Those Were The Days... Good Trump US-Israel Relations

Two years ago Jerusalem's iconic String Bridge was all lit up in honor of American Independence Day, while Americans, Israelis and people like us celebrated in nearby Binyanei Hauma at a humongous strictly kosher bash hosted by the American Embassy in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion
with me and my husband

This was the greatest evening imaginable showing a whole new relationship between the United States and Israel. President Trump was the first American President to follow the long time pledge and finally move the Embassy to Jerusalem. 

Over the years we had been invited to some Independence Day events by the then American Consulate, but they were comparatively pathetic. Also at those consulate events 99.9% of the food was traif, meaning not kosher. There would be one table from a kosher hotel. And a high percentage of the guests were Arab, not Jewish Israelis.

With David Friedman as Ambassador the menu and guest list were very different.

In addition, the embassy and consulate gave us American citizens good service. Now there's none. Things got difficult during the peak of COVID corona, but now that it's no longer a real danger here in Israel, there hasn't been a resumption of services.

  
A couple of months ago I had to get something notarized by an American notary. In the past we could just get and appointment in the US Consulate, later Embassy, and then no muss, no fuss and minimal charge, it was done. Now, not even American Passports can get renewed. No consular services are available in Israel. Is the Biden-Harris administration trying to send Israel a message?

US-Israel relations have gone down hill rapidly since Biden-Harris were elected.

The New American Consulate in Jerusalem

I haven't made it there yet, but when I was taking a walk with a friend in the Arnona neighborhood she pointed it out. Can you see the American Flag in the distance between the two trees?

The old one, near the former  "seam" by the ceasefire lines between what had been in Israel's hands and Jordan, was a very unpleasant and decrepit place to go. The last time I was there it rained inside the courtyard where we had to wait.

Connecting Zoabi and Marzel Election Runs Outrageously Repugnant!

I've been horrified at the connection of anti-Israel terrorist-apologizer Arab "politician" MK Hanin Zoabi's run for the Knesset with that of Baruch Marzel.

Zoabi and Marzel will participate in the 20th Knesset elections

Unfortunately the prevalent anti-Kach (Rabbi Meir Kahane) sentiment in the Leftist Israeli "Justice" sic system and media consider anyone who has ever supported Kahane to be a "danger," no matter how patriotic and law-abiding they are. Extremism from Jews on the Right is considered a "danger," while Arab extremism and support/understanding of anti-Jewish terror acts is excused as legitimate.

Israel Hayom

Deja vu, this reminds me very unpleasantly of the outrageously insulting visit of an American Consulate official over twenty years ago. My husband had inquired why the consulate regularly invited Arabs to events, while people like us (who hosted officials on a regular basis) were snubbed. The official replied:

"...but we don't invite anyone from Hamas either!"

I countered:

"Are you comparing us with the Arab terrorists who murdered my friend Rachella Druk, who's buried out here?" And I pointed in the direction of the cemetery.

Since then we have been invited to the Jerusalem Consulate's annual July 4th reception, but I never received an apology from them.