SAN DIEGO (SDJW) — Since the elections in Israel and the United States, there have been these major developments in those two nations’ capitals.
In Washington, D.C., President Donald J. Trump replaced his chief of staff Susie Wiles with deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, architect of America’s immigration policies.
Democrats were quick to criticize the appointment, with Congresswoman Sara Jacobs of San Diego and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla striking similar themes in their individual press releases.
Jacobs wrote: “In one of his first acts since the massive blue wave swept the country, Donald Trump has announced that Stephen Miller will be promoted to serve as his White House chief of staff.
“Yes — the same Stephen Miller who has been the driving force behind this administration’s cruel and violent immigration enforcement. The same Stephen Miller whose vile racism has torn apart thousands of families and caused needless death and suffering. The same Stephen Miller who pushed ICE arrests here in San Diego to record highs, terrorizing our neighbors and treating our communities like war zones.
“Stephen Miller’s agenda is to round people up with mass arrests. It’s to detain small children as they try to go to school. It’s to target anyone he wants to, regardless of whether they have a criminal record of any kind, regardless of whether they’re following the legal process. We’ve seen with our own eyes that his agenda has resulted in killing American citizens in cold blood.
“Elevating him to White House chief of staff sends a clear message: no matter how the American people voted, Trump is doubling down.
“But this is exactly what our majority is for.
“We won — and now we need to use our power to take decisive action to rein in Trump’s dangerous immigration agenda, dismantle and totally overhaul ICE, and hold accountable ALL those responsible for the atrocities we’ve witnessed.”
Meanwhile, Senator Padilla wrote: “Americans across the country loudly and clearly rejected Donald Trump’s agenda. Voters demand lower costs, an end to the chaos, and a government that works for them. I know Trump heard them, but sadly and predictably, he’s choosing to double down, handing the keys of the West Wing to the man most responsible for this Administration’s failures and most harmful policies.
“Stephen Miller is the architect of the cruelest immigration policies this country has seen in modern times: family separations, detainment of babies and children, militarized raids, arbitrary arrest quotas, and the horror unleashed in communities across the country. Californians have watched federal agents target their neighborhoods, terrorize families outside our schools and workplaces, and sow fear in communities across the state.
“Trump is doubling down – so will we. We will use every tool at our disposal – oversight, investigations, subpoenas, and our leverage over federal funding – to expose this Administration’s abuse of power and hold those responsible accountable.”
In Jerusalem, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, after consulting with the leaders of major parties, chose opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot as the politician best situated to persuade Knesset members to form a coalition representing a majority of Israel’s 120-member Parliament.
Eisenkot’s coalition drew enough votes from Israeli citizens to be eligible for 48 seats. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won 53 seats. Arab parties won 19 seats. Their leaders reportedly indicated to Herzog that even if they weren’t included in Eisenkot’s coalition, they still could vote for him to become prime minister.
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San Diego Jewish World staff report.