With our correspondent in New York, Carrie Nooten
Since its release on the eradication of the Palestinian town of Huwara, progressive Jewish groups had called on the Biden administration not to grant Bezalel Smotrich a visa. The White House did not accede to this request, but will not receive it as is customary.
Trip wasted
Bezalel Smotrich’s call to annihilate Huwara nearly ruined his trip to the United States. Even if he obtained his visa, this stay should leave a bitter taste to the Israeli Minister of Finance. Seventy American Jewish groups have also pledged not to welcome him during his trip as is the tradition … and he provoked an outcry from 120 leaders saying in a joint statement that the minister should not be able to express itself within the American Jewish community, that its presence is an affront to American Jewish values.
Ditch
Bezalel Smotrich, however, is expected to meet with a director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and with a much more conservative Jewish Orthodox group by Tuesday. But above all, this episode highlights the growing gap between some of Israel’s most loyal supporters, American Jews, who are often more politically and religiously liberal… and members offar right du parti de Benyamin Netanyahu.
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