As difficult as it is for a Republican like me to acknowledge a Democratic success, and as tough as it is to give credit to Democrats for a "bipartisan" approach to Israel when they have strayed so far into the anti-Israel camp, Biden seems to have placed the US-Israel relationship back on a bipartisan foundation. This is no small achievement, and deserves to be acknowledged.
Back in 2008, I had a public debate with my Harvard Law School professor, Alan Dershowitz, in the pages of the Jerusalem Post, about whether Barack Obama would be good for Israel or not. Dershowitz suggested that Obama could lead the left into the pro-Israel camp; I argued that Obama would do the opposite, given his close association with anti-Israel radicals in the past.
I was right about Obama. But Dershowitz anticipated the path that Biden seems to have taken. It took a Donald Trump in between those two, to place the US-Israel relationship back on the right path and to orient the region toward peace. Biden largely recapitulated Trump's policies on his visit to Israel, with a few perfunctory nods toward Palestinian aspirations, but no concessions.
I still think Biden is a poor president, and I would much rather have seen a second Trump term. But Biden's trip to Israel allowed Democrats to embrace the pro-Israel label. Remarkably, Biden defied the extreme left of his party on Israel, though he is otherwise running the most left-wing administration in U.S. history. He undid much -- not all -- of the damage done by Obama. Very good.
Today's episode is devoted to the second anniversary of the October 7 terror attacks. It was produced before the announcement of a ceasefire deal, yet remains current & relevant.
Please listen, and #bringthemhome.
SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET (4-7 PT)
This week's portion is a beautiful poem, containing the Covenant between God and the people of Israel. But given the breaking news that Hamas may actually have agreed to release all of the Israeli hostages, I will devote my remarks to that.
One hopes it is true; if so, it makes this week's additional reading, from II Samuel 22, even more relevant: David's song of praise to the Lord for delivering him from the hand of his enemies.
"18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support."
So much to focus on this week -- and much breaking news. A peace deal in the Middle East, perhaps? Eric Adams dropping out of the mayor's race? And a looming shutdown as Democrats push their demands beyond absurdity.
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