President Trump stood firm with Israel again on Thursday when he announced on Twitter that the United States was going to recognize their sovereignty over the Golan Heights. That didn’t sit well with the liberal American broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC), who decried the historic move as just a political stunt on their evening newscasts.
ABC anchor David Muir was so uninterested in the story that he only allowed a news brief lasting a mere 19 seconds, during World News Tonight:
And now to a major headline tonight involving the Middle East. President Trump unexpectedly overturning decades of U.S. policy in a tweet today, saying it's time for America to “fully recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.” Israel captured the area from Syria in 1967. The President giving a huge boost to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his re-election bid.
While Muir’s brief was fleeting, it did hit the same style of talking points as the others. Particularly, asserting that Trump made the decision solely on it benefitting Netanyahu in his reelection bid and downplaying how Israel acquired the territory.
On NBC Nightly News, chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell sprinted past the war that led to Israel taking control. “The U.S. recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, captured by Israel from Syria in 1967, becoming a bigger threat in the last year as Iranian-backed militants have infiltrated, firing rockets at Israel below,” she said.
In her report on the CBS Evening News, Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan was the only network broadcaster that evening to note there was a war at all. “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the midst of a tough reelection fight, thanked President Trump for declaring the territory, seized from Syria after the 1967 war, a permanent part of Israel.”
Of course, they failed to remind viewers how Israel won the Golan Heights as a result of the infamous Six-Day War; when Israel fought off the combined forces of Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, because they didn’t recognize Israel’s right to exist. They also omitted how the land was historically used to fire rockets at Israeli civilians.
Brennan also huffed about Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s current visit to America’s ally. She complained that the Secretary “delivered a further boost [to Netanyahu] as he became the highest-ranking U.S. official to tour the Western Wall alongside the Prime Minister, yet another disputed site.” But that’s not entirely accurate. In 2017, President Trump became the first sitting U.S. President to visit the Western Wall.
As she was wrapping up her segment, Brennan seemed to suggest the move was somehow legally questionable:
Now, making policy decisions in a way that could affect the outcome of the U.S. ally’s election is questionable for many diplomats, but the decision itself is popular with President Trump's own evangelical supporters. Prime Minister Netanyahu will also visit the White House next week.
But, and this was something none of the networks noted, Netanyahu’s opponent, Yair Lapid was in full support of Trump’s decision. “Thank you @POTUS for your intention to recognize our sovereignty over the Golan,” he said in a tweet. “President Trump has shown again that he’s a true friend of Israel.”
There’s also the issue of the Obama administration spending U.S. tax dollars on Netanyahu’s opponent in their 2015 election. Hmm, sounds like election meddling.
We must also remember that these are the same networks that mourned for the 50 Hamas terrorists killed by the Israeli Defense Force after they tried to breach the border fence with guns and knives to kill Israeli civilians. And they ignored Hamas rockets shot at Israeli civilians.
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
March 21, 2019
6:45:00 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: And now to a major headline tonight involving the Middle East. President Trump unexpectedly overturning decades of U.S. policy in a tweet today, saying it's time for America to “fully recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.” Israel captured the area from Syria in 1967. The President giving a huge boost to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his re-election bid.
CBS Evening News
March 21, 2019
6:36:08 p.m. EasternJEFF GLOR: President Trump today upended five decades of U.S. policy with a surprise tweet saying, “it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.” That is one of the world's most disputed territories. Margaret Brennan has details on this.
[Cuts to video]
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Thank you, America. Thank you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the midst of a tough reelection fight, thanked President Trump for declaring the territory, seized from Syria after the 1967 war, a permanent part of Israel. This afternoon the President explained his decision.
DONALD TRUMP: I‘ve been thinking about doing it for a long time. It's been a very hard decision for every president. No president has done it.
MARIA BARTIROMO: It's not about Netanyahu's reelection?
TRUMP: No, I wouldn't even know about that.
BRENNAN: Today's U.S. recognition did not change anything on the ground. The U.N. has policed the territory, which is smaller than Rhode Island, for decades, and thousands of Syrians still live there.
But the decision is a win for Netanyahu just 19 days ahead of the election. He's under pressure as he faces a possible criminal indictment on charges of bribery and corruption. Netanyahu has sought to capitalize on his close relationship with Mr. Trump. Even featuring him in campaign ads, to sway conservative voters who have cheered the administration's decisions to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal, and move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.
Today Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a further boost as he became the highest-ranking U.S. official to tour the Western Wall alongside the Prime Minister, yet another disputed site.
[Cuts back to live]
Now, making policy decisions in a way that could affect the outcome of the U.S. ally’s election is questionable for many diplomats, but the decision itself is popular with President Trump's own evangelical supporters. Prime Minister Netanyahu will also visit the White House next week. Jeff?
GLOR: Margaret Brennan, thank you very much.
NBC Nightly News
March 21, 2019
7:03:35 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: And President Trump today making a dramatic move, breaking with decades of U.S. policy. Saying in a tweet, the U.S. should recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, one of the most disputed territories in the world. NBC's Andrea Mitchell is in Israel for us tonight.
[Cuts to video]
ANDREA MITCHELL: The President's tweet coming just as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Prime Minister elated.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: President Trump -- has just made history. I called him. I thanked him on behalf of the people of Israel. He did it again.
MITCHELL: The U.S. recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, captured by Israel from Syria in 1967, becoming a bigger threat in the last year as Iranian-backed militants have infiltrated, firing rockets at Israel below.
President Trump has been showering Netanyahu with diplomatic gifts. Moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, and withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal. Critics say he's freezing out the Palestinians, giving Netanyahu too much. Tonight on Fox Business, Mr. Trump denied he is trying to help Netanyahu win re-election.
DONALD TRUMP: I wouldn't even know about that, I wouldn't even know about that, I have no idea. I hear he's doing okay.
[Cuts back to live]
MITCHELL: The President's move will be popular here where Netanyahu is facing a tough election in three weeks. And in a few days, he'll get another gift, a White House visit. Lester?
HOLT: All right. Andrea Mitchell in Israel, thank you.
