Trump appeals for Jewish votes or 'Israel' will cease to exist

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
20 Sep 2024 11:45
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Donald Trump questions the rationale behind Jewish voters supporting US Vice President Kamala Harris and claims that Jews who support Democrats "hate Israel" and "their religion".

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Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures as he walks off stage after speaking at the Israeli-American Council National Summit in Washington, DC, on September 19, 2024. (AFP)

At an event in Washington organized by the Israeli American Council focused on combating antisemitism, former President Donald Trump pointed out that if he were to lose the upcoming presidential election in November, "the Jewish people would have a lot to do with the loss."

Trump questioned the rationale behind Jewish voters supporting Vice President Kamala Harris, stating, "Any Jewish person who votes for her should have their head examined."

He cited unspecified polling that placed his support at 40% among Jewish voters.

"That means you’ve got 60% voted for somebody that hates Israel. And I say it – it’s going to happen – it’s only because of the Democrat hold or curse on you. You can’t let this happen," the former President added.

He further warned that if he is not re-elected, "a lot of bad things will happen," including that "Israel" "will be wiped off the face of the earth" and "will cease to exist" within two or three years.

Trump criticized Harris for the Biden administration's handling of the Gaza war and condemned what he called "antisemitic protests" on college campuses, referring to student protests in support of the Palestinian people.

"Kamala Harris has done absolutely nothing. She has not lifted a single finger to protect you or to protect your children," he said, adding, "I’m the one that’s protecting you. These are the people who are going destroy you and you have 60% of Jewish people essentially voting for that."

The former President also outlined plans to deport "foreign Jihad sympathizers and Hamas supporters" and vowed to reinstate his previous travel ban, which restricted entry into the US from several Muslim-majority nations.

"We will get them out of our country. I will ban refugee resettlement from terror infested areas like the Gaza Strip, and we will seal our border and bring back the travel ban," he said.

Trump sought to emphasize his support for "Israel" and the Jewish community during his time in office, highlighting key actions like moving the US Embassy to occupied al-Quds, recognizing alleged Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, and mediating normalization agreements between the Israeli occupation and several Arab nations, also known as the "Abraham Accords".

Trump also claimed, without evidence, that a recent poll in "Israel" showed 99% approval for him.

"I gave them Golan Heights. I gave them the Abraham Accords. I recognized the capital of Israel and opened the Embassy in Jerusalem. And most importantly of all, I terminated the Iran nuclear deal, which was the worst deal ever made in the history of Israel, in the history of the Middle East," he boasted.

"I was there four years, gave them billions and billions of dollars. I was the best friend Israel ever had, and still in 2020, now, I’ve done all these things, so now, Jewish people have no excuse," the Republican candidate added.

"You have to defeat Kamala Harris more than any other people on earth," Trump told the Jewish voters in the audience.

"Israel, I believe, has to defeat her. You know that?"

He then vowed to "make Israel great again."

Trump also criticized Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the United States, accusing him of being a “proud member of Hamas” and claiming that Jews who support Democrats "hate Israel" and "their religion".