Date: Thursday, November 21, 2019
To: Friends & Supporters
From: Gary L. Bauer, Director

Round Three

Yesterday afternoon, Blue and White Party leader Benny Gantz informed Israeli President Reuvin Rivlin that he, just like current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was unable to form a coalition government. As a result, Rivlin threw open the opportunity of creating a new government to the members of the Knesset for the first time in Israel's history.

Over the next 21 days, every member of the Knesset has a chance to cobble together the necessary 61 votes to become prime minister. If this third round of parliamentary horse-trading fails, then yet another election will be called.

During a meeting with Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, President Rivlin urged Israel's politicians to put party aside and to put the people first. He said:

"This is one of the most important times for soul-searching the State of Israel has known. I would like to remind you that this miserable political situation comes after a second round of elections, forced on Israeli citizens after the 21st Knesset decided to dissolve itself.

"Let there be no illusions, this politics of disruption has to stop. Your political fate is not more important than the old person in a hospital, the children in special education, the victims of violence in the Arab sector, the residents of the south -- Jewish, Arab, ultra-Orthodox and secular -- who need protection from rocket fire, and the women who need shelter.

"Over these next 21 days, do not be blocs or parties. Each one of you should look to their conscience and answer one question: 'What is my duty to the State of Israel?'"

Rising Anti-Semitism

A recent survey by the Anti-Defamation League confirms that anti-Semitism is a growing problem in Europe. According to the ADL press release, "About one in four Europeans polled harbor pernicious and pervasive attitudes toward Jews."

ADL CEO Jonathan A. Greenblatt said, "These findings serve as a powerful wake-up call that much work remains to be done to educate broad swaths of the populations in many of these countries to reject bigotry, in addition to addressing the pressing security needs where violent incidents are rising."

Meanwhile, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer hosted an important symposium on anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., this week. Below are some excerpts of Ambassador Dermer's remarks.

"In 120 years, since the days of the First Zionist Congress, we have come full circle. Then, people thought the reason for anti-Semitism is that the Jews did not have a state. Now, many people think the reason for anti-Semitism is that the Jews do have a state.

"Then, the enemies of the Jewish people said, 'Jews, go to Palestine. 'Now, the enemies of the Jewish people say, 'Jews, get out of Palestine.'

"Israel is neither the cause of nor the cure for anti-Semitism. But Israel has given the Jewish people something that we did not have in all those centuries of anti-Semitism, and that is the power to fight back. And that was given to us when we restored our sovereignty and our capability in defending ourselves, not just on the battlefield, but also in the battle of ideas."

Elan Carr, the Trump Administration's Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism, addressed anti-Zionism, saying:

"We have to understand that Zionism is not a modern political movement. This is the cover of anti-Zionism. . . Zionism wasn't born in 1948, and Zionism didn't spring out of the First Zionist Congress.

"Do you know when Zionism was born? Parashat Lech Lecha. We read it a week-and-a-half ago when God says to Abraham, 'Go forth to a land that I will show you.' . . . And at one point God says to Abraham, 'Arise and walk the land.' Because to get to know a place really well, you've got to walk it. And so God says, 'Abraham, I want you to walk the land, all of it because it's yours. It's your inheritance. It's your descendants'.' That's when Zionism was born."