Feb
16
Daily Kickoff: Rand Paul on Friedman — “I’m favorably disposed” | Bibi gives cover for Trump on anti-Semitism | Why Kushner might not buy the Marlins
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DRIVING THE DAY: David Friedman will testify at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on his nomination as U.S. ambassador to Israel at 10:30am EST. Friedman will be introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham and former Sen. Joe Lieberman. Worth noting: Lieberman is now an attorney at Friedman’s law firm Kasowitz Benson Torres & Friedman LLP [CSPAN]
–Early spotted list of those at the hearing: RJC’s Matt Brooks, J Street’s Jeremy Ben-Ami, OU’s Nathan Diament, NORPAC Long Island President Stanley Stern and his wife Trudy, Iris and Shalom Maidenbaum, Cindy and Sheldon Small.
KEY SFRC VOTE: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) told Jewish Insider yesterday that he is “favorably disposed” towards Friedman. Paul’s support could be critical for Friedman if the vote falls on party lines. [JewishInsider]
Flashback: Trump’s ambassador nominee to Israel on ADL: ‘They’re Morons’ — “In an interview with Jewish Insider on the eve of the election, David Friedman referred to leaders of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) as “morons” for condemning Trump’s campaign rhetoric and commercials that were perceived as dog-whistles to his anti-Semitic supporters.”[JewishInsider]
“Five former U.S. ambassadors to Israel say Trump pick is unqualified” by Richard Lardner: “In a letter sent to members of the Foreign Relations Committee, the former diplomats said David Friedman has staked out “extreme, radical positions” and has derided the two-state solution as an “illusory” fix for a non-existent problem… “The American ambassador must be dedicated to advancing our country’s longstanding bipartisan goals in the region: strengthening the security of the United States and our ally Israel, and advancing the prospects for peace between Israel and its neighbors, in particular the Palestinians,” the former ambassadors wrote… The letter opposing Friedman’s nomination was signed by Thomas Pickering, William Harrop, Edward Walker, Daniel Kurtzer and James Cunningham.” [AP]
–Noticeably absent from the list: former Amb. Dan Shapiro. Shapiro told Jewish Insider in an interview last week: “I don’t know Mr. Friedman, but I assume that any Ambassador appointed by the US government will implement the policy that is made in Washington. That certainly was true in my experience that Ambassadors come with their own perspectives and their own history and maybe even their own views but in the end those are not as important, in fact they’re much less relevant than faithful implementation of the policy that’s made in Washington so I think that is likely to be true of any Ambassador including Mr. Friedman.” [JewishInsider]
“Israeli Settlement Sees Friendly Faces in Trump Administration” by Isabel Kershner: “There’s the Friedman Faculty House, the Rabbi Morris Friedman Center for Computer Sciences, a Friedman fitness room at a pre-army academy, a playground and a plaza. The plaques dedicating sites around Beit El, a religious Jewish settlement deep in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, attest to years of financial, emotional and family bonds nurtured by an American lawyer, David M. Friedman, and his wife, Tammy. Under previous administrations, American diplomats have been barred from setting foot in such settlements…” [NYTimes]
“Trump’s nominee for ambassador to Israel is a former attorney of accused killer Robert Durst” by Cameron Joseph: “He’s an attorney. I don’t ascribe to an attorney the deeds of his or her clients,” former Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.), who heads the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace. “I don’t even think it’s fair to blame an attorney for taking a client, everyone is entitled to capable and adequate representation.”[NYDailyNews]
EXCLUSIVE: Photo of David Friedman at Jared and Ivanka’
DRIVING THE CONVERSATION: “It is a new day for the United States-Israel relationship, defined by a responsible approach to the challenges and opportunities our two countries face in the Middle East,” Trump and Netanyahu declared in a joint statement after their WH meeting. “In today’s meeting, President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu agreed that there will be no daylight between the United States and Israel.”
At their joint press conference,Trump and Netanyahu at once departed from standard procedure while also reverting to their comfortable roles: Bibi as professor lecturing on the Middle East and Trump, the real estate mogul, looking to sell and score the ‘ultimate deal.’ While Netanyahu mostly read from written notes placed on the lectern ahead of time by Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer, Trump spoke freely, sometimes contradicting comments he has made in the past.
A significant off script moment occurred when Netanyahu mentioned the idea of reaching a broader regional peace agreement with the Palestinians. The President seemed genuinely surprised that Netanyahu preempted him on that plan. “I didn’t know you were going to be mentioning that, but now that you did, I think it’s a terrific thing and I think we have some pretty good cooperation from people that in the past would never, ever have even thought about doing this,” Trump said while looking directly at the Israeli Prime Minister.
Trump also perceived that Netanyahu wasn’t fully with himwhen he expressed his confidence in achieving a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians — a “bigger and better deal” in his words. “Let’s try it,” the Israeli leader responded. To which Trump asserted, “Doesn’t sound too optimistic, but he’s a good negotiator.” “That’s the ‘art of the deal,’” Netanyahu quipped referencing the title of Trump’s 1987 book. Full recap here[JewishInsider]
— After the meeting, Netanyahu acknowledged that he and Trump have yet to reach an understanding on settlement activity. “We spoke about the settlements, and we agreed to continue talking about this issue in order to reach an agreement,” Netanyahu told Israeli reporters at the Blair House. “Trump is willing to upgrade our ties in every field. So if there’s a request from the President to examine this issue of construction in the settlement then I think our national interest to reach an understanding. Nonetheless, he stressed that “building will continue in Jerusalem.”
HOW IT PLAYED: “Trump, Meeting With Netanyahu, Backs Away From Palestinian State” by Peter Baker and Mark Landler:“But even as Mr. Trump drastically reoriented American policy, he told Mr. Netanyahu to stop building new housing in the West Bank for the moment… The president also stressed that Israel would have to be flexible in any future peace talks. “As with any successful negotiation, both sides will have to make compromises,” Mr. Trump said. Turning to Mr. Netanyahu, he asked, “You know that, right?” Mr. Netanyahu responded with a smile. “Both sides,” he said, pointedly emphasizing the first word… If Mr. Netanyahu viewed Mr. Trump’s arrival as license to do as he pleased without American interference, he may be surprised that the new president seems inclined to make a serious investment in forging a peace deal. Mr. Trump’s assignment to Mr. Kushner to focus on the matter has been taken as a sign of determination.” [NYTimes] • Yair Rosenberg: Experts Have Been Proposing Alternatives to Two-States for Some Time. Will Trump Consider Them? [Tablet]
Did Trump back a one-state solution? Full quote — “So I’m looking at two-state and one-state, and I like the one that both parties like. (Laughter.) I’m very happy with the one that both parties like. I can live with either one. I thought for a while the two-state looked like it may be the easier of the two. But honestly, if Bibi and if the Palestinians — if Israel and the Palestinians are happy, I’m happy with the one they like the best.”
Aaron David Miller: “To casually abandon the two-state solution without an alternative, due diligence, or consultations with any of the parties (minus the Israelis) calls into question US credibility as an effective broker… The two-state solution may well be impossible to implement. It requires leadership on both sides and effective US mediation. All three are currently missing… Give Trump, Jared Kushner and Netanyahu a chance to test the one-state solution. We certainly couldn’t produce a deal; perhaps they will.” [CNN]
TOP TALKER — Netanyahu stepped in to defend Trumpagainst any charges of not taking anti-Semitism seriously. “I’ve known the President and I’ve known his family and his team for a long time, and there is no greater supporter of the Jewish people and the Jewish state than President Donald Trump,” Netanyahu declared. “I think we should put that to rest.”
Abe Foxman tells us: “I wish Bibi wouldn’t have gone where he went. If the President wasn’t willing to stand up to say he will fight anti-Semitism, I thought that was an unnecessary move… It was a missed opportunity. It was a low moment.”
— Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) called Netanyahu’s cover for Trump “very inappropriate.” Nadler told Jewish Insider that Netanyahu’s defense “is a nonsensical statement frankly as long as the President refuses to come out and condemn anti-Semitism, full-throatedly… and refuses to identify the Holocaust with Jewish victims… Our ability to monitor and fight anti-Semitism around the world is very much less when the President of the US refuses to condemn it here.”[JewishInsider]
Netanyahu: Trump administration now ‘understands’ Jewish meaning of Holocaust: “There is no doubt that they now understand the meaning of the Holocaust as a means to strike out the Jewish people,” Netanyahu said in a briefing after the summit for Israeli reporters… Asked to comment on expressions of concern by Jewish organizational leaders, Netanyahu insisted: “There is no basis for these worries.” [JTA]
KAFE KNESSET — by Tal Shalev: Immediately following the White House visit, Netanyahu summoned the press to the Blair House for a briefing. He couldn’t wipe the smile off his face, and that was the main takeaway as Netanyahu didn’t provide much details regarding the understandings achieved in the meeting but was very generous in complimenting the President and stressing their new bromance. “I have met, during my life, quite a few presidents, and we never had a greater friend to Israel than President Trump,” Netanyahu said while praising the “warm welcome to me and my wife. They went out of their way to demonstrate this friendship.” The President certainly did his homework on the Netanyahus, as was evident when he called on Sara Netanyahu to stand up during the press conference…
Meanwhile, back in Israel the reaction included mixed feelings and various interpretations about exactly what Trump meant. For Naftali Bennet, the fact that the term ‘Palestinian state’ was not mentioned is considered a great victory, though it is not clear how satisfied he will be with the fact that Bibi and Trump agreed to discuss curbing settlement activity. Meanwhile, Bennett reacted as if it’s the dawn of a new era, ignoring the inconvenient questions. “Today the Palestinian flag was replaced by the Israeli flag. Palestinians already have two states: Gaza and Jordan. There is no need for a third one. I congratulate the Prime Minister for making the right decision, demonstrating leadership and boldness and strengthening Israel’s security and sovereignty.”
When Netanyahu comes home and tells Bennet his sovereignty dreams need to be put on hold, he will likely be less generous. On the other side, opposition leader Isaac Herzog said “It was a sad and shameful to see Netanyahu twisting and winding only to avoid the idea of separation from the Palestinians in the form of two states. Every Israeli should be very worried about the possible one state between the Jordan and the Mediterranean, which means there is no Jewish state. This could be a dangerous disaster and we will fight it in every way possible.”
Abe Foxman on the Trump-Netanyahu meeting — by Jacob Kornbluh: “The optics are better. The sounds are better. There is a warmth and friendliness. All these things are good. But we are dealing with the shifting sands of the Middle East and Washington. This is the one area where President Trump has shifted from where he was very dramatically. So, the devil is in the details. The truth is that even with U.S. intervention and initiation, there was no peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. So without it, you know, to say ‘I don’t care,’ I don’t think it’s going to go anywhere.”
On Trump and Netanyahu hashing out the idea of regional peace: “You know what? Egypt had an interest to make peace — it made peace. Jordan had an interest to make peace — it made peace. That interest did not lead them to push a Palestinian peace. If what unites all these countries today is Iran, they can deal with Iran without a solution on the Palestinian problem. It’s just the reverse. If they want to go public, it’s only after there’s a solution. I am not sure that’s going to go anywhere. But time will tell. At least, there’s no tension and no anger, and that’s nice. It’s a good feeling to watch it.”
On Trump backing away from the two-state solution:“Netanyahu cannot be ‘holier than the Pope.’ If the President says he doesn’t care if it’s one or two states, you can’t expect the Prime Minister to insist on two states. But the truth is, there is no reality in a one-state solution.”
Foxman on Trumpacknowledging the Jewish nature of the Holocaust: “He came very close to it, but he didn’t deal with it. He didn’t close the controversy (surrounding the WH Holocaust statement). He had an opportunity to close that issue and he just stepped up to it and didn’t do it. These were prepared remarks. I would’ve talked about the Holocaust and anti-Semitism clearly. And there again, somebody in the White House has an issue with that subject, not willing to give him the opportunity to put it to rest, and that’s troubling.”
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