US Strategist Jeff Ballabon Reveals How Haredi Vote Shifted Congress, Aided Israel
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
US-based Haredi strategist Jeff Ballabon revealed his role in shifting Haredi voting patterns in the US, which he credits with securing the Republican majority in the 2022 midterm elections. This majority, he stated, was critical for the strong US support for Israel following the October 7th attacks. Ballabon also discussed influencing the 2016 Republican platform and thwarting Olmert's Jerusalem division plan, while warning of Iran's EMP threat and stressing the need for Jewish unity.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Strategist Jeff Ballabon claims Haredi votes secured the Republican House majority in 2022, crucial for post-Oct 7 Israel support.
- Ballabon helped shape the 2016 Republican platform, removing the two-state solution and using "Judea and Samaria" instead of "West Bank."
- He intervened in 2006 to block Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's plan to negotiate the division of Jerusalem.
- Ballabon warns of Iran's EMP threat to the US, stating Israel's intelligence is vital in countering it.
- He emphasized the critical need for Jewish unity, especially after the October 7th attacks.
Jeff Ballabon, a US-based Haredi Orthodox lawyer and strategist close to Republican power centers, revealed in an interview that he was instrumental in shifting the voting patterns of the Orthodox and Haredi communities in the United States, significantly impacting American politics and support for Israel. Ballabon, who has advised former Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump, explained how he pioneered "microtargeting" for the Haredi community, which transcends geographical boundaries.
He detailed how, in the 2022 midterm elections, Democrats in New York threatened Haredi institutions over core curriculum studies. In response, the Haredi community overwhelmingly shifted their votes to Republicans, flipping four key districts in New York. Ballabon asserts that this Republican majority in the House of Representatives was crucial for the unwavering support Israel received after the October 7th attacks, including blocking arms embargoes and holding hearings against university presidents who tolerated antisemitism.
Ballabon also recounted his influence on shaping the Republican Party platform in 2016 under Donald Trump, where he helped remove the "two-state solution" concept, affirmed support for Israel's decisions regarding its future, rejected the term "occupation," and replaced "West Bank" with "Judea and Samaria." He also shared an anecdote about convincing former President George W. Bush to engage with Orthodox rabbis, aiming to change the perception of Haredi political engagement beyond financial requests.
Furthermore, Ballabon discussed his role in thwarting a 2006 plan by then-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Justice Minister Haim Ramon, backed by Condoleezza Rice, to negotiate the division of Jerusalem. Ballabon drafted a letter, signed by 72 Knesset members, asserting that the government lacked the mandate to negotiate the city's future without Knesset approval, forcing Olmert to abandon the plan.
Looking at broader geopolitical threats, Ballabon highlighted the existential danger posed by Iran's nuclear ambitions and its potential to launch an EMP attack on the US, a threat he believes Israel's intelligence capabilities are vital in countering. He concluded by emphasizing the critical importance of Jewish unity, especially in light of the divisions seen before and after the October 7th massacre, warning that internal strife could lead to self-destruction.
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