Trump told Benjamin Netanyahu in one call this month, “Do what you have to do,” according to six people familiar with the conversation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive and confidential information. Trump has said publicly that the two have spoken at least twice in October, with one call as recently as Oct. 19.

“He didn’t tell him what to do militarily, but he expressed that he was impressed by the pagers,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), who was on a call this month with Trump and Netanyahu, referring to the Israeli operation that killed Hezbollah leaders with explosive batteries inside pagers. “He expressed his awe for their military operations and what they have done.”

Graham added: “He told them, do what you have to do to defend yourself, but we’re openly talking about a new Mideast. Trump understands that very much there has to be change with the corrupt Palestinian state.”

  • Blackbeard@lemmy.worldOPMEnglish
    304·
    2 days ago

    Additionally, and most interestingly:

    A pro-Trump super PAC called Future Coalition PAC has been placing contradictory ads targeting Arab voters in Michigan and Jewish voters in Pennsylvania. The group’s digital ads in Michigan portray Harris as taking Israel’s side against pro-Palestinian protesters. In Pennsylvania, on the other hand, the group’s ads question her support for Israel and accuse her of “pandering to Palestine.”

    Sorry not sorry, but the left got played like a fiddle by not understanding the more immediate existential threat to their survival, and now I’m afraid we’ll all suffer for it. Bibi put Biden in what he knew was an unwinnable situation where he had to choose between appealing to 3% of Michigan voters (Arab-Americans) and appealing to 3% of Pennsylvania voters (Jewish Americans), and now the left flank is turning toward Trump over it and he might win both states:

    “Because the situation has escalated in recent weeks, I think a lot people say what’s the difference?” said Warren David, a third-generation Arab American who is president of Arab America, a digital media platform. “ I am shocked at how many people say they are voting for Trump, when we were talking to people on the streets in bakeries and in different places. Trump is really capitalizing on this.” David said he was approached by a Trump surrogate to appear at his conference in Michigan this weekend and said no. Others — including leaders from the “uncommitted” movement who urged votes against Biden in the Democratic primary race — are appearing, he said.

    Heaven help us all.

    • Avid Amoeba@lemmy.ca
      112·
      2 days ago

      It’s not too late for Harris to come out with a strong message of change in foreign policy towards Israel, if elected. All she has to do is promise that she’ll make sure international and US law is respected, and to contrast that with what Trump has told Bibi.

      • Blackbeard@lemmy.worldOPMEnglish
        134·
        2 days ago

        Yep, and risk losing Pennsylvania which is a statistical tie. Brilliant tactical move.

        • xmunk@sh.itjust.works
          9·
          2 days ago

          It absolutely would be a brilliant tactical move to take a stance against Netanyahu in a serious manner. There are a lot of liberal voters who won’t participate in this election because they feel unrepresented.

          Are these liberal voters correct to sit out the election? No they’re fucking idiots… but tempting them to vote would bring a lot more people to the voting booth than trying to capture more moderates.

        • Keeponstalin@lemmy.world
          22·
          20 hours ago

          Breaking from Biden and supporting an Arms Embargo or Conditional Military Aid would be a major boost in voter output. Especially in swing states, including Pennsylvania, by a ratio of 7:1. Her lack of change from Biden is much more risky move in terms of losing Pennsylvania.

          Quote

          Our first matchup tested a Democrat and a Republican who “both agree with Israel’s current approach to the conflict in Gaza”. In this case, the generic candidates tied 44–44. The second matchup saw the same Republican facing a Democrat supporting “an immediate ceasefire and a halt of military aid and arms sales to Israel”. Interestingly, the Democrat led 49–43, with Independents and 2020 non-voters driving the bulk of this shift.

          Quotes

          In Pennsylvania, 34% of respondents said they would be more likely to vote for the Democratic nominee if the nominee vowed to withhold weapons to Israel, compared to 7% who said they would be less likely. The rest said it would make no difference. In Arizona, 35% said they’d be more likely, while 5% would be less likely. And in Georgia, 39% said they’d be more likely, also compared to 5% who would be less likely.

          Quotes

          Quotes

          Quotes

          Majorities of Democrats (67%) and Independents (55%) believe the US should either end support for Israel’s war effort or make that support conditional on a ceasefire. Only 8% of Democrats but 42% of Republicans think the US must support Israel unconditionally.

          Republicans and Independents most often point to immigration as one of Biden’s top foreign policy failures. Democrats most often select the US response to the war in Gaza.

          • Blackbeard@lemmy.worldOPMEnglish
            42·
            19 hours ago

            Yeah I’ve seen those stats before. I can point to data and testimony, too:

            https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2024-10-23/pennsylvania-jewish-voters-trump-israel-democrats

            https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/22/politics/jewish-voters-pennsylvania-election/index.html

            https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-election-how-jewish-voters-could-decide-key-swing-state-of-pennsylvania/3369969

            https://www.jta.org/2024/10/21/politics/in-philadelphias-suburbs-jewish-canvassers-target-jewish-voters

            https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/07/us/politics/jewish-voters.html

            https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-825876

            Her lack of change from Biden is much more risky move in terms of losing Pennsylvania.

            I’ll note that none of your surveys asked voters how importantly they rate current levels antisemitism, or whether or not they’d vote for one candidate over another if Iran launched a military attack on Israel after we withdrew aid. Overall the questions in those surveys (I’ve read them) are perfect examples of framing choices in a systematic way to arrive at answers you want to hear. Are they wrong? Not necessarily? But do they capture the whole picture? Hardly.

            And furthermore, the fact that the “uncommitted” folks (plus Jews and Arabs in both swing states) are stumping for Trump rather than just opting out completely proves that their primary concern is absolutely not the Palestinian people. When you turn away from the person calling for a ceasefire and toward Chief Muslim Ban when he tells Bibi, “Do what you have to do” for the “waterfront property”, you’ve proven your responses to those survey questions are carefully crafted, self-delusional poppycock.

            And in any case, they’re about to enjoy the fruits of their labor. They might survive the Project 2025 purge, and their relatives might survive the turning of the sands of Gaza to glass (and then condominiums and casinos), but I doubt it. Y’all want Trump? You’re about to get him. Stay vigilant when they come for you.

            • Keeponstalin@lemmy.world
              31·
              17 hours ago

              Antisemitism is on the rise which is exactly why it’s important not to conflate Judaism with Zionism. That conflation stokes genuine Antisemitism which of course is completely unacceptable.

              Conditional Military Aid is to ensure the weapons are not used for violations of international humanitarian law, such as genocide. It does not bar defensive weaponry that can defend from missle strikes. Israel’s escalations of genocide in Gaza, now extending the same tactics used to Lebanon, is directly increasing the likelihood of even more escalations. All of which put Israeli civilians at risk. Conditional Aid in order to force Israel to de-escalate, would make military strikes from Iran far less likely.

              So shifting from Biden and supporting conditional military aid in order to pressure Israel to end the genocide and take a genuine permanent ceasefire seriously, would both help Harris’ chances of winning the election and improve the safety of Israelis in Israel.

              Despite Trump’s horrendous track record, such as literally Hitlarian rhetoric, his support of actual Nazis, and his own antisemitic remarks, why is he gaining in support instead of Harris in respect to Gaza? It’s entirely because of Harris’ Campaign that has not deviated from Biden. People, especially people directly affected such having loved ones killed during this genocide, want a change. However Harris has not indicated any chance from the current Biden Administration on this issue. Trump successfully framed himself as a Dove and Hillary as a warmonger in 2016. He’s using that same tactic now. It would be a completely unsuccessful framing if Harris pivoted to Arms Embargo or Conditional Aid, but that has not happened.

              I consider the blame to be entirely on the Democratic Administration and Harris’ Campaign Strategy. They have had every opportunity to change course, and them deciding not to may very well cost them the election. I will not blame anti-genocide voters, especially those who are directly affected and have lost loved ones. That said, I’m still voting for Harris, on the basis that change from public pressure is far more unlikely under Trump, and think everyone else should too.

        • Avid Amoeba@lemmy.ca
          2·
          2 days ago

          Are you sure that the Jews there who support the continuation of the war aren’t already voting Trump? Cause if they are she might not lose it.

          In all likelihood you’re probably right, but it all depends what the voting intentions are in and what proportion of the voters they comprise in each state.