US Jews reached out to mend their relationship with Israel, and Ben Gvir slapped them in the face

By Shlomo Shamir

The genuine stance taken by the Jewish community in the United States alongside Israel in its war against Hamas, the absolute support for every move and step taken by Israel, and the emergency fund that collected, in a short time, donations exceeding 700 million dollars, were all nothing but an expression of the love of the large Jewish community in the United States for Israel.

Expressions of American Jewish support for Israel were, and still are, a possibility for restoring and renewing the relationship between Israel and the community [after years of deteriorating relations between them under Netanyahu’s rule, for reasons related to his political approach, and the religious coercion that allowed his partners in the Haredi movement to suppress the central Jewish religious movements in The United States, and finally: his support for Donald Trump]. This possibility would have put an end to the crisis, discord and separation that have afflicted relations between Israel and the vast and leading majority of American Jews over the past years.

The one who jeopardizes the restoration of relations is Minister Ben Gvir. Ben Gvir is the ideological heir to Meir Kahane, a notorious figure in the history of the American Jewish community. Ben Gvir has fueled the hostility of American Jews to the extremist right-wing - religious - Israeli government currently in power, which upsets the vast and decisive majority of Jews in the United States. These people identify with liberalism, and their gatherings are considered a stronghold for liberals. Ben Gvir's attack on President Joe Biden in the interview conducted with him by the Wall Street Journal was sharp and exacerbated the contempt that the Jews of the American community feel for Ben Gvir's personality and his presence as a government minister.

Senior Jewish officials and legal persons responded harshly and with overwhelming anger to Ben Gvir’s statements against Biden. By the way, they are people known for their moderation and caution in their language, especially regarding issues related to Israel. In their responses, they did not only express their anger about insulting Biden, as the Democratic president they voted for, but rather their anger focused on the fact that an Israeli minister insulted and humiliated the most friendly American president in the history of the White House, as he is “a president who helped Israel in its war against Hamas.” Not only with supportive words and statements, but also by sending weapons and ammunition,” said a senior official in the Jewish community.

“You have to be mentally ill to attack a president like Biden,” said Abraham (Eve) Foxman, seething with rage. Foxman is considered one of the most important legal figures in the community, and a moderate person. He added: “It is dangerous, and destabilizes the vital relations between Israel and the United States, for Israeli politicians, such as Ben Gvir and Smotrich, to tamper with these relations and demonstrate their extremism by targeting the United States. Biden supports Israel with actions, not words, and he is the main and most important party in providing support to Israel in the international arena.”

Foxman, who still has ties to Netanyahu, said in an interview with the Maariv newspaper: “It is not enough for Netanyahu to heap praise on Biden, in response to the extreme right in the country. Netanyahu must personally condemn and reject Ben Gvir’s statements that endanger Israeli interests. It is time for Netanyahu to adopt a clear and direct line, stating that the Land of Israel, the people of Israel, and the United States are one body.”

In response to Ben Gvir's statements towards Biden, the community's senior leaders expressed their anger at Netanyahu specifically, as they claim that he is "responsible for the transformation of a suspicious figure, like Ben Gvir, into a major figure representing Israel." Eric Yoffe, who served for many years as head of the Reform movement, is a political activist, and shows great interest in the community, told the Maariv newspaper, saying: “Netanyahu’s name will be recorded in the history books, along with his responsibility for the October 7 disaster. He is the one who strengthened Ben Gvir, the racist who poisoned Israeli relations with the international community, undermines vital American support for Israel, and embarrasses the Jews of the United States. Ben Gvir is a disgrace to Zionism, and he represents a real threat to the existence of Israel. Netanyahu should have ousted him a long time ago. 

“But President Biden’s support for Israel will continue. Ben Gvir is too weak, marginal and insignificant, and cannot harm Biden’s friendship with Israel. Ben Gvir is capable, and perhaps concerned, and seeks to harm, sabotage, and prevent the opening of a new page in the relationship between Israel and the large Jewish community in the United States.” United States. This community is considered a bastion of liberalism, may God protect it.”