There is an old Jewish saying: Don't provoke a king unless you are prepared to live with the consequences. Whether Americans like it or not, whether Israelis like it or not, Donald Trump sits in the White House. He commands the most powerful military on earth, controls the diplomatic machinery of the United States, and possesses the ability to make life either easier or far more difficult for the Jewish State.
That is why I find some of the public criticism of Trump coming out of Israel strategically reckless. Not because Trump is beyond criticism. He is not. Not because his policies are always correct. They are not. But because politics is not a yeshiva debate, a university seminar, or a social media shouting match. Politics is the art of surviving in an imperfect world.
Many Israelis seem to believe that publicly humiliating Trump, mocking him, or openly challenging him carries no consequences. They are making a dangerous assumption. Trump's political career has demonstrated one consistent trait: he rarely forgets a perceived slight, and he rarely forgives one. Friends can become enemies overnight. Allies can suddenly find themselves on the receiving end of public attacks, diplomatic pressure, or political punishment.
Israel has enough enemies without creating unnecessary friction with the occupant of the Oval Office.
The uncomfortable reality is that America remains Israel's most important strategic partner. Weapons systems, intelligence cooperation, diplomatic backing, and economic ties are not abstract concepts. They are pillars of Israeli national security. A nation surrounded by hostile forces cannot afford the luxury of emotional diplomacy.
This does not mean Israel should surrender its interests. Quite the opposite. Menachem Begin stood up to presidents. David Ben-Gurion stood up to presidents. Yitzhak Shamir stood up to presidents. But they understood something many modern commentators have forgotten: when confrontation is necessary, it should be purposeful, disciplined, and tied directly to national interests—not driven by anger, social media outrage, or the desire to score political points.
There is also a deeper lesson from Jewish history. Jews have survived for thousands of years not because we were the strongest people, but because we understood power. We understood when to fight, when to negotiate, when to remain silent, and when to speak. Wisdom is not merely telling the truth. Wisdom is knowing when, where, and how to tell it.
Some Israelis seem determined to learn this lesson the hard way. They assume that because America is a democracy, criticism comes without cost. Usually that is true. But Donald Trump is not a usual politician. He is a man whose personal grievances often become public policy. Whether one admires him or despises him is beside the point. Reality does not care about our feelings.
The first responsibility of Israeli leaders is not to express their emotions. It is to protect the State of Israel.
If criticism of Trump becomes necessary, let it be measured. Let it be strategic. Let it be connected to Israel's security needs. But public grandstanding, insults, and provocations directed at a man who possesses enormous political power serve no Israeli interest whatsoever.
The Middle East is already dangerous enough. There is no need to create another front in a war that does not need to be fought.
In Jewish history, survival has often depended upon recognizing reality before others do. The reality today is simple: Donald Trump may be many things, but he is also the President of the United States. Wise nations do not pick unnecessary fights with powerful allies. They protect their interests, preserve their relationships, and keep their eyes fixed on the dangers that truly matter.
Israel would be wise to remember that.
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