This Saturday night we begin Pesach. It has been my custom to provide a link to a video of the singing of V’he She’amda at the end of my pre-Pesach posting.
This year, however, I am going to begin with it, because I consider it so important.
This is sung as part of the Pesach seder – it is in the Haggadah. Yonatan Razel wrote the music for it that has become so popular.
The very pertinent message it delivers: In every generation there are those who seek to destroy us. But we know that the Almighty (the Holy One, Blessed be He) has promised to save us. This promise sustains us.
I look for different versions each year, and this one felt right for this year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnnKFpiP1hs
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We look ahead and know that there is still a long, tough road ahead, in spite of the gains we have made. We see the corruption of international courts and the hatred expressed on American campuses. We know Hamas is still trying to destroy us.
But we must hold on to our hope, firm in the knowledge that we will be saved.
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One of the uplifting occurrences in recent days was the visit of Prime Minister Netanyahu to Hungary; on April 3, he was greeted most warmly by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, with full pomp and circumstance.
Not only did Orbán, a true friend, make it clear that Netanyahu would not be arrested in compliance with an International Criminal Court warrant, he announced during Bibi’s stay that Hungary would be withdrawing from the ICC.
Right on!
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Orban’s action is not only morally proper, as the ICC action is enormously corrupt, it sets an example. Within days after Orban’s announcement, Prime Minister Bart De Wever of Belgium, who is in office just two months, declared that his country would probably ignore the warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest:
“There is such a thing as realpolitik, I don’t think any European country would arrest Netanyahu if he were on their territory. France wouldn’t do it, and I don’t think we would, either.”
https://www.jns.org/u-turn-brussels-wont-arrest-netanyahu-belgian-pm-says/
“I don’t think we would” is not quite the guarantee that would be needed, but this is a major step in the right direction.
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At about the time that Bibi was preparing to go to Hungary, discussion surfaced in the US regarding tariffs that President Trump intended to levy on goods from foreign nations. The minimum was going to be a 10% tariff, with goods from 57 nations (including Israel) to be hit with a 17% tariff and in some cases more.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich acted quickly on April 1; he removed tariffs and surcharges from all US goods imported into Israel. The hope was that there would be reciprocity. On April 2, Trump signed the order for the imposition of the tariffs, to take effect beginning April 9. There was no indication of reduced tariffs for Israeli goods. From Hungary, Bibi placed a call to Trump, who told him he should come to Washington soon to discuss the matter.
Our prime minister wasted no time and flew from Budapest directly to Washington on Sunday evening. The tone of the meeting between Trump and Netanyahu, which took place on Monday, was cordial. But it was not a success for Netanyahu.
In his pitch for a reduced tariff on Israeli goods, he pointed to the fact that all tariffs on US products had been cut and suggested this could serve as a model for other nations. Not only did Trump not indicate that he would consider a reduction on Israeli tariffs, he was quick to point out Israel is the recipient of large sums of US dollars.
(These funds do not represent a “gift” as Trump would suggest – much of this money is turned back to the US in purchase of military equipment. What is more, the US receives a great deal from Israel in shared intelligence, development of advanced weaponry, and more.)
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But wait! As I am writing, the news has broken that Trump has announced a 90 day pause in the levying of 17% tariffs for 75 countries; tariffs will be held at 10% during that period, although China will be hit very hard.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/406670
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Then there was the issue of Iran. It was no secret that Trump was pumping for negotiations with Iran, rather than attacking the Islamic Republic. He likes “deals.” But he had not consulted Israel, the US’s close ally, on the matter of these talks. While he sat with Netanyahu in the White House, taking questions from the press, the president announced that direct talks with Iran involving high level US officials would begin on Saturday.
I have picked up two slightly different versions of what had transpired. In one version, Netanyahu did not know about these talks until the moment that Trump announced them publicly and had to sit poker-faced. In the other version, Netanyahu had been told during the meeting he had with the president immediately prior to their coming before the press but had had no opportunity to process this information. What is clear is that his staff was not informed.
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The situation would have been daunting for Netanyahu either way. No one, but no one, on the international stage over the past several years has warned about the dangers of a nuclear Iran more forcefully and consistently than he has.
Before Trump made his announcement, Netanyahu made a pertinent opening comment:
“We are both united in our goal that Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon. If this can be achieved diplomatically, in the full sense, in the way it was done in Libya, I think that would be a good thing. But whatever happens, we must ensure Iran does not get nuclear weapons.” (Emphasis added)
This is being interpreted as an indication that he had been told about the talks before he faced the press. Perhaps. He might have just been addressing Trump’s preference for talks, without realizing that such talks had actually been set in place already. In any event, this does not sound like a ringing endorsement of negotiations. Netanyahu’s firm position is that it is insufficient to merely freeze Iran’s capabilities – Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure must be dismantled.
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As to whether such talks can bear fruit, I am highly dubious. It is difficult to believe that the mullahs will concede what the Americans must demand, in terms of dismantling of equipment, allowing inspections, etc. They cannot be trusted.
It is possible, I imagine, that Trump knows this and is setting the stage for the attack that would follow if the Iranians showed themselves to be less than cooperative. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said yesterday that, “The president has…made it very clear to Iran they have a choice to make. You can strike a deal with the president. You can negotiate, or there will be hell to pay.”
Donald Trump – and for this we can be most grateful – is most certainly not Barack Obama and will not make concessions of the disastrous sort Obama made. At present he is leveling stringent sanctions against Iran. But there is a report that he would permit Iran to do nuclear development for civilian purposes.
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The Iranians have not confirmed yet that there will be direct negotiations; at this point they say there will be indirect talks in Oman. And so, we are at a wait-and-see stage. By the time I return to my computer, likely next Monday, who knows how the situation may have changed.
I have picked up on report that suggests Trump intends to involve Netanyahu in the negotiations, perhaps as an advisor and not a participant. That would be good news.
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May all who are celebrating have a kosher and joyous Pesach. May you return to the every day with hope renewed.
A translation of V’he She’amda:
And it is this (promise)
which sustained our fathers and us.
That it is not one enemy alone
that stood up against us to destroy us.
But in each generation there are those
standing up against us to destroy us.
But the Holy One Blessed Be He
saves us from their hand.
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I ask for prayers for Israel’s wellbeing.
Pray for the wisdom and courage of our leaders.
Pray for the safety of our brave troops.
Pray that the hostages will be brought home.
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©Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by independent journalist Arlene Kushner. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
