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Friedman tells Israel: Think fresh, get tough — and win!

ormer US Ambassador David Friedman’s new book, “One Jewish State: The Last, Best Hope to Resolve the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict,” published on Sept. 3 by Humanix Books, presents what he believes is a coherent political doctrine aimed at shifting approaches and perceptions. In it, the native of Woodsburgh in the Five Towns argues that Israeli rule over the entire territory not only aligns with Israel’s biblical and historical right to the land but will benefit Arabs as well as Jews. Sovereignty Journal (ribonut.co.il) held a three-way conversation with Friedman and MK Ohad Tal, a key figure in advancing President Donald Trump’s plan within the Israeli political arena. Friedman said the application of Israeli sovereignty would advance two political goals. “No. 1 is to bring stability, safety, security, prosperity for the State of Israel. No. 2 is to be faithful to the will of G-d with regard to the way in which the Jewish people should hold the Land of Israel.” “I don’t think it can happen overnight,” and the State of Israel must craft its course “by a meaningful consensus … through a process which is deep and robust and thoughtful.” Friedman cautiously adds that the discussion around such a move needs to be approached differently from the hasty manner in which judicial reform was promoted “by a narrow majority. … This issue is much bigger and if it’s going to go forward, it must do so with the support of a sig-

groups: those that promote Israeli sovereignty, those concerned with Palestinian welfare and those focused on issues of human rights or national security. “I wrote a 240-page book about it and I try to address all those complicated issues,” he says. “It’s crucial that it be presented in this way, and not simply as a small minority of the population grabbing territory at the expense of someone else.” al observes that “Ambassador Friedman’s proposal represents a significant departure from the thinking we’ve grown accustomed to, certainly over the past 30 years.” Friedman’s plan focuses “on the well-being of the people themselves,” Tal said. “It suggests setting aside ideologies momentarily to explore how we can implement a tangible solution for the people on the ground.” Friedman emphasizes that his plan bypasses Palestinian leadership and communicates directly with the people living in Judea and Samaria. “The Palestinian people have lost faith in their leadership. They see how aid money ends up in the leaders’ pockets — Ismail Haniyeh’s children are fighting over a multi-billion-dollar inheritance, Arafat’s widow shops on the Champs-Élysées,” the ambassador says. “Beyond that, the plan is not an agreement, a contract or negotiations, all of which have proven to be a waste of time. The Palestinians will never say please come and take over our territory, but See Friedman’s fresh path on page 2

Former US ambassador to Israel David Friedman (whose new book is pictured) speaks during the Kohelet Olivier Fitoussi, Flash90 Forum Conference at the Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem, on Jan. 8, 2020.

nificant majority of the people in Israel.” “There needs to be a real plan,” he said. “How is Israel going to be a sovereign over what could be an additional two million Palestinians? How will Israel separate the ones who want to be peaceful from the ones who continue to want to commit acts of terror? How does Israel pay for it?

It’s going to involve a lot of money to assume responsibility for an additional two million people.” His answer: “An expansion of the Abraham Accords, convincing Saudi Arabia and the Emirates and other countries that this is the best outcome for the region and even for the Palestinians.” Friedman hopes his plan can unite diverse

Making Israel’s case in Brooklyn Heights By Ed Weintrob, The Jewish Star Israel advocacy will be on menu during a Shabbaton this Friday night at the Orthodox shul in Brooklyn Heights. Yishai Fleisher, international spokesperson for the Jewish community in Hebron, plans to tell congregants that “we’re all IDF soldiers now,” and that there are many ways to flight for Israel without picking up a gun. “Strenthening our Yiddishkeit” is high on his list, he told The Jewish Star. “Take on another mitzvah, find another way to connect to our Torah, to our Jewish values.” Fleisher’s appearance at Congregation B’nai Avraham is part of the synagogue’s one-year commemoration of Oct. 7. He will speak during dinner on Friday night and at services on Saturday morning and afternoon. The shul’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Aaron Raskin, said that “it’s important in this chaotic world that we hear about Israel with clarity, from a strong proud Jew” like Fleisher. While B’nai Avraham is a traditional synagogue with a

Yishai Fleisher holds an American flag flown above the Capitol in honor of Hebron. Right: A woman prays in the Machpelah. Ed Weintrob, Jewish Star

decidedly pro-Israel tilt, it’s housed in an uber-liberal Brownstone Brooklyn neighborhood. Asked whether Fleisher’s appearance might upset the neighbors, Rabbi Raskin responded that “I’m not concerned. People have their opinions but people in the middle are looking for answers and Jewish pride.” Asked what he’d say to people who criticize Israel because of the high number of casualties in Gaza, Fleisher said “I also have a critique of Israel, but it comes from the other direction, which is that Israel has allowed its enemies to become entrenched.” “We gave away the Gaza Strip in 2005,” he continued. “People like myself protested that, and we said that what would happen is that Gaza would be taken over by terrorists who would use Gaza as a launching pad against Israel’s Jewish people, and that’s what happened very quickly. “We have faced tens of thousands of rockets [and] the creation of a humongous tunnel system.” See Israel on page 4