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Marc Zell, Chairman of the GOP in Israel – “We Are Entering a New Era”

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Chairman of the Republican Overseas Israel Marc Zell speaks with TPS News. Photo Credit: Ehud Amiton/TPS
Marc Zell says that, “ the US embassy (pictured above) can move just by hanging up a new sign on one of the existing consulates in Jerusalem. Nothing needs to be built; no changes need to be made, no land to be bought. The embassy is where the ambassador sits.”
Marc Zell said: “What Jared Kushner (pictured above) brings to the table, is the new set of skills, those of a seasoned successful business negotiator, a deal maker. This is a trait he shares with his father-in-law.”

TPS: Chairman of the Republican Overseas Israel Marc Zell, thank you for speaking with us. You are right now in the United States, for the inauguration of President-elect Trump.

Despite the unprecedented mediatization of the election process, the Israeli public still lacks insight of what a trump presidency means. What do you think can be expected of American-Israeli relations during his early days in office?

Marc Zell: What we are about to witness from the Trump administration at the inception of the president-elect’s presidency is a very “hands-off” attitude regarding Israeli politics on Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, the Golan and Gaza. This is a revolutionary approach in American-Israeli relations.

What it means for Israel is that for the first time since 1948, the country will have to define clearly what its strategic interests are. Jerusalem has never had to do so before, because the international community has always had its agenda, which it tried to impose on both sides, without much success.

Therefore, when it comes to building settlements or new neighborhoods in Jerusalem, Israel has always had to walk on eggshells, and measure the force and direction of winds coming out of Washington, London, Paris and Brussels before taking any concrete steps.

I expect radical change in this regard. The Trump administration will not decide for Israel but will most likely wait for the Jewish state to make its own proposals.

TPS: There have been nonetheless some important issues on the table, which have galvanized the Israeli right-wing, one of them being moving the US embassy to Jerusalem. Reports on that are still unclear, what can you tell us?

Marc Zell: No one can know exactly at this point what incoming US ambassador Friedman will do when he lands in Israel and what the President’s instructions will be with regards to the location of the embassy.

My understanding is that, contrary to popular belief, the US embassy can move just by hanging up a new sign on one of the existing consulates in Jerusalem. Nothing needs to be built; no changes need to be made, no land to be bought. The embassy is where the ambassador sits.

Until now the Consulate General in Jerusalem never reported to the embassy in Tel Aviv, nor was it considered a branch of Tel Aviv. The Consulate has continuously seen itself as an independent diplomatic mission and reports to the State Department’s Amman desk, not the Tel Aviv one.

This has got to, and will change.

TPS: Are you at all worried about the potential Palestinian backlash?

Those statements are nothing new. How many people have died on both sides since 1948 as a result of Arab terror? It remains an empty threat. And I personally think that to make those kind of menacing threats against this particular incoming president is a serious mistake because he is not intimidated by them.

TPS: With regards to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Trump has stated Jared Kushner will “broker peace in the Middle East.” What do you think about this appointment, in light of Kushner’s lack of any diplomatic experience?

Diplomats have been managing this conflict since before the establishment of the state, with dismal results. I don’t see what added value diplomatic expertise can provide that will contribute towards reaching a solution. I’m not at all convinced the potential for an agreement exists at this time. What Jared Kushner brings to the table, is the new set of skills, those of a seasoned successful business negotiator, a deal maker. This is a trait he shares with his father-in-law.

What Kushner will probably do first is to make an assessment of the situation, based on reality, not wishful thinking. Only then will he decide what, if any are the prospects of achieving a negotiated settlement. Based on that, he will decide whether his task is to facilitate negotiations leading to a final settlement of the conflict, or that he would be better off pursuing a more limited goal, helping the parties effectively manage the conflict, and perhaps achieve an interim settlement, until the conditions for reaching a final accord exist.

Kushner, as Special Envoy, should not make the mistake made by every administration to believe you will be able to resolve the conflict simply by getting to the White House. And this is why I do not think the term “broker” is even correct.

TPS: Can you tell us your opinion on the current legislation proposal of Texas Senator Ted Cruz to cut UN funding until the recent Security Resolution 2334 on Israeli settlements is repealed?

The legislation was introduced just last Thursday by GOP Senators Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham. This is probably the most effective tool that the Trump administration will have against UNSC Resolution 2334 because any initiative on the Security Council forum will be met by at least three vetoes. The financial threat is a very serious and effective one because the US after all contributes to close to one quarter of the United Nations’ total budget.

TPS: Apart from vowing to move the embassy to Jerusalem, the Israeli right-wing had hailed the president-elect due to statements regarding a tougher stance on radical Islamic terror, increased military presence or claims that the Judea and Samaria communities are not an obstacle to peace.

These issues have been the bone of contention between Israel and the liberal Jewish community, which has been registering increasing levels of disconnect with Israel, claiming it does not represent their Jewish values. Are you concerned a Trump presidency will exacerbate that disconnection, and what would be the consequences if it does?

The Trump presidency is indeed going to exacerbate the current discrepancy between Israel and the liberal Jewish community until said community adjusts to reality, which is going to take some time. The first step for the Blueish Jewish community is to accept the reality of Trump’s win, and his legitimacy.

I feel confident that when the Jewish community realizes we are witnessing a watershed change of thinking, and what interests are at stake for the future of Israel and the Jewish people as a whole, they will come round.

I believe the American Jewish community has adopted an immature and irrational attitude when it comes to voting. Long ago, the community did not feel the need to vote as a unit (70% for Hillary Clinton), they spread their ballots as they ought to be behave considering how politically involved, strong and educated as the American Jewry is.

No community cares more for Israel than the American Jews. But without even considering controversial issues such as Judea and Samaria, polls quote Israel down about 14 on the list of issues of importance in determining how the American Jewry votes. If Israel is that unimportant to American Jewry, this means they do not actually know what stands in their own interests. Ignoring such a reality is not sensible, even from the most basic political strategy standpoint.

TPS: Conflicts of interests have been surrounding the nominees for the incoming Cabinet, such as for the Education Secretary, or Secretary of State. Admitting a Trump presidency is “good” for Israel, is such a controversial administration the “good” Israel needs?

This cabinet is shaping up to be really interesting with a serious potential. For one thing, there are very few lawyers but numerous business people and Generals. Lawyers have a reputation for talking the talk, but not walking the walk, the result of a tendency for paralysis by analysis. President Obama, who studied law is an excellent example of this

America and the world need fixing. We have to take immediate action, and get things done. The general approach of the incoming administration will be extremely divergent from what we’ve seen in a very long time. I do not think the nominees are part of the problem, but of the solution.

And for Israel that is also great news. As I mentioned before, the upcoming administration is not going to tell the Jewish state what to do. Without respect to any particular ideology, Israel must now bite the bullet and decide for itself.

By: Ilana Messika
(TPS)

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