As Democrats are scare-mongering with ridiculous assertions that President Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally—which I attended!—was Hitlerian, the view from the Jewish state of Israel is refreshingly clear-eyed.
Sunday morning, I landed from my latest visit to Israel, which included a last-minute decision to cancel my rental car and rely instead on taxis. Israeli drivers are refreshingly honest, and I thought I’d get an accurate feel for the local zeitgeist.
Upon arriving in Israel, mere minutes into the drive up to Jerusalem, our driver, Yossi, spoke about the horror, sadness, and perseverance that has gripped Israel and its people over the last year. Sighing and frustrated, he finally said, "We need Trump back."
Fully recognizing that his backseat held passengers in complete agreement with his statement, Yossi explained that when Trump was in office, things were "quiet in Israel." He looked back on that era as a period when Israel forged peace agreements with Arab nations and felt secure in its alliance with the U.S.
Yossi is not alone in his support for Donald Trump. Earlier this week, Israel’s "center-left" Channel 12 network released a poll showing 66 percent of Israelis want Trump to be the next US President compared to only 17 percent who prefer that Harris win the election.
The results follow a JNS/Direct Polls survey of Israelis published in August which found that Trump enjoys the support of 93 percent of Israelis aged 18-29, compared to only 7 percent who prefer the vice president.
The former President's authenticity and working-class appeal also render him an attractive political figure in the eyes of most Israelis.
Today, in stores throughout Israel, kippot (the traditional head covering worn by some Jewish men) with Trump’s picture and MAGA affixed in bold letters adorn the shelves.
In 2019, as a gesture of appreciation for President Trump's recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that a new neighborhood in the Golan area would be renamed "Trump Heights."
The northern community wasn't the only entity to don a new name in recognition of the President's unwavering friendship to Israel. The country’s soccer club, "Beitar Jerusalem," announced in 2018 that its new name would be “Beitar Trump Jerusalem."
Beyond the political banter and symbolic gestures buoying the former President, it's clear that Israelis don't merely love Donald Trump; they sound like Donald Trump.
Indeed, the inevitable question I heard from Israelis attempting to understand American Jewry was, "Why are so many Jews Democrats?”
They wonder why American Jews have prioritized social issues, like abortion and climate change, over Israel's security, and how they could vote for politicians whose policies place the Jewish state in the crosshairs of an emboldened and enriched Islamic Republic of Iran.
For most American Jews, voting in the liberal tradition reflects an instinct to intellectualize challenges and dialogue with detractors. It's a luxury ill-afforded to Israelis who regard Trump as a defender of the values and ideas undergirding western civilization.
As coddled progressives set up encampments across American universities using pricey tents paid for by left-wing elites and hostile foreign actors, 18-year-old Israelis are defending their country and enlisting in Israel's Defense Forces (IDF), an epicenter of equal opportunity where the poor and the rich join together to protect their nation.
American liberals' dalliance with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion would have deadly consequences for Israelis if absorbed by a wide swath of their society.
Donald Trump's rejection of DEI's toxic ideology aligns with Israelis' political sensibilities, characterized by an unapologetic style that doesn't demand qualifying one's position with “empathy” for unsavory ideas or radical policies.
Most Israelis are unrattled by Donald Trump's unvarnished style and sharp language. On the contrary, they find him relatable. Israelis are known as “sabras,” named after a cactus fruit that is prickly on the outside yet sweet on the inside.
Trump's candidacy resonates with Israelis, echoing their disdain for elitist imperiousness and disregard for political correctness while embracing a deep love of country, community, and faith.
Irit Tratt is a writer and Co Chair of The Trump47 Women’s Leadership Coalition. Follow her on X @Irit_Tratt.
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