European Jewish Leader: Trump is good for Israel, bad for Jews

A European Jewish leader has said Donald Trump’s election will usher in a “new world order” and that while his presidency will be good for Israel, it will be bad for Jews elsewhere.

Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the Conference of European Rabbis and chief rabbi of Moscow, was speaking to Arutz Sheva this week, after Trump told New York Times reporters that he would overhaul America’s existing security and defence arrangements with European states, making them pay their way.

Goldschmidt said this could affect “American exceptionalism,” in which the country “told the world how to behave towards minorities,” adding: “If that component is no longer part of American foreign policy, it’s going to impact the lives of many minorities all over the world.”

He said: “Israel might benefit from a Trump presidency, and most Israelis think that way today, but the Jews who live as minorities in other countries might have a different view on that… It means that they will be much more dependent on their governments and their societies, and that there will be much less input from outside.”

Speaking about the rise of the far-right in Europe, which “have the same populist ideas” as Trump, Goldschmidt said: “We are fearful that once this is going to be the future power of Europe, what the position of Jews in Europe will be.”

Goldschmidt is one of many Jewish leaders in Europe and the U.S. who have expressed grave misgivings about Trump’s campaign and support base, with particular concern over the overall anti-minority message being espoused.