To the editor:

A recent article in The Jewish World entitled “Feeling under Fire in America” by Lance Allen Wang (July 10) misrepresents President Trump’s pro Jewish and Israeli policies. In the paragraph entitled  “Challenges Ahead,” Mr Wang writes that since 2016 the US recused itself from the peace process. He then criticizes the President on a personal level. However, the record of the first Trump administration and the first five months of his second administration prove Mr Wang wrong.

During his first term, President Trump and Jared Kushner advocated a pro Israeli policy.

The President has  a personal relationship with Bebe Netanyahu. Early in the term, the American embassy was moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. 

The administration put forth a peace plan between Israel and the  Palestinians. The Palestinians rejected this plan. Not to be deterred, the President and Jared Kushner created the Abraham accords normalizing relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco.

The President abandoned the Iranian accords established during the Obama administration and opposed by Israel. These accords unfroze Iranian funds and allowed Iran to continue nuclear research. Under President  Trump strict sanctions were levied on Iran. These sanctions caused economic hardship for Iran and domestic unrest in the country. 

The Biden administration reversed President Trump’s policies. Iran was given billions of dollars to release hostages and sanctions were cancelled as the administration tried in vain to urge Iran to renter the nuclear negotiations.The disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan sent a message that the US was downplaying its role in the Middle East. Iran allied with Russia and China. Its exports of arms and oil enriched Iran and allowed it to support its proxies. Iran was directly responsible for the October 7th attack and the subsequent war.  During the Biden administration,  US bases were attacked 73 times and there were numerous casualties, including three deaths. The administration did send  naval forces to the region but their response was defensive and inadequate. President  Biden favored an immediate cease fire between Israel and Hamas. He used American military aid as a bargaining tool. 

Donald Trump returned to office in late January.  In five months, he accomplished several goals. He continued his relationship with Israel.  The sanctions on Iran  were reinstituted. The President warned that he would not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon and gave them sixty days to enter negotiations. When Israel attacked Iran, it did so in consultations with the Trump administration. The US bases were put on alert and naval forces were sent to the area. These forces helped shoot down Iranian drones and missiles. The war ended when the US destroyed Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran agreed to a cease fire.  Overwhelming force deterred Iran.  It also sent a message to Russia and China that the Trump administration is not afraid to take decisive action. 

As I write, Bebe Netanyahu is meeting with President Trump. The news reports that a ceasefire may happen in Gaza. 

President Trump supports Jewish Americans. His decisive actions against universities that allow or support antisemitism is evident. It’s disgraceful that leading Ivy League schools condone this. The government took legal and financial actions against these colleges. It also attempted to deport some of the anti Jewish, pro Palestinian “ leaders” who were in this country illegally.  

President Trump has demonstrated that his administrations act in support of Israel and American Jews. And, while you are allowed your opinion of Donald Trump, you cannot deny his accomplishments. 

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Leitner

Loudonville

July 1 and July 7