So far nobody is calling President Trump antisemitic because he did not make a stop in Israel on his current Middle East tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and United Arab Emirates. “This is good for Israel, having a relationship with these countries,” Trump said, not untrue. Nor was Trump called antisemitic for circumventing Israel to negotiate directly with Hamas to free the hostage Edan Alexander. If it is true that Trump is beginning a new quest for peace somewhat independent of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as Thomas Friedman speculates in his New York Times opinion article, “This Israeli government is not our ally,” May 9, it could be the best thing for Israel in the long run. Friends don’t let friends starve Gaza. And peace in the Middle East depends on justice for Palestinians. – Fletcher Farrar, editor
This article appears in May 15-21, 2025.
