the wrestling among Knesset Members for ministerial positions, while that of the US is waiting on outcomes of the 2020 presidential election.

Meanwhile, there is lots of news and speculation about Donald’s activities. The Mueller Report, while heavily redacted by a friendly Attorney General, shows little amiss, the full report provides indications of misleading, or lying at the top. Seemingly Donald was clumsy and showing the thin reliance on serious intelligence and analysis.

Enough for impeachment?

Not with a Republican majority in the Senate.

And with 20 or more Democratic candidates in the race, there’ll be a lot of sifting and winnowing before they name someone to run in the finals.

Both Trump and Netanyahu have condemned the shooting at the Chabad of Poway synagogue. Commentators are wondering if either is sensitive to a spread of anti-Semitism in the US including the massacre of 11 worshipers at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue six months ago.

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Sharkansky is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. He may be contacted via ira.sharkansky@sdjewishworld.com