President Joe Biden appears to have replaced his predecessor, Donald Trump, as the favorite leader among American Jews.
Biden’s condemnation of the Hamas assault on Israel was strong, and his response has been widely welcomed in Israel and among U.S. Jews.
Trump, on the other hand, has recently been critical of some Israeli leaders, which has surprised Israeli commentators who once considered the former president their staunch ally.
A billboard over the main highway in Tel Aviv features Biden’s photo, praising the president’s leadership.
The Hamas attack on Israel has been termed by some as “Israel’s 9/11,” and Biden’s solidarity with the country amid these times seems to have been well-received in Israel.
Matt Brooks, who heads the U.S.-based Republican Jewish Coalition, told the New York Times: “This will sound surprising, but by and large, the president has shown tremendous support, unwavering support, for Israel at a critical time. Can we quibble on aspects of policy differences, over Iran’s complicity, for instance? Sure. But by and large, the American people and the international community have seen a president who has stood shoulder to shoulder with Israel.”
On Wednesday, Trump criticized Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu over the country’s alleged intelligence failure during a speech.
The Biden administration’s response to the attack on Israel earned praise even from the president’s harsh critics. Former U.S. ambassador to Israel David M. Friedman, who served under the Trump administration, said that despite being a critic of the administration, he acknowledges the “exceptional” support provided to Israel.
“The moral, tactical, diplomatic and military support that it [Biden administration] has provided to Israel over the past few days has been exceptional,” he said.
