US Republican mega-donor and hard-line Zionist Sheldon Adlelson’s endorsement of Donald Trump may be smart politically, but a truer supporter of Zionism and Israel would be Hillary Clinton, an American political analyst and activist says.
Myles Hoenig, a Green Party candidate for Congress, made the remarks in a phone interview with Press TV on Friday, after Adelson endorsed Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee.
In a Washington Post op-ed published on Friday, Adelson wrote that Trump “exemplifies the American spirit of determination, commitment to cause and business stewardship.”
The casino owner, who together with his wife spent nearly $100 million in the 2012 presidential campaign cycle, had previously voiced support for Trump, but now he “strongly encourage[d]” those still on the fence about the divisive billionaire to do likewise.”
Adelson, a Zionist Jew, has said his most important issue when considering which candidates to support in US elections is “the safety of Israel.”
“Sheldon Adelson’s endorsement of Donald Trump comes as no surprise, and we are likely to see many more establishment Republicans coming to his defense in support of his plan to reach the White House,” said Hoenig.
“Throughout this election we have seen such twists and turns that nothing has gone as planned. One of Adelson’s main reasons for supporting Trump is his die-hard support for Israel, yet it’s more Adelson’s support than Trump. Trump has made statements in the past that would cause many Zionists to worry about such a presidency. We have seen Trump’s pronouncements change at different public events,” he added.
“The Republican leadership has always been very pro-Israel, but so have the Democrats. Nearly all members of Congress, of both parties, have backed Israel in all that it does. Some may oppose settlement construction, but like Bernie Sanders, only talk and do nothing to stop it,” he stated.
“Of the three main candidates, Trump, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, Clinton is the most vocal in her support for Israel and active in her actions. Jill Stein of the Green Party is the one most opposed to Israel and has proposals that Zionists like Adelson would find horrifying,” the analyst noted.
“Adelson’s primary support for Trump is not just to promote the Israeli narrative, but to oppose all aspects of Obama’s eight years. Again the irony is that much of Obama’s policies have often been Republican in both word and action. Obama may be seen as opposing Israel, but he has supported Israel in everything it has done and given cover for its crimes against the Palestinian people,” he observed.
“Regardless of who is elected, US policy towards Israel is unlikely to change,” Hoenig said in his concluding remarks.