B ibi Netanyahu was certainly well received last week. After eight years of being snubbed and slighted in Obama’s abode Netanyahu couldn’t have dreamed of a friendlier reception than he got from the new president.
Many Israelis kvelled over the warm words exchanged between the two leaders and especially over Donald Trump’s positive attitude toward the Jewish People and the Jewish State while openly criticizing the unfair treatment we’ve had at the hands of the UN and the governments of many nations. We haven’t heard such words of friendship for years — if ever. People are feeling that a new era has begun in the White House. Mamash as if Mashiach had come.
But after the warm welcome in Washington what now?
Rather than get carried away let’s stop and think for a moment. Even an eye unpracticed at scrutinizing political events could see that no agreements were reached on any subject at that celebrated press gathering. Donald Trump just like his predecessor demanded that Israel rein in its plans to build new housing in Jewish settlements. Dreamy hopes of annexing territory and building freely throughout Judea and Samaria were dashed that same evening before the two leaders even closeted themselves for a private discussion. The radical right didn’t get what it wanted and the left came out confused.
