The just completed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games included, for the first time, an official memorial to the 11 Israeli athletes murdered at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Israel had her most successful Olympics participation with 90 athletes competing, a record for the country. Israel also set a record for medal winners with four–gold medals for rhythmic gymnast Linoy Ashram and artistic gymnast Artem Dolgopyat, plus bronze medals for Avishag Semberg in taekwondo plus the 8-member judo mixed team. There was some controversy, however, as a result of what action by an Israeli athlete or athletes?

Reuven Rivlin gives his blessing to the Israeli Olympic and Paralympic delegations to the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics Games by Amos Ben Gershom / Government Press Office (Israel) is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

A. Japan provided beds made out of cardboard for the athletes, and the rumor spread that the beds were designed to only support one person in order to discourage their use for “intimate behavior.” The Israeli baseball team posted a video on TicToc as they jumped on one of the cardboard beds to see how much weight it could actually hold. The bed collapsed at the point that 9 team members jumped on it. They were criticized for showing disrespect to the Olympic hosts.

B. Members of the Israeli gymnastics team posted pictures on Instagram showing them eating the Ebi Filet-O sandwiches at a McDonald’s restaurant. The sandwich is a shrimp filet sandwich that is only available at McDonald’s franchises in Japan. Israeli officials were not happy with the publicity surrounding their athletes eating the non-kosher meal.

C. Peter Paltchik, Israeli judo competitor, wore a headband that read Jew-Do. Though he meant it to be amusing, others thought that it was a joke in poor taste.

D. Members of the Israeli equestrian team competed but lost on Friday afternoon, August 6. Later that evening, the team members were shown on the television broadcast watching the finals in that event. They were wearing their team uniforms at the time, leading to some criticism. While Israel does not impose Shabbat restrictions on its athletes, they do ask their Olympic participants not to wear identifying clothing if they are out on Friday night or Saturday to show respect and sensitivity to religious Israelis on the Sabbath.

E. Malechi Yakstein was Israel’s entrant in the Canoe Slalom competition. When it was his turn, he sat in his canoe, looked at the front and back of the craft, and said hello to the boat in Hebrew, after which he exited the boat and took a bow, saying goodbye to the boat in Hebrew as he walked away. Asked why he never paddled through the canoe slalom course gates and rapids, Malechi Yakstein replied, “Ohhh. Canoe SLALOM. I thought it was Canoe SHALOM!”

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Ben & Jerry’s announced that it will no longer sell its ice cream products in the West Bank and Gaza, noting that selling in the occupied territories would be inconsistent with the brand’s liberal and social justice values. The ice cream will continue to be sold in Israel proper. Ben & Jerry’s first came to Israel over 30 years ago, when Israeli entrepreneur Avi Zinger flew to Vermont and met with co-founder Ben Cohen to make an agreement. The Israeli production plant is one of only two locations outside the United States, and produces ice cream for most of the European market. Among the company’s products have been two kosher for Passover flavors available only in Israel–Matzah Crunch (vanilla mixed with bits of chocolate-coated matzah) and Charoset (creamy vanilla ice cream with a swirl of charoset). There has been huge criticism in Israel and in the Jewish community over Ben & Jerry’s decision to not sell in the occupied territories, including calls to boycott the company, though some in the Jewish community support the change, saying that it is a political statement about Israel and the Palestinians, but not an anti-Semitic action or a BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) effort. Which Ben & Jerry’s flavor has not caught on in Israel despite the efforts of Avi Zinger to sell the flavor?

Ben & Jerry's by Q Family is licensed under CC BY 2.0

A. Colin Kaepernick’s Change the Whirled (Caramel Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert With Fudge Chips, Graham Cracker Swirls & Chocolate Cookie Swirls), because Israelis are generally not supportive of Kaepernick’s protest tactics.

B. Cherry Garcia (Cherry Ice Cream with Cherries & Fudge Flakes), because Israelis simply did not like the taste.

C. Karamel Sutra Core (Chocolate & Caramel Ice Creams with Fudge Chips & a Soft Caramel Core), because Orthodox Jews thought it would be inappropriate to eat ice cream named after a text with religious and sexual overtones.

D. White Russian (Coffee Ice Cream with Kahlua Coffee Liqueur), because Israelis of Russian descent want nothing to do with their former country.

E. Yummy Kippers (Vanilla Ice Cream Dotted with Small Pieces of Herring), which did not sell because it reminded people of the biggest fast day of the year, not to mention that it sounds disgusting.

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Jackie Mason, the Borscht Belt comic who started his career as a rabbi but eventually achieved great fame as a comedian, passed away at the age of 93. Mason had a career of highs and lows, including being banned from The Ed Sullivan Show for allegedly giving the host his middle finger, yet ultimately appearing on Broadway multiple times, winning a Tony and an Emmy award, and doing the voice of Rabbi Hyman Krustofsky, father of Krusty the Clown on The Simpsons. Controversy often swirled around Mason, who was criticized for referring to New York Mayor David Dinkens with a derogatory Yiddish word, for which he apologized, though he used the same word later about President Barack Obama. Mason also called for the expulsion of all Palestinians from Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, and he was an admirer of Rabbi Meir Kahane and also of Donald Trump. In the 1970’s, Mason had an affair with Ginger Reiter, leading to the birth of a daughter whom Mason denied was his. Ultimately a paternity lawsuit led to his providing child support, though he had little to do with his daughter, Sheba Mason. Which of the following is true about Jackie Mason’s relationship with Ginger Reiter and Sheba Mason?

Jackie Mason by Carl Lender is licensed under CC BY 2.0

A. Ginger Reiter met Jackie Mason in 1977 when he performed at a restaurant in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida called Wolfie Cohen’s Rascal House.

B. During the time that Ginger Reiter and Jackie Mason were dating, Reiter said, “He would leave some of his suits and ties in my closet. But little did I know that there were women all over Miami Beach with his suits and ties in their closets.” Reiter later introduced those suits and ties as evidence in her paternity suit against Mason.

C. Ginger Reiter had trained as a teacher of hearing impaired, but later gave up that career and became a writer, performer and producer. Her first show, Oh, Jackie, Oh, premiered in 1983, about her relationship with Mason before their daughter was born. Jackie Mason saw the first version of the show Oh, Jackie, Oh at a Florida synagogue, and gave it the following review, according to Reiter: “I don’t understand why you think this is so interesting. A man and woman, they go out. They go to an early bird special. What’s so interesting about it?”

D. Ginger Reiter’s first show, Oh, Jackie, Oh, was revived and rewritten more than once, and ultimately ran off-Broadway in 2014 with a new title, 702 Punchlines & Pregnant: The Jackie Mason Musical, with songs including Ode To The Early Bird Special and I Never Met This Yente. Reiter said the 702 in the show title referenced “the exact number of times that I was with Jackie.”

E. Though Mason had little to do with his daughter Sheba, a comedian and actor, he did once run into her in Manhattan, where he complained about a joke she had made in her stand-up comedy act, where she said: “Sometimes I wish a better-looking comedian was my father, like Woody Allen or Rosie O’Donnell.”

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Richard Branson successfully flew into space on a supersonic plane developed by Branson’s company Virgin Galactic. The flight, with Branson, two pilots, and three other Virgin employees, flew more than 50 miles above the earth’s surace with passengers momentarily experiencing weightlessness before returning to earth and landing safely in New Mexico. Branson has expressed support for Israel in the past, saying that Israel is a country of “great entrepreneurs doing incredible things.” He supports peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and opposes BDS efforts. When Branson visited Israel in 2019, he kissed the ground upon disembarking from his flight. Virgin Atlantic, Branson’s commercial airline company, began flying from London to Tel Aviv in 2019. What steps did Branson take to promote the success of the Virgin flights to and from Israel?

Richard Branson by Dan G is licensed under CC BY 2.0

A. Branson met with representatives of the major Chassidic sects in Jerusalem, including the Lubavitchers, the Gerrers, and the Satmars, and agreed to hire kosher caterers who were under their supervision for the kosher food service on his flights. He also promised that Chassidic men would not be made to change seats to avoid sitting next to a woman.

B. Branson hired a law firm in Israel that had ties to Yair Netanyahu, son of then Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. There is speculation that because of this connection, Branson was able to get landing rights for Virgin Atlantic without going through the typical long, complicated, and expensive application process.

C. Virgin Atlantic will not fly to and from Israel on Shabbat, Friday night and Saturday. By following the policy of El Al rather than other carriers such as Delta and British Airways, Branson insured that Orthodox and Chassidic travelers would consider his airline for their travel plans.

D. Branson set up a stall in the Jaffa Market, where shoppers are accustomed to bargaining for their purchases. He personally negotiated with customers, in one case agreeing to a purchaser’s offer of $45 instead of $450 for his ticket.

E. According to Exodus Chapter 22, verses 15-16, if a man seduces a single (virgin) woman, he must marry her or pay her father compensation. Based on this, Branson established the Virgin Virgin Discount Program, offering a cost reduction to fathers of single (virgin) women on flights to and from Israel.

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Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense under Presidents Gerald Ford and George W. Bush died last week at the age of 88. Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, Rumsfeld led the planning and execution of the Afghanistan invasion and then the Iraq War which led to the toppling of Saddam Hussein. Rumsfeld was one of the prime advocates for going after Saddam Hussein even though there was no evidence that he had anything to do with the terrrorist attacks. He later referenced his claim that “We know where they [weapons of mass destruction] are. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad” as a misstatement. Rumsfeld was an admirer and strong supporter of Israel and a critic of PLO leader Yasser Arafat, who he felt had not really transformed from a terrorist to a statesman. However, what is one area where Rumsfeld did not support Israel?

rumsfeld_d_h by Cody McComas is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

A. Rumsfeld strongly opposed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to annex large sections of the West Bank in mid-2020, a plan that was supported by President Donald Trump. Said Rumsfeld, “I recognize that Israel gained the West Bank in a war launched against her by neighboring countries hoping to wipe her off the map. But I also believe that annexation will only complicate U. S. efforts to broaden support among Arab counties against Iran, so I hope annexation plans will not be carried out at this time.”

B. In 1982, Israeli forces invaded Lebanon with a goal of destroying the PLO, whose leadership was centered in Beirut. While Rumsfeld was a strong opponent of the PLO, he did not think Israel’s invasion of the sovereign nation of Lebanon was a wise idea. The PLO ultimately moved their headquarters to Tunisia, where they continued to promote terrorist acts against Israel, while Israel received international criticism after Lebanese Maronite militia supported by Israel carried out the Sabra and Shatila massacre. Rumsfeld wrote in his memoir, “I regret that I was not in government at that time, so that I might have been able to convince Prime Minister Begin not to take these actions in Lebanon.”

C. For many years, Rumsfeld strongly advocated against the release from prison of Jonathan Pollard, who had pled guilty to spying on behalf of Israel in 1986. As early as 1988, Israel began numerous efforts to bring about Pollard’s freedom. Rumsfeld organized a letter in 1998 to President Bill Clinton and signed by six other former secretaries of defense opposing the release, and in 2001 he sent a letter to President George W. Bush urging him not to support the freeing of Pollard. In 2015, Rumsfeld referenced those correspondences when he tweeted “Releasing Pollard was a bad idea in 1998 & 2001. It is not a better idea today.” Pollard, however, was paroled in late 2015, and following the end of his parole period in 2020, he emigrated to Israel.

D. The Israeli government under the leadership of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon proposed in 2003, and implemented in 2005, the unilateral Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Many setters left voluntarily, but those who did not were forcibly removed by the Israeli military. United States President George W. Bush supported the Israeli action as a positive step towards peace. But Benjamin Netanyahu, then Minister of Finance, and Natan Sharansky condemned the plan, leading Rumsfeld to say, “I firmly support peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors. But I also believe that Benjamin Netanyahu and Natan Sharansky should be listened to, as they are right that this withdrawal will only lead to more bloodshed.”

E. Rumsfeld read an article in the New York Times Travel section which extolled the state of Israeli cuisine and dining opportunities. He wrote a letter to the editor stating, “You know, when it comes to Israeli cuisine, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. Like falafel balls. We know they’re delicious. A mechayeh. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. Like what the hell is sabich? Who came up with that? That’s definitely a known unknown. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don't know we don't know. Like ful. Not only do we not know what that is, we don’t even know if it is a real food, or just something someone made up. A completely unknown unknown. I mean, they claim it’s like hummus made with fava beans instead of chickpeas. But why would you do that? Hummus is perfect the way it is. And the only way I like fava beans is with Saddam Hussein’s liver and a nice Chianti.”

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The United States Office of the Director of National Intelligence just released a report on the issue of unidentified aerial phenomena, colloquially called Unidentified Flying Objects, or UFOs. The document referenced 143 reports of sightings for which government scientists and military personnel could offer no explanation. At least 21 of these reports include aerial technology that is beyond our current capability or understanding, such as objects moving without observable propulsion. The report drew no conclusions about these sightings, other than that further investigation is needed. The report has greatly increased interest in UFOs and strengthened the belief of many that these objects may be from intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. Haim Eshed, the director of space programs for the Israel Ministry of Defense for nearly 30 years, gave an interview on the topic of UFOs. Eshed is considered to be the father of Israel’s space program, and has won many awards, including the Israel Defense Prize (the highest civilian defense honor of the State of Israel) on three occasions. What did Eshed say regarding the possibility of life on other planets?

ufo  by tonynetone is licensed under CC BY 2.0

A. Eshed said that Israel has long worked cooperatively with the United States in these investigations, and he confirmed that scientists involved in Israel’s space program and military are concerned about these sightings, for which there is no clear explanation. But he said, “This does not mean that aliens are about to land and take over. It just means there is more we need to learn.”

B. Eshed, an Orthodox Jew, said that he has always followed the science without hesitation. But he also said that he starts from the beginning, “literally, B’reishit. In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth. It does not say earths, so I believe that we are the humanity that God created. Having said that, I also recognize that God can do anything. So if the science shows me that there are others, I will welcome them to my Shabbat table.”

C. Though Eshed spoke extensively about space exploration and Israel’s program, he refused to speak about the specific topic of UFOs. There are reports that at least some of the unexplained aerial craft could have been created in a joint program between Israel and the United States. Some believe that the Director of National Intelligence report was in fact designed to obfuscate the level of engineering that US and Israeli scientists have developed, in particular to fool the Russians and Chinese who are also working on this technology.

D. Eshed criticized the Director of National Intelligence report, saying that releasing the report served no good purpose, and would only fuel speculation that there were aliens visiting the planet Earth. “People have wondered about UFOs forever. What I call angels sent by God some might call space aliens. People are afraid of what they don’t understand, so for the United States to announce that they don’t understand these phenomena is just an invitation to panic in my opinion.”

E. Eshed said that Israel and the United States have been dealing with aliens for years, that aliens and American astronauts share an underground base on Mars, and that President Trump almost revealed this secret, but the aliens, known as the Galactic Federation, convinced him that revealing their existence would lead to panic.

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Naftali Bennett was sworn in as Israel’s prime minister last week, ending 12 years of government led by Benjamin Netanyahu. While the coalition that makes up the government is extremely diverse politically, Bennett said that “We will forge forward on that which we agree–and there is much we agree on, transport, education and so on, and what separates us we will leave to the side.” Throughout his personal and political life, Bennett has faced many challenges, and has spoken of one particular problem that he solved creatively, noting that “I had to improvise. So we MacGyvered it.” The term “MacGyvered” refers to the MacGyver television show whose eponymous lead character routinely jerry-rigged solutions to problems he was confronted with. What was Bennett referring to when he said “we MacGyvered it”?

Israel Bilat by U.S. Secretary of Defense is licensed under CC BY 2.0

A. In 1999, prior to entering politics, Bennett founded and led a United States-based technology company called Cyota, which focused on anti-fraud efforts in the banking and e-commerce industries. “We didn’t really know what we were doing,” Bennett said. “We didn’t even know what we wanted to do. But President Clinton had just signed the Financial Services Modernization Act, which basically allowed commercial and investment banks to merge. I had a Compaq computer and my partner had one of the first iBook laptops. We knew the banks had to seriously upgrade their security for this change, so we just hammered something out. I had to improvise. So we MacGyvered it. Luckily we were in the right place at the right time.” 

B. Bennett was actually referring to his recent negotiations with Yair Lapid, head of Israel’s Yesh Atid party. Lapid, who had been tasked with forming a new government, did not have enough votes to form a government with the parties that were ideologically aligned with his. When he first reached out to Bennett, Bennett did not even agree to speak with him given their vastly different political views. But they ultimately met and agreed on the unlikely linking of their parties for the purpose of ousting Bibi Netanyahu. Said Bennett, “We looked at our options, we looked at the policies we could agree on, we recognized that there was just no meeting of the minds. But, we had to get rid of Bibi. I had to improvise. So we MacGyvered it and put together this crazy coalition.”

C. Bennett served as an officer in the Israeli Defense Forces during Operation Grapes of Wrath, a 1996 incursion into Lebanon by the Israeli Defense Forces to end rocket attacks launched by Hezbollah. During the military action, Bennett radioed for air support when his unit came under mortar fire, and the resulting Israeli air strikes hit a United Nations compound, resulting in the death of over a hundred Lebanese civilians. Bennett was accused of using “poor judgment” during the operation, to which he responded, “I had to make an immediate decision on the ground, with the tools and options I had. I had to improvise. So we MacGyvered it. The tragic ending was not my fault.”

D. Referring to his military training in the Israeli Defense Forces, Bennett spoke of the time his unit was training for covert operations. They were left in the Negev Desert and expected to survive for a week without any food and with minimal equipment and supplies (including no weapons except pocketknives). The troops came upon some wild gazelles and decided to kill some for food. But Bennett, who was the only observant Jew in the unit, did not want to eat the animal if it wasn’t properly slaughtered. So he and some other soldiers trapped a gazelle, and Bennett, using his pocketknife, performed a ritual slaughter of the animal as best as he could. Said Bennett, “I’m not sure my rabbi would have considered the animal kosher, but I had to improvise. So we MacGyvered it.”

E. Bennett was referencing the time that he used chewing gum to hold his kippah (yarmulke) onto his bald head when delivering a speech outdoors on a windy day.

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Congressman Louie Gohmert of Texas made headlines last week when he asked Jennifer Eberlien, an associate deputy chief of the Forest Service, the following question. “Is there anything that the National Forest Service or BLM [Bureau of Land Management] can do to change the course of the moon’s orbit or the Earth’s orbit around the sun? Obviously, that would have profound effects on our climate.” This absurd question prompted Representative Ted Lieu of California to propose a bipartisan resolution asking for the help of Captain Marvel, noting that “She can alter planetary orbits with her superpowers.” Gohmert has clearly stated that America is a Christian nation, and his religious beliefs are the foundation of his political beliefs. What verse did Gohmert quote from the Bible to justify one of his political beliefs?

Louie Gohmert by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

A. Jeremiah Chapter 31 Verse 17. “And there is hope for your future–declares the LORD: Your children shall return to their country.” Gohmert referenced this verse as justification for sending migrants, including unaccompanied minors, back to their native countries, regardless of the danger facing them if they return.

B. Psalm 109 Verse 8. “May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership.” Gohmert made this statement on Joe Biden’s inauguration day.

C. Genesis Chapter 12 Verse 3. “I will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curse thee.” He offered this as justification for the United States supporting (“blessing”) Israel, as Israel’s enemies will be cursed by God.

D. Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 37a. “Whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world.” Gohmert quoted this line from the Talmud at a Right to Life rally, justifying his anti-abortion position.

E. II Kings, Verses 23 and 24. “As he was going up the road, some little boys came out of the town and jeered at him, saying, ‘Go away, baldhead! Go away, baldhead!’ He turned around and looked at them and cursed them in the name of the LORD. Thereupon, two she-bears came out of the woods and mangled forty-two of the children.” Said Gohmert, “Clearly, the Lord had me in mind when he wrote the Bible, and anyone can see that this means that I, with my baldhead, can basically say any idiotic thing I want. Don’t mess with me. I’ll send she-bears after you if you do.”

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Attorney F. Lee Bailey died last week. Bailey gained fame for defending a wide range of controversial figures, including The Boston Strangler, Patty Hearst, and O. J. Simpson. He brought a very theatrical presence into the courtroom, and advocated strongly for his clients with a focus on the concept of reasonable doubt. What did Bailey say that offended many in the Jewish community?

F. Lee Bailey famed Lawyer by John Mathew Smith is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

A. In a 2019 podcast interview, Bailey blamed Hollywood Jews for promoting an anti-O. J. Simpson narrative, stating, “And in Hollywood, if you do a portrayal that’s favorable to O.J. Simpson we won’t fund it. So some of the people who claim that most of their lives they’ve been subjected to horrible kinds of prejudice, and indeed extermination during World War II, are now behaving in exactly the same totalitarian spirit by suppressing...an unfettered free press.”

B. In a 2011 interview about Patty Hearst, Bailey referenced her grandfather, William Randolph Hearst, the famous newspaper publisher. Said Bailey, “I still think it’s a miscarriage of justice that Patty Hearst was convicted. But I’m glad her grandfather wasn’t around when this happened. Patty was kidnapped by a gang of revolutionaries that hated America. William Randolph Hearst popularized the phrase ‘America First’ in his newspapers. He loved this country, not like those thugs.” Many Jews took offense at this statement, as the America First movement of the middle 20th century opposed aid to those countries who were fighting against the Nazis.

C. Bailey’s first notable case was that of Dr. Sam Sheppard. Late one night in 1954, Sheppard’s wife was bludgeoned to death in their home. While Dr. Sheppard claimed to have been awakened by noise and knocked unconscious by the perpetrator, he was charged with the crime and convicted in a case that received extensive and inflammatory coverage in the media, including an editorial in the Cleveland Press prior to Sheppard’s arrest which was titled, “Why Isn’t Sam Sheppard in Jail?” Bailey (not Sheppard’s original attorney) eventually took over as his lawyer, appealing the case to the Supreme Court, which overturned the conviction based on the inability of Sheppard to get a fair trial given the biased media coverage. In a 1972 Wall Street Journal interview, Bailey said, “The elites who control the media long got away with wielding their power indiscriminately and to their own advantage. I’m glad that the Supreme Court stood up to them and freed Dr. Sheppard, a good Christian man who suffered such a great tragedy.” Bailey was criticized by the Anti-Defamation League for his reference to “media elites,” a common anti-Semitic trope.

D. In March 1968, American soldiers fighting in Viet Nam participated in what became known as the My Lai massacre, the mass murder of unarmed South Vietnamese citizens. Bailey represented Captain Ernest Lou Medina who was the commanding officer of the unit responsible for the murders. Bailey argued in Medina’s 1971 court martial trial that the massacre was the independent action of the soldiers, not a command from Captain Medina, and the officer was acquitted of all charges. In a 1981 interview in Time Magazine, Bailey stated, “My Lai was a terrible event, but let’s keep it in perspective. It’s not like the Holocaust. A few hundred people were killed.” He was criticized by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, which issued a statement saying “While the Holocaust was a unique evil in history, no one should reference the Holocaust to diminish other crimes against humanity.”

E. Bailey was one of many defense attorneys for O. J. Simpson, along with Alan Dershowitz, Johnnie Cochran, Robert Kardashian, and others. Bailey was reported to have complained about the body odor noticeable in the room when the lawyers met to discuss strategy. When asked who he thought was the problem, Bailey replied, “If you smell the shvitz, it’s Dershowitz.”

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Yair Lapid, leader of Israel’s centrist Yesh Atid party, was tasked by Israeli president Reuven Rivlin with forming a government after the failure of current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to do so. It is now expected that Lapid will form a coalition not only with center and left-leaning parties, but also with Naftali Bennett’s right-wing Yamina party. And apparently, Bennett will become prime minister, with a plan in place for Lapid to become prime minister at some later date. Benjamin Netanyahu has already criticized this coalition, which would result in his removal from office, saying among other things that “This government supports the dangerous nuclear deal,” based on his belief that Lapid will not stand up to Iran, and that Bennett has compromised his rightist views for his personal benefit. In fact, Yair Lapid strongly opposed the Iran nuclear deal when it was first announced in November 2013. How did then Israeli Finance Minister Yair Lapid describe the proposed nuclear deal with Iran at that time?

Secretary Blinken visit May 2021–Blinkin greets Yair Lapid by U.S. Embassy Jerusalem is licensed under CC BY 2.0

A. “We had a choice here between Pharoah and Haman.”

B. “We had a choice here between bacon and ham.”

C. “We had a choice here between Chmielnicki and Hitler.”

D. “We had a choice here between the plague and cholera.”

E. “We had a choice here between Iraq and a hard place.”

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