In the endless media discussion of Trump's alleged collusion with Russia what is almost never noted because it is wholly taken for granted is Trump's collusion with another foreign power, Israel.
It appears that Trump was successful in getting Benjamin Netanyahu reelected prime minister. Though it unclear at this point if Likud has won more seats than the upstart Blue and White alliance, and many twists and turns remain before Netanyahu can announce the formation of a new government, nonetheless the consensus -- from The New York Times to the World Socialist Web Site -- is that the right and far-right parties won more seats than the center and left parties.
Trump was critical in boosting right-wing turnout in the weeks running up to yesterday's election because 1) he recognized Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights; 2) he declared Iran's IRGC a terrorist organization; and 3) he remained silent when Netanyahu promised to annex large chunks of the West Bank. Short of invading Iran, there is not much more Trump could have done for his patron Sheldon Adelson.
The U.S. political system is completely in the thrall of Israel. Yes, the Trump administration is upending the two-state solution, but you don't see much of a reaction from Democrats in Congress. The only notable reaction was when one of their own, Ilhan Omar, a freshman Democrat from Minneapolis, had the temerity to refuse to pledge allegiance to Israel.
The good news here? Though Netanyahu benefited from Trump's moves, Trump will not. Trump believes that Israel is popular with American voters. It is not. Trump is confusing hard-shell evangelicals and Sheldon Adelson for the U.S. electorate as a whole.
Unless Trump's labeling of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is merely cosmetic, the fallout from this decision alone will prevent his reelection. Voters absolutely do not want another Middle East war.
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