Republican presidential nominee says Israel is “getting decimated with this publicity.”
By United with Israel and Mike Wagenheim, JNS
Speaking with Fox News on Thursday, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said that Israel has to “finish up” and “get [the war] done quickly.”
“[Israel is] getting decimated with this publicity,” Trump said, adding that “Israel is not very good with public relations.”
“They’ve got to get this done fast, because the world is not taking lightly to it,” he also said.
Trump has previously made similar statements calling for Israel to quickly finish its war against Hamas.
Addressing reporters following his speech to the Republican National Convention last week in Milwaukee, Republican Jewish Coalition CEO Matt Brooks said it was off base to interpret Trump’s calls as a pressure tactic to end the fighting without achieving Israel’s stated objectives.
“Everybody misinterprets that statement. What he’s basically saying is, you have a blank check. You need to carpet bomb in the air? Do it. Just get it done, rip the band aid off, finish the job,” said Brooks. “Because Hamas needs to be destroyed. But this is just taking months and months.”
Brooks said Trump is correct in his assessment that “time is not Israel’s ally. The longer this continues, the more public support erodes, the more international support erodes. And Trump’s point was, do what you have to do, get it done and get out.”
Trump is set to host Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Friday.