Missing a huge opportunity: One meeting could change Netanyahu's entire visit to the US | Shlomo Shamir
Shlomo Shamir argues that Prime Minister Netanyahu is missing a significant opportunity by avoiding meetings with senior Jewish figures in the US, unlike his predecessors. According to Shamir, Netanyahu is hostile and dismissive toward the large Jewish community, mainly due to its liberal leanings, and refuses to use his UN visits to bridge the rift.
Shlomo Shamir argues in his article that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is missing a historic opportunity by consistently avoiding meetings with senior Jewish figures in the United States, in stark contrast to all his predecessors in office. Shamir notes that Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Rabin, Yitzhak Shamir, and Ariel Sharon all held significant meetings with the Jewish community during their official visits. According to him, Netanyahu is openly hostile and dismissive toward the largest and most active Jewish community outside of Israel, mainly due to its liberal leanings and support for Democratic candidates. Shamir points out that Netanyahu has not forgiven New York Jews for their hostile attitude toward President Trump, whom he considers the most friendly to Israel. The article emphasizes that precisely at a time when Israel's standing in American public opinion is at an unprecedented low, Netanyahu should have used the cancellation of the meeting with Elon Musk to initiate a meeting with Jews. Shamir also criticizes Netanyahu's planned speech at the UN, which he says will yield no political gain, and notes that the UN itself has lost its status. He accuses Netanyahu of creating and fueling the rift between Israel and the Jewish community in New York, which numbers about half a million Jews.