No skin in the game – What U.S. Jewish lawmakers don’t understand

The diverse opinions, among Jewish members of congress, to Trump’s idea that the U.S. will control Gaza have one thing in common, whether pro or con. Those living outside of the land of Israel simply have no skin in the game.  

So, while their personal conclusions might be interesting, until and unless they decide to make this part of the world their home, their thoughts and concerns remain of little relevance when it comes to what is best for those of us who live here and have to bear the consequences, for better or worse since we are the most affected.

A recent article, outlining the way these Jewish lawmakers view what’s being called an, “out of the box” idea is very telling, often revealing a complete lack of understanding, as to the situation both for Israelis as well as Gazans who, either by choice or force, have lived under the iron fist of bloodthirsty terrorists who were willing to kill their own if anyone dared to challenge their power.

Take, for example, Congressman Brad Schneider, who refers to himself as a Zionist and even co-chaired and co-founded the Abraham Accords Caucus. The Illinois Democrat believes that, “forcibly removing two million Gazans is not just unworkable – it is immoral and illegal. Mass displacement violates fundamental human rights, international law and the very values for which the US and Israel stand.”

The problem with Schneider’s argument is that it champions two million Gazans doomed to live amidst rubble, unsafe and unsanitary conditions, with no possibility of clearing out the destruction so long as the area remains populated. Rather than taking the time to rebuild in an orderly manner, allowing for homes to be constructed without a trap door that leads to an underground tunnel, the congressman would subject Gazans to a miserable existence, all for the sake of remaining on the land which they claim is theirs.

But even if there was a biblical claim to Gaza, being their rightful homeland, which there isn’t, why would anyone think that living in the dust of debris is preferrable to life within the confines of walls, windows, a roof and a structure providing heat, electricity and running water? 

While it is deeply regrettable that this is the deplorable situation in which Gazans now find themselves, it is also a direct result of the cause and effect which began the moment that Hamas was democratically elected to govern these people. 

Handing over their welfare to inhumane barbarians, who deliberately put its citizens in harm’s way, as they embedded rockets and other deadly weapons into their homes, schools, hospitals and places of worship, they made everyone an easy target while trying to conveniently shield themselves in the event of attack. 

Once the events of October 7th unfolded, the predictable outcome was the destruction of weapons storage units which, in this case, were Gazan homes and institutions, reducing much of the population to homeless nomads who were left with nothing.  But isn’t that always the end product of placing one’s well-being in the hands of evildoers?

Apparently, that bad judgment, exercised by Gazans is not taken into account by the congressman who, instead, interprets Trump’s idea as one which is designed to “remove” Gazans from their land and displace them. It’s easy for him to say, because Schneider is not the one who has to make a decision between braving the harsh elements outdoors or temporarily living in a neighboring country while homes are rebuilt and repurposed for a life with greater opportunities and advantages. 

With all due respect to Congressman Schneider, who identifies himself as a Zionist, he has no idea what it feels like to be woken out of a deep sleep, in the middle of the night, by the sound of blaring sirens, warning of an incoming rocket attack from an enemy which borders our sovereign land.  

So, what he describes as “the violation of human rights,” doesn’t seem to take into consideration the rights of Israeli citizens who just want to live in peace and security within their own land. Because, to the extent that Gazans continue to cooperate with terrorists whose singular goal is to annihilate the Jewish homeland, there is no moral obligation due to those who have chosen to work together with terrorists who plot our destruction. 

While other Jewish lawmakers have also harshly criticized Trump’s plan, including Ohio Rep. Greg Landsman, who claims that the president’s plan is “unserious,” he hasn’t offered up any better alternative which could change the decades of determination to rid the Middle East of its Jewish presence. It’s just much easier to knock down any novel suggestion which doesn’t neatly fit into a preferred solution where everyone lives together in perfect harmony.

And, perhaps, that is the greatest problem of all – the completely unrealistic expectation that uncivilized tribal radicals will ever have a personal epiphany that it is to their best interest to accept the historical and biblical claims that Jews are here to stay in the homeland which was divinely promised to them more than 3,000 years ago. 

It is that lack of understanding and futile wishful thinking which continues to fuel lawmakers, such as Congresswoman Laura Friedman, who concurs with Landsman, calling Trump’s proposal “unserious and reckless.” Her inability to see it as a real solution, with unlimited possibilities, and the end to a life which is built on violent cycles of war, also attests to the vast geographical distance that prevents her from considering another possible path, if given a chance.

Happily, there are other Jewish members of congress who think differently, understanding that something else has to be tried if we are ever to get to a place where peace is attainable. One such person is Congressman David Kustoff of Tennessee, who has said, “For far too long, Israel has been at war with her neighbors. It is clear to me that something must change in order to stop the killing and destruction the region has endured for centuries. This will require new ideas and an unconventional approach.”

We should all be grateful for his voice of reason, among, a few others, who do see Trump’s plan as one which has merit and is, at least, worth exploring, because, up until now, no one else has figured out a better future for the Middle East – especially when they have no skin in the game!