ministration has put the furthering of Israel’s diplomatic interests front and center in its dealings on the world stage. Historically Israel has had an overwhelming military advantage over the Palestinians, but the Palestinians have been a formidable foe in the diplomatic arena. The Trump/ Kushner doctrine on Middle East peace has turned this equation on its head. Trump has shown the Palestinians that if they continue to refuse to negotiate and accept a reasonable settlement, they will lose diplomatic support even among Arab and Muslim nations. Trump has used the United States’ economic and military leverage to pressure Arab and Muslim countries to recognize Israel and grant Israel diplomatic achievements. The benefit of this approach is that it may force the Palestinian leadership to acknowledge that they are losing their diplomatic advantage and that failing to reach an agreement with Israel can cause them to lose the support that they are accustomed to receiving. The American decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem, the successful UAE deal, and the Serbian and Kosovoian breakthrough have helped tighten the diplomatic noose on the Palestinians and have made them aware of the pitfalls of failing to negotiate a reasonable settlement with Israel.
Flashpoint Kenosha THE PULSE: Kenosha, Wisconsin, has been the scene
of riots and protests in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Video footage of the shooting incident shows Blake walking away from cops toward his car, Blake attempting to enter his car, and an officer trying to pull him away from the vehicle and then shooting him seven times in the back. Police have pointed out that Blake had a criminal record and was ignoring a police officer’s orders. They allege that Blake had an officer in a chokehold at one point during the altercation. They also claim that Blake brandished a weapon. Eyewitnesses of the account question the police version of events, but investigators recovered a knife from the driver’s side seat. Complicating the narrative is that police are only allowed to use lethal force when an officer reasonably believes the subject poses a significant threat of serious bodily injury or death to themselves or others. Blake appears to be walking away from the officers and may not have posed a threat when the shooting transpired. Blake survived the shooting but is paralyzed from the waist down. Riots broke out in the city with widespread vandalism and looting. On the third night of protests, Kyle Rittenhouse, a seventeen-year-old self-appointed vigilante from a neighboring town of Antioch, Illinois, traveled to Kenosha and shot and killed two protestors. Rittenhouse was arrested and charged with six counts, including first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, recklessly endangering safety, and possession of a dangerous weapon. Rittenhouse’s lawyer claimed that his client acted in self-defense and that video evidence of protestors wrestling with his client backed up his defense. However, ABC
News established that the video footage is a struggle that took place after Rittenhouse had already fired shots from his AR-15. The ensuing tussle was with those who were attempting to take the AR-15 out of his hands and prevent him from shooting others. PRESIDENT TRUMP: The president’s response has
been to stress law and order and blame Democrats for the chaos in the streets. The president traveled to Kenosha on Tuesday and met with local business leaders and law enforcement. The president did not meet with Jacob Blake or his family. President Trump also refused to condemn the actions of Kyle Rittenhouse and said that Rittenhouse appeared to be acting in self-defense. He noted that the incident was under investigation. JOE BIDEN: In a speech in Pennsylvania, Joe Biden forcefully condemned the violence and looting in Kenosha and other cities but also focused on the need for police reform and the importance of holding officers that abuse their power responsible for their actions. He publicly condemned the president’s defense of Rittenhouse. Biden believes that addressing the black community’s grievances is necessary for establishing long-term law and order. Biden traveled to Kenosha on Thursday and met with the father of Jacob Blake. THE IMPACT: The divide and divergent approaches of President Trump and Joe Biden concerning calls for racial justice and the ensuing civil unrest have become major fault lines in the presidential campaign. President Trump believes that he has the upper hand on this issue and that undecided white suburban voters will entrust him to end the lawlessness. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers said that he would have preferred that both candidates stay away, as he would “prefer that no one be here, be it candidate Trump or candidate Biden.”
Fraternal Order of Police Endorses President Trump THE PULSE: President Trump secured the endorsement
of the country’s largest fraternity of police officers. The vote to endorse President Trump for reelection was unanimous. In a press release, Patrick Yoes, the organization president, said that “President Trump has shown time after time that he supports our law enforcement officers and understands the issues our members face every day.” THE IMPACT: The endorsement is significant for
Trump, as it bolsters his credentials as the “law and order” candidate. The endorsement was strategically released as it was publicly announced just a few hours after Joe Biden revealed that he received 190 law enforcement officials’ endorsement. Biden also received the endorsement of 107 former state attorney generals who lauded his commitment to “eliminate abuses of power” and his belief in “common sense law enforcement.”
September 9, 2020 / THE BORO PARK VIEW / 77 www.thebpview.com / 718.408.8770