Sterling, VA -Donald Trump questioned Israel’s commitment to the Mideast peace process while courting Jewish political activists on Thursday, drawing boos from some and opening a sharp new division with his Republican rivals on key foreign policy question for many GOP voters.
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Pressed to explain his comments in an interview with The Associated Press in which Trump said “I have a real question as to whether or not both sides want to make” a deal, the Republican front-runner refused to back down while speaking to the influential Republican Jewish Coalition — a staunch Israeli ally.
“I don’t know that Israel has the commitment to make it, and I don’t know the other side has the commitment to make it,” Trump said.
The comment drew murmurs of disapproval. He soon drew a smattering of boos after refusing to say whether Jerusalem should serve as the undivided capital of Israel, a priority for many in America’s pro-Israel lobby.
Trump shrugged off the criticism.
“You’re not going to support me even though you know I’m the best thing that could happen to Israel,” Trump said. “I know why you’re not going to support me: because I don’t want your money.”
Trump was among 14 Republican presidential contenders on the speaking program for Thursday’s meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition, a group that includes many GOP donors and whose primary benefactor, casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson, spent more on the 2012 federal elections than any other donor.
Adelson’s willingness to make a huge political investment helps explain why his signature group has attracted all of the major GOP presidential candidates to its forum in Washington — even though the man himself wasn’t among the hundreds in attendance.
While the other candidates largely pledged allegiance to Israel, Trump stood alone among his Republican competitors in questioning the nation’s willingness to seek peace with Palestinians.
“Some in our own party — in the news today — have actually questioned Israel’s commitment to peace,” said Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. “Some in our own party actually call for more sacrifice from the Israeli people. They are dead wrong, and they don’t understand the enduring bond between Israel and America.”
Rubio continued: “I reject those who believe that Israel is the impediment to peace,” he said. “Let me be crystal clear: there is no moral equivalence between Israel and its enemies.”
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, like Rubio, offered a staunch defense of Israel.
“We need a president who will stand unapologetically with the nation of Israel,” said Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.
Michael Leventoff, a New York businessman and member of the Republican Jewish Coalition, said Trump questioning Israel’s commitment to the peace process is another example of him “just getting it wrong.”
“There’s plenty of evidence of Israel’s repeated attempts at peace,” he said. “This is exactly why Trump is what I like to call a brilliant idiot. He should know better, and probably does.”
While there was no chance Thursday for the candidates to interact with Adelson, who is on a personal trip, many candidates already have met with him.
Each of the candidates is strong on the issues that concern Adelson the most, chief among them protection of Israel, said his political adviser, Andy Abboud.
“He has no plans now, or in the immediate future, to get involved in the primary,” Abboud said.
“The Adelsons are generally pleased with all of the Republican candidates and feel that the primary process will work its way out,” he said.
Still, the prospect of Adelson’s nod looms large for the GOP field. He almost single-handedly propped up former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s 2012 presidential bid and was widely criticized for prolonging an ugly primary season.
Adelson is taking a more pragmatic approach to the 2016 GOP contest.
“It’s important to him that campaigns show that they can garner their own resources, build their own ground game and effectively mount a campaign that can win in the fall,” Abboud said.
Many of the candidates have been eager to portray themselves as close to Adelson.
Trump, who has said he is so wealthy that he doesn’t need the help of donors like Adelson, said in an Oct. 13 interview on Fox News, “I like Sheldon a lot. He’s been a person I’ve known over the years. We have a very good relationship.”
True colors finally coming out? You can only trust in Hashem
This is where I just jumped off the Trump wagon
Trump should understand that it is more profitable for the so called Arab leaders to keep the masses ignorant and hateful of Israel and the West, so that they won’t realize that they are ripping off the world and lining their pockets.
Trump calls himself a business minded person and can’t grasp this simple business (greed) concept?
What I find even more troubling than his putting the onus on Israel for the lack of peace and his refusal to take a stand on jerusalem was his comment that the Jews in the audience weren’t going to support him because he’d refuse their money. This plays to one of the most sinister canards out there — about rich Jews buying political candidates (a myth no doubt imbibed by Trump at the knee of his father, German immigrant Frederich Trump). This man is a dangerous, ignorant, racist blowhard, and the frum Jews who support him (and virtually all his Jewish supporters are from the heimishe oilam) are low-information talk radio zombies who make our community look like a bunch of Archie Bunkers with black hats.
Why is anyone paying attention to this Lunatic what he says. he has been from running a casino in vegas because his violation of state law.
He has money but now always who has the MYEH has the DYEH.
its time to start concentrating on a serous candidate or all we will left with is Mrs. Clinton
Wake up!!!! Trump speaks the Truth. He knows peace is not possible with a herd of wild beasts.. What fools; they prefer to hear Trump say he will be twisting arms to force a peace that will never work.
Wow, “I know why you’re not going to support me: because I don’t want your money”. This Trump guy has spine, and in this case at least, a brutal and much-needed honesty. Maybe “he knows too much” because he’s so close to Jews in his personal and business life. I don’t want Trump for President, but he would be one President that Netanyahu wouldn’t dare be disrespectful to, that’s for sure.
What Trump got right here, and most US Jews over-look, is that if peace is the objective, then honestly, Netanyahu is probably not the guy to close the deal, because Netanyahu seems to be all about maximum land, maximum power. It’s not enough for Netanyahu to lord himself over arabs, he lords himself over Obama.
The Netanyahu “peace” strategy seems to be “kick the can down the road”, “run out the clock”, and look for any excuses to delay further slicing EY into yet another country (Israel, Jordan, South Syria, South Lebanon, Palestine).
Just wondering. Now that he publicized his true colors, will there still be any religious Jews (besides Netura Karta, if you consider them religious) voting for him?
What did he say that’s wrong? He’s actually the only one that spoke the truth. The Arabs definitely don’t want peace, and most Israelis know that piece is not possible with these Vilde Chayes. This whole peace idea is baloney and everyone with an once of brain knows that Bibi knows that. I’m as pro Israel as can be, and I don’t want peace. I want those animals out of Israel. There never will be peace between us.
I was with him until now. For me, this changes everything. Another candidate bites the dust.
His daughter, son in law and their kids are Orthodox Jews so stop being foolish,
Its obvious the israeli’s don’t want peace, not because they are a bad people, because they have nothing to gain only to lose, so I appreciate now trump even more for daying the truth!!!
All the comments that are saying he is only speaking terms truth was the yemach shemo from germany before ww2 also speaking the truth? He was also saying this Kind of propaganda the Jews own all the banks and have all the money ect. This is pure anti semitism he is probably saying this because he went a lot down in the polls because of his Muslim comments so he is trying to get back the votes by of course using the escape goat – the jew. Ivanka should be ashamed of her father..
I agree with Trump. Do you actually want to give back the West Bank and East Jerusalem? If you dont then you are not committed to peace.