I do not generally want to see Donald Trump get any more prizes or rewards, but I will make an exception. I am very happy that he is being awarded the Israel Prize. I have two reaaons for that. First, as complications over the future of Gaza occur and as Israel has further problems with its neighbors over the next few years, it is important to keep Israel allied with the United States. I say this not to evidence my agreement with many actions of the Israeli or American governments with which I don’t agree, but I don’t agree with most of the actions of the other countries of the Middle East either, and I think our alliance with Israel is crucial to keep Israel from experiencing potential catastrophe.

The second reason relates to the increased open antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment coming out of so many supporters of the political right. We don’t know how extensive that might become and we certainly don’t want to take a chance that Trump might succomb to it.

Of course, awarding the Israel Prize to an American president seems weird. Imagine, I said to myself,  if the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom were given to a foreign leader. Then I Googled it and, lo and behold, foreign leaders like Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair have received the Medal of Freedom. But I don’t think the Israel Prize has ever been given in this manner.

Of course, Donald Trump is very popular in Israel, as is his Jewish son-in-law Jared Kushner. Two more reasons, by the way, for antisemitism. First, because Jews (in Israel) love Trump. Second, because Jews (in America) hate Trump.

Well, it is now December 30, which means that in two days, 2025 will be history. Now is the time that all branches of media are advertising their reviews of the year. For maybe the first time, I am not looking at any of them.

I did finish a very interesting book last night, The Fight for Jerusalem, by the late Dore Gold, American born Israeli politician and historian. It was published in 2018, so it isn’t too out of date. Gold writes extremely well and is able to put an extraordinary amount of information in a relatively short book in a way that does not overwhelm you. The first part of the book gives a history of Jerusalem starting in biblical times, but concentrating on the years surrounding the Crusades. The second part spends a lot of time on the place of Jerusalem in Muslim thought over the years (perhaps this is the most interesting part of a very interesting book). The last part deals with the position of Jerusalem after its unification in 1967, and the place of Jerusalem in the various negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. If this is a topic that interests you, I highly recommend this book.