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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump last week warned that if he is not elected America’s next president, it will spell doom for Israel.
The Iran nuclear deal brokered by the Obama Administration “is going to destroy Israel — unless I get elected. Then Israel will be just fine,” Trump said at a campaign stop in Cleveland.
Regarding the agreement that lifted sanctions on Iran in return for more openness regarding its nuclear program, a deal the Iranian leadership has since treated with great disdain, Trump called it “one of the worst negotiated deals I have ever seen.”
Whether or not they believe Trump’s “messianic” prediction, a growing number of Israelis are urging locals who hold American citizenship to vote for the controversial real estate mogul.
“I urge all eligible voters to register and vote for [Trump], who can significantly help strengthen of the State of Israel, as well improve the ties between us and the US,” said Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, during a visit to a local Republican field office last week.
While a majority of Israelis still hold fond memories of Bill Clinton, and therefore support Hillary, many fear the Democratic candidate would push Israel to make dangerous concessions to her enemies. And there is little hope that she’d get along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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“But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. When Pharaoh does not listen to you, then I will lay My hand on Egypt and bring out My hosts, My people the sons of Israel, from the land of Egypt by great judgments.” (Exodus 7:3-4)
In the Zohar, a classic Jewish text, it is written that in the last days before the Messiah, all of the historic enemies of Israel will be reincarnated and brought back in the last generation before the redemption to battle Israel again. In this final battle at the end of days, they will all be thoroughly destroyed.
Despite this being an esoteric reference in an ancient Jewish text, it is known that Saddam Hussein, the tyrannical former leader of Iraq, considered himself to be the reincarnation of Nebuchadnezzar, the Chaldean king credited with destroying the first Jewish Temple. When Hussein commissioned a reconstruction project of the ancient city of Babylon, he had the inscription “To King Nebuchadnezzar in the reign of Saddam Hussein” inscribed on bricks inserted into the walls.
Hussein was mimicking the original Nebuchadnezzar, who was said to have inscribed his name on the bricks when he built cities in his time. Hussein was hanged on the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Tevet. The tenth of Tevet is a fast day commemorating the day Nebuchadnezzar began the siege on Jerusalem that led to the destruction of the Jewish Temple.
The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates our victory over the evil Haman, adviser to King Ahashverosh in the Persian court. Persia is, of course, Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was clear on that connection when addressing the US Congress concerning the nuclear deal with Iran on the day before Purim. He compared modern Iran with ancient Persia in the Purim story.
Three years ago, then-President of Israel, Shimon Peres, not usually noted for piety or agreeing with Netanyahu, told Rabbi Ovadia Yosef that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a modern-day Haman. Many numerologists have noted that the gematria, or numerical value of words based on Hebrew letters, of Haman, 95, is the same as for Mahmoud.
The Zohar also predicts that “A man, unsuitable to rule (the world), will be ‘brought to power’ in the very Last Days . . . there will be other men similarly undeserving to be leaders at that time.” In the Bible, Pharaoh was considered to be such a leader, obstinately leading himself and his army directly into the sea, leaving his country leaderless and without protection.
American president Barack Obama is a parallel Pharoah figure in today’s world. His suitability for the post has been an issue that has dogged him since before he was elected. He was thrust into the spotlight when he gave an untelevised keynote address at the Democratic convention in 2004 to introduce the man who is now his Secretary of State, John Kerry, a man who is arguably better suited for the Oval Office. A senator from Chicago, Obama was an unknown with no experience in many key areas, most notably the national economy and foreign policy, the two areas he receives the most criticism for leaving in shambles as his second term in office nears its end.
Another telling clue to can be found through Torah codes methodology. The name ‘Obama’ appears twice in the entire Bible, using the seven letter skip-forward pattern, which is considered to give the most significant results. The first time is in Jeremiah 46:26-28, which are verses dealing with God’s promise to bring the house of Jacob back from Egyptian captivity. The name of Obama is contained within them.
However, it is unnecessary to search esoteric sources to find this connection. During Obama’s first presidential campaign, he made the seemingly incongruous promise that he would give a major address to Muslims from a Muslim capitol during his first few months as president. True to his word, on June 4, 2009, he made his famous “New Beginning” speech in Cairo, the capital of Egypt. In that speech that he announced he would be negotiating with Iran, and opposing Israeli settlements.
His behavior connected to the nuclear deal with Iran was obstinate, as if a divine force was hardening his heart. He showed a clear disregard for national security, providing weapons and resources to Iran while they screamed ‘Death to America’ in the streets. Providing such a country with nuclear weapons, and persisting in clearly pointless attempts to deal diplomatically with a nation that has openly stated its wish and intention to destroy the western world, is the modern equivalent of a Pharaoh’s irrational stubbornness in the face of divine intervention.
Similar to Pharaoh refusing to release the Jews when God hardened his heart, a decision that turned Egypt from the rulers of the world into a leaderless ruin, Obama is courting the destruction of his own nation. He considered passing the Iran nuclear deal a victory even though it meant short-circuiting the Democratic process with a shaky veto and endangering the unity and future success of his political party, his country, and the doctrine of freedom and democracy which he claims to uphold. The naivete and weakness of Obama’s foreign policy decisions may well mean the downfall of America.
Like many leaders of the past, Obama has his part to play in relation to the Jews and to the land of Israel. His role, foretold thousands of years ago, fits uncannily into the timeline of the messianic age, leading to hopes that despite the temporary triumph of Israel’s enemies, all will be defeated in order to bring redemption.
Why weren't Israelis like Benjamin Netanyahu brought in to help broker the Iran nuclear weapons deal? (Reuters file photo )
Two out of every three Americans, and 75 percent of Israelis, are opposed to the administration's deal with Iran because it does not block the world's No. 1 sponsor of terrorism from acquiring nuclear weapons. On the contrary, it legitimizes the very nuclear program Iran denied they had, and allows for their full acceptance as a nuclear state at the end of the agreement
There is a very good possibility that in early September, Congress will be able to muster the votes to at least bring about a show down with the administration, if not actually produce a veto-proof majority vote. One thing is for sure, during the week of the vote, the halls of Congress will be filled with thousands of American citizens lobbying their members of Congress against the deal thanks to a number of groups planning lobbying days, press conferences and rallies then.
Opposing the deal is one thing. But, the question that everyone wants answered is: What is the alternative? Its opponents say the alternative is to broker a better deal. However, the fact is that the American negotiating team will not be able to broker a better deal unless they learn to negotiate like an Iranian.
The Middle-Eastern Shuk
Most Middle Easterners can negotiate Americans under the carpet, because they literally grow up negotiating everything, from the cost of fruits and vegetables in theshuk (market) to higher-priced items like appliances and home goods. Americans only negotiate when they purchase a car or a house. So, what can we learn from the Middle-Eastern shuk?
No. 1: Never pay the stated price. A shopkeeper will not quote the price that he expects you to pay but an inflated price that leaves room for negotiating. Never agree to the stated demand. Always offer less.
No. 2: Never start where you want to end. Once a price has been stated, respond with an offer that is so ridiculously low that it is embarrassing. This is where many Americans stumble, because they do not want to look like they are cheap, nor do they want to insult the poor merchant. But if you do not counter low, you will end up paying too much.
No. 3: Make them think it really hurts. Middle Easterners love to play along with their opponent by telling how much the counter offer hurts while displaying great emotion and perhaps emphatic gestures. Compare this to the average American who usually avoids any display of emotion. They are not used to such reactions, so they will quickly give in and pay the high price thinking they may have insulted or hurt the feelings of their negotiating partner.
No. 4: Don't trust your opponent. Americans are at heart a very honest people, and look down on any type of lying. So, they assume everyone else is telling the truth like they are! In the Middle East though, truth can be sacrificed to achieve the goal of leaving the negotiations with honor and respect back home. Therefore, don't believe everything your opponent says.
No. 5: Be prepared to walk away. When the stakes are high, and the deal being brokered is just not good enough, then the buyer has to be willing to walk out the door. The merchant knows then that he has lost the sale, and he will run after the buyer with a new offer. Being too eager to make a deal is perceived as weakness and will be taken advantage of. Always be willing to walk away.
Only those privy to the negotiations know how well or how poorly the American team did. But, based on their eagerness to close a deal, and the response of the Iranians, who said they got everything they wanted, it appears the American team was out-negotiated.
To broker a better deal with Iran, perhaps we should consider bringing in the Israelis to negotiate for us. They have much more experience in the Middle Eastern shuk.
Susan M. Michael is U.S. Director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, icejusa.org.
The Iran nuclear deal brokered by the Obama Administration is going to provide the Islamic Republic with a financial windfall, and, if criticisms prove accurate, fail to prevent it from developing atomic weapons.
Just what is Iran going to do with all that new money once sanctions are lifted?
Well, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei suggested that the first item on his spending list is to bolster the terrorist forces operating against Israel.
Days later, the following propaganda video produced by the Islamic Revolution Design House, an outfit with ties to the Iranian regime, was posted to the Internet:
In the animated short, terrorists bearing the insignias of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, Hezbollah and Hamas can be seen readying for a final mass assault against Jerusalem.
The video ends with a message echoing the dictate of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini:
“Israel must be erased from the annals of history, and the youth will definitely see that day when it comes.”
Earlier this month, US Secretary of State John Kerry said he wasn’t sure Iran really wanted to wipe Israel off the map, as its leaders have so often publicly threatened to do. The above video would seem to indicate that Kerry has his head in the sand.
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Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee will begin a two-day visit to Israel Tuesday to discuss the Iranian nuclear deal with Israeli leaders.
Like most Republican candidates, the former Arkansas governor, a frequent visitor to Israel, opposes the agreement in its present form.
"I think it's the most dangerous situation that we face, not just for the Middle East, but for the rest of the world for a long time," Huckabee toldCNN in a recent interview. "This is essentially arming and equipping a terrorist state."
Some U.S. lawmakers are using the August recess to explain to voters why they believe it's a bad deal.
Arizona Sen. John McCain said President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry are "delusional" to trust Iran. He also said the deal will spark a Mideast arms race.
"It's obvious that the Americans wanted [deal] worse than the Iranians did," McCain said, the Arizona Republic newspaper reported.
"I am convinced that the other countries in the region will go nuclear," McCain added. "The Saudis could get it from Pakistan quickly."
McCain said he also believes the Senate can get the necessary 67 votes to block the deal. The vote will take place in September.
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