Indictable Offenses

26 Marcheshvan 5780

Shavua tov!

It's inescapable.  Politics!  It's consuming our world.  It would be so much easier to put our heads under the pillow and say "wake me when it's all over."  But, this is another battle in the War for Hearts and Minds, and each of us must do our part to fight the brainwashing that the World of Lies is perpetrating against humanity right now.

American-raised and educated Prime Minister of Israel Binyamin Netanyahu (70) and American-born businessman and TV star US President Donald Trump (73) are each facing their own legal issues with both supporters and detractors digging in on opposite sides of the scandals.

Words like "coup" and "witch hunt" and insults like "human garbage" are being thrown like so many rotten tomatoes at anyone who dares to substantiate the charges being brought.  Since indictments were handed down against Mr. Netanyahu, many in the public sphere have noted the similarities between his situation and that of Mr. Trump who is being investigated by a Congressional committee for possible articles of impeachment.

Mr. Netanyahu was recently lauded for serving longer than any other Prime Minister in Israel's history - thirteen years.  Last week, he made history again by being the first sitting Prime Minister to be indicted for crimes.

In the case of the US President, if he is impeached, it won't be the first time, as it has happened twice before, but it is such a rarity as to still be considered a historical event.  Mr. Trump is no stranger to making history.

His supporters would tell you that Mr. Trump made history when he recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel; moved the US Embassy to Jerusalem; recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and most recently, determined that Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria are not illegal according to international law.  And then there is the "Deal-of-the-Century-in-waiting."

As mentioned several times by various US Officials, including Mr. Trump, he did nothing more than "recognize facts on the ground."  It's true.

An undivided Jerusalem has been the capital of Israel since the Six Days War in 1967 when it was reunified at the cost of much Jewish blood.  However, Mr. Trump's bold announcement never specified Jerusalem as Israel's "unified" or" undivided" capital.  It came with the clear caveat that "West" Jerusalem would always be Israel's capital.

What about the embassy move, you may ask.  Well, each country has only one embassy, and it is much larger than the various consulates because of the nature of its responsibilities.  In Israel, the embassy building in Tel Aviv which meets those requirements is still operational, although it is now being called an embassy field office.  The Jerusalem facility is too small to operate as a full-fledged embassy.  That's why there was so much talk in the immediate aftermath of the original announcement that it would be years before a proper embassy could be built and opened.  But Mr. Trump wanted the public show to boost his ratings so they hung a plaque and said they moved the embassy to Jerusalem.  I don't have to explain to you how simple it will be for the next president to "move" it back.

Furthermore, Israel declared its sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 1981; however, the US recognizing that "fact on the ground" doesn't change anything for us vis-a-vis Syria or the international community.  Ditto on "settlements."  As soon as Mr. Trump made his announcement, there was a quick backtrack from the administration that it should not be taken as a license to annex or extend sovereignty or even increase building in Judea, Samaria or the Jordan Valley.  And lest we forget, there are term limits in the US.  Trump's term will eventually end and whoever takes his place could reverse it all.  That's why we have to stand up for ourselves and not depend on anyone else to fight our battles for us.  We live and survive and serve our God at HIS pleasure not any president, king or dictator.

Curious.  Why is it that everything Mr. Trump has accomplished can be seen as a favor to Israel?  Is it to please his evangelical base?  I'm sure that's a large part of it.  Or is it to boost Bibi Netanyahu's ratings at home to ensure his place in power in the hopes that the grandest real estate deal of all will be his for the taking.  I'm talking, of course, about the Deal of the Century which Mr. Trump has already warned will have some parts that the Israelis won't like.

Where are Mr. Trump's accomplishments at home?  How far has the border wall been built over the past three years?  How much has the swamp in Washington, DC been drained over the past three years?  How many "deep-state bad actors" have been jailed over the past three years?  Why isn't Hillary in jail?!  How many major companies have returned their operations to US soil over the past three years?  How much has the Federal debt been reduced over the past three years?  These are all promises Mr. Trump made during his campaign for the presidency.

In answer to the first question: "...the administration has yet to finish a single mile of barrier on a previously unfenced part of the 2,000-mile southern border...." (Source)  In answer to the second and third questions, I can't find any results.  Fourth?  Hillary is still threatening to run for president in 2020!  In answer to the fifth question: companies leaving the US still outnumber the few who have returned - an overall loss. (Source)  And in answer to the final question: instead of being reduced, the national debt has actually increased by 2 trillion more dollars under Mr. Trump.. (Source)

My main concern, however, is that Bibi Netanyahu's obsession with remaining in power, when his own party has other worthy representatives who should be given a chance to serve, is somehow connected with unfinished business he has on behalf of the United States. Under Netanyahu's premiereship, Israel is turning into a Little America:  the gap between rich and poor has increased substantially, social programs have been cut to the bone, as well as funds for education and health care, while hi-tech, military hardware and other business interests thrive.  

Has he made promises to Mr. Trump, Mr. Kushner, Mr.Greenblatt, and Mr Friedman regarding a certain Peace Plan upon which hopes of a Nobel Peace Prize are hinged? Is it somehow connected to American involvement in our offshore natural gas fields?  How will this impact on Russia?  Is this the point at which their interests come into conflict?  All we really know for sure is that everyone is out for himself.  There is no national or world leader who places the interests of his constituency as paramount, regardless of party affiliation.

That's why it doesn't even matter whether these politicians offered or accepted bribes, because their real crimes are much, much worse.  In Bibi Netanyahu's case, he voted in favor of forcibly expelling 10,000 Jews from their homes and businesses, synagogues, schools and cemeteries of 40 years and handed them over to their mortal enemies who totally destroyed it all.  Then, they used that same land from which to launch literally thousands of missiles on the bordering communities for over 14 years with no end to it in sight. After 20 years in litigation and finally with Supreme Court approval, Bibi Netanyahu had the green light to dismantle and move illegally constructed Beduin camps, yet he refused to do it, while Jewish buildings, some still in the approval process, were bulldozed in the dead of night - on his orders.

Few people these days have very high expectations of their leaders or hold their politicians to a very high standard.  Many people think corruption is just part and parcel of politics (and business) in today's world.  Everybody does it, what's the big deal?  What's even worse, however, is how few people even think for themselves anymore.  The proof of that is in the repetition of certain language - it's called parroting - parroting the party line.  If there is any hope for our future, it is in those who refuse the brainwashing, who refuse to follow the party line, who begin again to make demands upon their leaders - that they be honest and honorable people, that they clean up their language and their morals, that they recognize that they are in power to serve, not to be served.  

If we can't admit that everyone is guilty here and that everyone needs to repent of their part in the crimes, then Heaven might just indict us all.