Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s lightning flight to an enemy state, Saudi Arabia, for a several-hour meeting with Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman (MBS) and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, has aroused curiosity– not just in the Middle East, but internationally as well.
What prompted this sudden trip to what has long been enemy territory? No details about the surprising desert rendezvous were revealed, but the secret meeting is no longer secret, and some people are saying that the leak was intentional.
Here to discuss that perspective is David Rubin, former Mayor of Shiloh in Israel, and author of the book, “Trump and the Jews.”
Suggested Q&A
- What was the nature of Netanyahu’s lightning trip to Saudi Arabia? It seems clear that the intent was both political and military, but what’s fascinating is that these two nations that are in an official state of war had an ostensibly secret meeting that everyone knows about, obvious with President Trump’s blessing.
- How did the secret get out? Was it a leak? Not at all! Netanyahu revealed it himself, and there are two reasons for that, one personal and another political.
- Can you please be more specific? Of course. Israel may be going to new elections in a few months and Netanyahu wants Israelis to, once again, notice his diplomatic prowess. The second, more immediate reason is to send a joint political warning shot, a double whammy if you will, to a possible Biden presidency amid Biden’s stated intent to re-enter the Iran nuclear deal, despite the Iranian regime’s skyrocketing nuclear enrichment. Both Israel and Saudi Arabia are vehemently against reversing the joint strategy, carefully crafted during the Trump years, of confronting the Iranian regime. The political message to Biden delivered by this meeting could not have been more clear.
- How assertive can we expect Israel to be on the Iran issue? Israel has already proven its willingness to go it alone and is voicing its firm opposition to a new American policy of weakness. Pandering and appeasement do not bring peace, and now it’s not just Israel expressing that view. Biden should expect to hear it, as well, from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emerites, and Bahrain.
- It’s been said that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. What does that mean and how might that apply here? Saudi Arabia is mostly Sunni Muslim, while Iran is Shiite Muslim. Both the Saudis and the Iranian regime see themselves as the leading Muslim nation, but they have different visions of Islam, and therefore, are bitter rivals. The Saudis fear the Iranian quest for nuclear dominance, so if cooperating with Israel and even making unofficial peace with Israel can stop the Iranian aggression, they are happy to do so.
- Your book, “Trump and the Jews” explains the different approaches to peace in the Middle East in a lot more detail. Where can people get a copy? They can get a copy at www.DavidRubinIsrael.com or go to Amazon and type in the words, “Trump and the Jews”.
About Mayor David Rubin:
David Rubin, former Mayor of Shiloh Israel, is the author of the book, “Trump and the Jews” and five other books.
Rubin is the founder and president of Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund, established after he and his then three-year-old son were wounded in a terror attack.
He can be found at www.DavidRubinIsrael.com or at http://www.ShilohIsraelChildren.org
CONTACT: Jerry McGlothlin 919-437-0001 jerry@specialguests.com
