I met Ben once. We were seated at the same dinner table.
At first, we did not recognise each other. Neither of us had any idea we would end up at the same table.
I asked him where I knew him from. He replied, “Ben, from Ben & Jerry’s.”
I smiled and said, “Nice to meet you. I’m Alex, Deputy Consul General of Israel to the Southeastern United States.”
This was at the height of the Ben & Jerry’s Israel controversy. I decided not to raise politics, out of respect for our gracious host. But I was also biding my time, because I suspected he would not be able to resist bringing it up.
About an hour into dinner, he came over to talk.
I saw it as an opportunity to understand where he was coming from, to explain a few things, and to keep the conversation as civil as possible. And to be fair, it was civil. He was pleasant, curious, and polite.
But quite quickly, I also realised he was completely ignorant about Israel.
He had never visited the country or the region. He had basic facts wrong, not only about the narrative, but about the foundations of the conflict itself: the makeup of the countries involved, the history, and the deeply rooted reasons each side sees the conflict the way it does.
For him, it was simple: there are people who appear oppressed, so someone must be the oppressor.
I do not blame Ben personally. He is a businessman who sells ice cream. Why should he be expected to understand Israel, the Middle East, or geopolitics?
The real problem is with those who treat him as an authority.
The media gives him a pedestal to speak about issues he clearly does not understand. And that is the absurdity of it all: taking an ice cream salesman and presenting him as a voice of moral clarity on one of the most complex conflicts in the world.
@claireforny And so what you’re proposing is a strong anti-Israel stand. That’s really going to help your potential constituents. You have a lot to learn, hater.
So let me get this straight.
Jake Tapper is focused on attacking my Mom.
Jared and Ivanka are building a private island paradise on Albanian protected land.
Don Jr married the daughter of Epstein’s banker, and a startup his fund backs just got a record $620M Pentagon loan.
Eric is taking an Israeli drone company public for $1.5B in the middle of a war with Iran that nobody wanted.
And I know: “But what about your paintings, Hunter?”
Please.
A message to all sane Republicans:
He pardoned 1,600 violent criminals.
You said nothing.
He bulldozed the East Wing.
You said nothing.
He interfered with the release of the Epstein files. You said nothing.
He took over the Kennedy Center and renamed it after himself. You said nothing.
He accepted a $400 million airplane as a personal gift. You said nothing.
He threatened Canada, Cuba, Denmark, Greenland, Venezuela, Colombia, and Brazil. You said nothing.
He tariffed just about everyone but Russia, causing inflation and instability worldwide. You said nothing.
He attacked a nation during mediated negotiations. You said nothing.
His ill-conceived war killed 175 children on day one. You said nothing.
He alienated and insulted our allies. You said nothing.
His ICE Army terrorized and murdered U.S. citizens. You said nothing.
He committed murder on the high seas. You said nothing.
He co-opted the Justice Department and directed it to prosecute his political enemies. You said nothing.
It’s time to start talking.
@duciswild Your film of Serena Williams on the 11 o’clock news started out with Serena, then showed Venus (dressed in white for Wimbledon). They’re both superb but are different people!
@bradlander Learn history Brad. Israel made all of its citizens leave Gaza in the early 2000s, handed it over to the Palestinians and left all the farms, green houses, etc. The people then voted in Hamas in ‘05. Another election was never held.
@AlexThomp His brilliant aides had him traveling all over the world the week before the debate and then gave him cold medicine leading up to the debate. That would have knocked out a younger person. They’re really responsible for the debacle that night.