March 10, 2024

 
 

Could Trump ‘Pull a Zelensky’ on Netanyahu?

Q. Two weeks ago at the UN General Assembly, Israel voted with Russia and North Korea and against most of the world on the Ukraine issue. Does this sort of morally repugnant maneuver protect Israel from President Trump’s capricious international behavior, as demonstrated recently with Zelensky in the Oval Office?

A. That February 24 UN vote was something of a milestone for Israel, which had previously tried to demonstrate neutrality towards the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Indeed, a few years ago PM Naftali Bennett briefly tried to mediate between Moscow and Kiev. 

So did PM Netanyahu buy Israel an insurance policy against unfriendly Trump initiatives with that UN vote? Hardly. In the ensuing two weeks, it has emerged that Trump has initiated a direct US-Hamas negotiating track and is moving toward direct negotiations with Iran on the nuclear issue. Both are initiatives that Netanyahu opposes. 

(Even though moving in those directions would long ago have made sense for Netanyahu, too. See below.)

Q. But at both the moral and the global level, what is the significance of Israel siding so openly with Washington and Moscow regarding Ukraine? Surely it could have abstained at that UN General Assembly vote.

A. In view of the Israeli public’s preoccupation with rescuing the hostages and with the Netanyahu government’s renewed efforts at ‘judicial reform,’ that UN vote more or less passed under the radar in Israel. But it is significant. It appears to reflect a number of highly problematic short-term considerations on the part of the Netanyahu government.

For one, despite or perhaps in view of Trump’s near-daily change of tactics on a variety of issues, Netanyahu seemingly reckons he needs not only Trump in the Middle East, but Putin too. For example, in neighboring Syria, where Russian influence and presence (however residual in the aftermath of the fall of Bashar Assad) is preferable in Israeli eyes over Islamist Turkey, which is trying to turn Syria into a vassal state. Regarding Iran (where Moscow presumably opposes a military nuclear program as much as does Washington) Russia has reportedly agreed to mediate the issue between Washington and Tehran. 

Recently, Netanyahu sent his military secretary, Major General Roman Goffman, to Moscow for consultations. He sends no-one to Kiev.

Syria and Iran are areas of concern where Ukraine has neither influence nor interest. Add to this Jerusalem’s lingering Holocaust-era suspicions of Ukrainian anti-Semitism and corresponding WWII-era gratitude toward Russia. Then factor in Netanyahu’s reflex impulse to do Trump’s bidding regarding Russia and Ukraine. All these considerations ostensibly trump whatever moral qualms Netanyahu may have regarding Zelensky’s fate. 

Yossi Alpher is an independent security analyst. He is the former director of the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University, a former senior official with the Mossad, and a former IDF intelligence officer. Views and positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent NJN's views and policy positions.

 

1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters
3. Hearings
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

1. Bills & Resolutions

(RESTORE UNRWA FUNDING) S.898: Introduced 3/6/25 by Welch (D-VT) and 6 Democratic cosponsors, “A bill to restore funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

(TARGETING UNRWA & ANY OTHER UN BODIES THAT HELP PALESTINIANS OR OTHER REFUGEES) HR 1792: Introduced 3/3/25 by Gooden (R-TX) and 13 Republican cosponsors, “To prohibit United States contributions to the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and for other purposes. Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Also see press release – Congressman Lance Gooden Reintroduces the No Tax Dollars for the United Nation’s Immigration Invasion Act

(PERMANENT IRAN SANCTIONS) HR 1800: Introduced 3/3/25 by Mackenzie (R-PA) and no cosponsors, “To repeal the sunset provision of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Ways and Means, the Judiciary, and Oversight and Government Reform.

(NO HEZBOLLAH IN LATIN AMERICA) S. 842: Introduced 3/4/25 by Curtis (R-UT) and Rosen (D-NV), “A bill to counter efforts by Hezbollah to conduct terrorist activities in Latin America, and for other purposes,” aka the “No Hezbollah in Our Hemisphere Act.”  Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: Curtis, Rosen introduce legislation to combat Hezbollah activities in Latin America (Jewish Insider 3/7/25). NOTE: this bill is scheduled to be marked-up in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on 3/11/25.

(DISAPPROVING OF WEAPONS SALES TO ISRAEL) H. J. Res. 68, H. J. Res. 69: Introduced 3/3/25 by Jayapal (D-WA) and 13 Democratic cosponsors, “Providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to Israel of certain defense articles and services.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

(DISAPPROVING OF WEAPONS SALES TO ISRAEL) H. J. Res. 70, H. J. Res. 71 : Introduced by Tlaib (D-MI) and 13 Democratic cosponsors, “Providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed license amendment for the export to Israel of certain defense articles and services.”  Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

(TARGETING THE ICC & UN) HR 1839 & S. 833 [bill text]: Introduced 3/4/25 by in the House Roy (R-TX) and in the Senate by Lee (R-UT), “To prevent use of United Nations facilities located in the United States by the ICC, and for other purposes.”  Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Also see press release: Rep. Roy, Sen. Lee Introduce Legislation to Deport the International Criminal Court (ICC) Out of NYC; Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Chip Roy: Kick International Criminal Court Out of NYC!

(TARGETING FREE SPEECH/ACADEMIA) S. 826: Introduced 3/4/25 by Scott (R-FL), “A bill to amend title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance on the ground of religion, to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for rigorous enforcement of prohibitions against discrimination by institutions of higher education on the basis of antisemitism, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

(NO FUNDS FOR LEBANESE ARMED FORCES) HR 1844 [bill text]: Introduced 3/5/25 by Steube (R-FL), “To prohibit the availability of Federal funds to support the Armed Forces of Lebanon, and for other purposes,” aka the “Preventing Armed Groups from Engaging in Radicalism” Act, aka the “PAGER Act.”  Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Also see: Steube Reintroduces PAGER Act to Protect U.S. Funding from Hezbollah; Steube X-postThey killed our troops in Beirut. They attack Israel daily. Yet Washington still funnels money to Hezbollah. My PAGER Act ensures not a single cent helps these terrorists again.”

(SANCTIONS ON HOUTHIS) HR 1848:  Introduced 3/5/25 by Issa (R-CA) and 5 cosponsors (4 Republicans plus Sherman, D-CA), “To authorize the imposition of sanctions with respect to the Houthis, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on the Judiciary.

(SENDING A MESSAGE TO TURKEY) HR 1890: Introduced 3/5/25 by Schneider (D-IL) and 5 cosponsors (bipartisan), “To administratively reassign responsibility for the Republic of Turkey within the Department of State and for other purposes,” aka the “Turkey Diplomatic Realignment Act.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Also see: House members seek to redesignate Turkey as Middle Eastern country (Jewish Insider 3/7/25); Bilirakis (R-FL) press release – Congressional Hellenic Israel Alliance (CHIA) Caucus to Erdogan: It’s Time to Choose

(NO FOREIGN FLAGS ON CAPITOL HILL, NO OFFICIAL FUNDS TO PURCHASE FOREIGN FLAGS) S. 849: Introduced 3/5/25 by Moreno (R-OH),  “A bill to prohibit displaying the flag of a country other than the United States on Capitol Hill and to prohibit Members of Congress from using official funds to purchase the flag of a country other than the United States.“Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. [NOTE: Members of Congress often post/display Israel flags in and in front of their offices…]. Press release – New Moreno Bill to Ban Flags of Foreign Nations From Capitol

Lara Friedman is the President of the Foundation for Middle East Peace (FMEP). With more than 25 years working in the Middle East foreign policy arena, Lara is a leading authority on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, with particular expertise on the Israeli-Arab conflict, Israeli settlements, Jerusalem, and the role of the U.S. Congress. Views and positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent NJN's views and policy positions.

 
 
 
 
 

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