Two Peas in a Pod

Would be easy to say NY Mayor is just an ignorant bigot, but he is not dumb. He’s an evil anti-Semite who deliberately lies about serious things like “genocide” to stoke Jew hate.

~U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee/ X July 21, 2026

I could spend this whole post documenting the historical, bigoted overtones of a grammatical reference to people of the Jewish faith by the truncated term “Jew” as an adjective. For example, there is a world of difference between referring to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as “a Jewish politician” versus “a Jew politician.” I, therefore, suggest Ambassador Huckabee re-examine his own cultural biases before calling someone else “an ignorant bigot.”

But that’s not what I came hear to talk about. Let’s begin with what generated the Ambassador’s response. Yesterday (July 21, 2026), New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani posted a video on X in which he said, “Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal.” After previously suggesting he would have the Israeli prime minister arrested if he entered the city, he added the following:

My administration has reviewed every avenue available under applicable law to determine whether New York City could execute the international criminal court’s arrest warrant if Benjamin Netanyahu came here. It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant.

As always, two things can be true. On November 21, 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) did issue an arrest warrant against Netanyahu based on the following:

Allegedly responsible for the war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare and of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024.

But the fact that the ICC warrant begins with the word “Allegedly,” Mamdani should have said, “I personally believe Netanyahu is a war criminal, but it is up to the ICC to make the final determination.” He has a right to his own opinion without being judge, jury, and executioner.

It is more important what Mamdani did NOT say. He did not say, “Israel is guilty of war crimes,” nor did he say, “Israelis are war criminals.” It was a condemnation of the head of the government in power. This is where the title “Two Peas in a Pod” comes in.

Pea in the Pod #1

On October 27, Israel is holding a national election in which all 120 seats in the Knesset (the legislative body) are at stake. There are announced candidates from 12 political parties of which 10 now hold at least one Knesset seat. No party is likely to gain the requisite 61 seats to form a governing majority within its own ranks. Netanyahu’s hold on leadership results from a coalition between his Likud party and parties representing ultra-orthodox Jews who, among other special privileges, are not subject to the country’s policy of mandatory military service upon graduation from high school.

The opposition is less organized with the major unifying factor being the desire to oust Netanyahu as prime minister. It is not even clear who would become prime minister under a successful coalition of opposition parties. The most recent polls suggest a bloc of opposition parties would win 60 seats while Netanyahu’s coalition would retain 49 seats. The remaining 11 seats would be spread among parties with majority Arab membership. Based on Netanyahu’s Gaza and West Bank policies, the Arab parties are more likely to join the opposition bloc giving it a 71-49 majority.

After the election, the Israeli president Isaac Herzog, a largely ceremonial office not unlike the British crown, will give one of the major party leaders the opportunity to form a coalition majority government. If the polls are correct, Gal Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, will be asked to fill that role. Eisenkot is a former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and lost a son during the Gaza war.

Bottom line? A humiliating defeat for Netanyahu in the October election could go a long way toward rebuilding Israel’s standing in the U.S. and around the world. It would be a clear sign the Israeli people, though always aware of the security risks and need for a strong national defense, are not in lock step with Netanyahu’s response to the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack nor his pattern of alleged corruption.

Pea in the Pod #2

Let me start with a few questions? Do you think Donald Trump is an alleged criminal who incited an insurrection to overturn a free and fair presidential election? Do you think he should be tried for mishandling classified documents? Do you think he has disrespected our allies and cozied up to our adversaries? Do you think he has violated the emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution, ignored court rulings, and used his office for personal gain?

If the answer is yes, let me ask two more questions. Are you still proud to be an America but hate the fact that America has become an international pariah? Would you expect the rest of the world to blame the whole country for the indiscretions of its current leader? On November 3, American voters will have a chance to express their true feeling about the country’s direction. They will either return MAGA majorities to the House and Senate, signaling two more years of Trumpism absent any checks and balances. Or they will say enough is enough. True, we will still be stuck with this lemon of a car for two more years but voters can stomp on the brakes to make sure it causes a minimum of damage.

Bottom line? A humiliating defeat for Donald Trump and his congressional sycophants in the November election could go a long way toward rebuilding the United State’s standing around the world. It would be a clear sign the American people are not in lock step with Trump’s ham-fisted foreign policy, disregard for the rule of law, and egomania.

The Bottom Bottom Line

Never have the United States and Israel been on such simultaneous, self-destructive paths. But who knows? Within a period of eight days (October 27 to November 3), the future may look entirely different with a whole new cast of characters at the helm. Regardless of the outcome, one thing should be true. The ideal on which America was founded and the warmth and kindness of its people should never be equated with a misdirected leader. And the same is true of Israel and its citizens.

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP