Nachum and Phil Rosen discuss the US-Israel Relationship

Uh 1 of July 16th of Tom as we promised you Phil Rosen and we've got him. Um couple of days ago, Phil saw the uh JMA the home single network newsletter and um saw that we were discussing obviously the current political situation and doing a whole bunch of stuff on it and um he said to me off the air that he can give a perspective on the USIsrael relationship at this time that that others are not giving and that should be interesting to hear. He also he he and I have differed on the um on the progression of the Israeli government since October 7th a couple of years back. But nonetheless, we completely respect each other's opinions and I thank him for that because he does not dismiss opinions that may not be like his own. He's chairman emeritus of Lehood USA. He is chairman of the World Jewish Congress and a board member up at Yeshiva University. Phil Rosen is with us live via telephone. A pleasure to welcome you back to JM in the AM. >> Good morning, Natham. It's great to be back and I thank you for having me on your show. I appreciate it. >> A pleasure. And I appreciate the fact that, you know, for a couple of years now, there's so much that we disagree about and you are so gracious and never dismiss someone else's opinion on what's happening with Israel and the US. So, I appreciate that and look forward to your input this morning. >> Great. I mean, that's that's the way we're supposed to act. Oh, that's >> you're supposed to disagree, but you're supposed to appreciate the other person's opinion and continue to uh to like them tremendously. So, >> 100%. If only everybody would follow those ground rules. All right, here we go. you you know what set off the most recent uh round of heated discussions in the Jewish world and that was the um uh the movement of the White House to create a memo of understanding and get some type of negotiation underway and then eventually sealed uh if we can call it sealed already with the country of Iran and its leadership. And this really got a lot of people who are in the Zionist community and who love Israel very very upset. felt it was very Obamaike, felt it might be worse than Obama, felt that President Trump, who really has to be commended for being, as he has described, the best president Israel's ever had, I don't even know that's disputable. Uh it it really got everybody to uh uh to question uh what he was doing and whether he had Israel's interests at heart. So, what was your take on what the White House did and what's happening now with this negotiation process with Iran? >> So, um first of all, I believe that what we've seen in the last couple of years is um as you said, the best friend Israel's ever had. You had the United States helping Israel eliminate several existential threats that have existed for centuries. And that includes the nuclear threat in Iran. Um that includes uh Hezbollah. That includes um and I'll get back to that in a second. that includes a bunch of uh friends um I mean friends meaning friends of Iran um that want to destroy Israel and I think that that's how you start the discussion um which is let's take note of the good stuff that's happened to us um as a result of President Trump um I think right now what we have to look at is we have to look at the existential threats that have been eliminated and at the same time look at the long-term picture which I think President Trump will continue to help Israel. I I was there a week ago um week and a half ago and I went to the Air Force base um to see the F-35 planes um which a magnificent magnificent uh air force vehicle um and I don't know how many there were 20 25 um which we walked through and when we got there we were told that um you know since there's a memo understanding being negotiated at that point in time that there wouldn't be military exercises and the planes are all locked down and about five minutes later I see four F16 jets take off um you know right at that moment and I said to the guy in charge I said what's the story said you said there weren't going to be any exercises he said those are United States planes with United States pilots and they do they operate on their own schedule. They operate together with us but they don't practice at the same time that we do and when we're in lockdown they're not necessarily there. Um which was really heartwarming to see that. also heard all the stories about how the US military and the Israeli military are operating together in the closest relationship that the United States has had to another army in history including World War II, which is magnificent. So we look at that and we say to ourselves, what's this memo of understanding? My gut says the memo of understanding is to try to move um forward on the Iran front. Um I don't believe that they signed a peace treaty. This is a memo of understanding and they're pretty clear that uh you know it's not it's not a peace treaty. It's not a uh document that's going to live forever. This is a document that gets you to a couple of months. Some may say it's a document that gets you to the midterm elections. Um, but in any event, it's not something that's written in stone. And you can see that Iran as right after it signed the agreement tested the value of the agreement by attacking ships, >> right? >> Um, in respect of Hormuz. Um, I believe that Trump has a short-term plan, a medium-term plan, and a long-term plan. And for us people who love Israel, I think we have to look at the long-term plan. You know, he's got three more years of presidency, he's got a lot that he can accomplish, number one. Number two is he's also got to set the stage uh for his legacy to continue after him. And in my mind, the legacy continues with somebody like Marco Rubio taking over and continuing the amazing work that the president did for for the state of for for America and for the state of Israel. >> All right. But before Yeah. Before we get to the to the next president though, um do you think it would be very different if the midterms were not looming? Do you think that this whole memo of understanding episode would have been completely different if not for the timing of the upcoming elections? >> It's a great question. I don't know. You know, the the great thing about uh President Trump is um none of us know exactly what he's thinking. Um and that that has bowed to our benefit um tremendously over the last couple of years. Um, and I think the midterms probably have something to do with it, but I can't I can't say uh for sure. >> And and why Rubio? In other words, you know, it is three years out and already someone like yourself who weighs all these things, you know, in a very calculated fashion. You've already announced, as you just said here on the air, that there is a specific potential candidate that you're looking at. Why him? So, I don't know if you remember Malcolm Malcolm. I was um sorry about that. I I was I was Rubio's uh co-chair of his campaign when he ran for president. So, I've had a relationship with him um almost the decade. Um >> and you think and you think he could win. Obviously, >> I think he's the right guy. Um I'm positive that he can win. Um, and I think that the president is weighing uh the possibility of of who he's going to support. You know, I haven't heard anything about that except two things. First of all, every time the president goes through his cabinet, like at the State of the Union address and several times since then, um, the president says he goes through the people by name and their job. He says that Pete Heststead's doing a magnificent job as Secretary of War. And he goes through the people. He always mentions the vice president just by name. And then he says, "And the greatest secretary of state in US history, Marco Rubio." And he said that several times. I think he has a great appreciation for Marco. He knows that Marco is very, very, very, very loyal to him. And um I think that that means a lot to him and I think they have agreement on where um US strength should be and uh how much we need to help Israel and I think uh I think they're going to continue on that path. >> All right, Phil Rosen is with us. Okay, Phil. Now the topic that that and and the real reason why you and I felt we should talk on the air. Uh very few people know the prime minister of Israel like you do. Obviously, you have a relationship with him and with the president of the United States. Um there is concern that because of everything we've discussed and because of what's happened over the last couple of weeks, uh that in fact there is a rift between the two of them that the prime that the President Trump is saying things publicly about the prime minister that he never would have said in the past. What is your evaluation of their relationship today on July the 1st? >> I think it's an excellent relationship and I think um you know when he when he says things about uh about the prime minister. He's not saying it in order to hurt the prime minister and he's not saying it because he thinks any less of the prime minister than he has. He calls him the greatest wartime prime minister uh in history and uh I doubt he'll step away from that uh that designation. Um I don't think he wants to get involved in the Israeli elections and I think that's that's very smart, you know, as opposed to Bill Clinton who stepped directly into the Israeli elections in support of uh of Perez. Um, I don't think that uh that President Trump wants to step in. Um, I think he'll let Israel make their own decisions as to who supports them going forward. You know, I think that uh the title the greatest wartime prime minister in history um is is an apt one. I think that the prime minister since October 7th has uh has led Israel um on a path um and with the help of the United States destroying um several uh seven different um existential threats, seven different wars at the same time. And um it's pretty impressive. I don't think uh you know we have to take a step back and look at the big picture and we have to say to ourselves think about where we could be if we didn't have a prime minister um who was so adept at uh at fighting battles and um if we didn't have this president supporting him. Um you you drive just just go through Benorian airport and see which planes are you know you don't have Delta and United but you have United States of America warships and planes in every single open um uh gate and uh it's a magnificent site. Um, and for someone like me who basically worships the fighters, I say to myself, "Thank God. Thank God that this is existing and thank God this help is there." >> Oh, I we totally agree with you on that. Did you cringe? Did you find it cringeworthy when he publicly uh called out Netanyahu for the activities in Lebanon, etc.? Like, did that worry you a bit or not? No, I think uh I think listen, he he knows Netanyahu has an unbelievable job. I think he thinks that Netanyahu has the toughest job that exists in the world today. And I agree with that. Um I think that uh when when President Trump talks, he doesn't necessarily mince his words. He says things that pop into his head and sometimes it's a little harsh. Um, I've watched him when I represented him, I watched him uh say things that uh, you know, almost made me cringe and then I thought to myself, but look at what he does. Look at what he does. Look at the great things he does. >> Yeah, actions do. We always say actions speak louder than words. And that that's why I've been very careful not to go that crazy on the president. A lot of people are going nuts, but I I think you got to really think about the entire list of things that he's come through with before you just go ahead and blindly condemn him uh for recent statements. Uh finally, Phil, 50 years ago this week, uh one of the greatest miracles, of course, Sahal the IDF pulled off the amazing rescue at Antebi. I bring it up because first of all, I think it's worth mentioning and a lot of people in this audience who are too young need to read up on it. Uh, but aside from that, I remember exactly where I was when I heard the news of the rescue. Do you remember where you were when you heard the news of the rescue? >> Yes, I think I was in the school. Um, it's actually it's July 1, so >> if I was in school, it was it was uh um probably doing something after school activities or something like that. But I remember very well listening to the news. Um, I've since met a bunch of the pilots um who were involved in the rescue operation and every time I see one of them, I think to myself, "Wow. Wow." The fact that they went in in the darkness to an airport that nobody's ever been to to rescue Jews. That's, you know, that's the way we should act. That's I remember my father telling me after World War II um he wishes that he wishes that we had people um out there trying to help the Jews who trouble. >> Yeah. You've you've you've said this to us before on the air and my god I wish I would I wish people out there would uh would be affected by it the way you are. Um we're in a unique time folks. We're in a unique time where, thank God, the IDF and obviously the collective presence of the state of Israel protects Jews all over the world. That's the bottom line. I remember saying, I'm sure you say it all the time to Israeli soldiers, you know, thank you for protecting us in New York. And they look at you like you're out of your mind, right? But but that's that's the reality. That's the reality. All right. So, Phil Rosen has publicly declared on JM, don't panic, folks. Don't panic. He is very confident in the United States Israel relationship. Would that be a fair assessment, Phil? >> Exactly. >> Uh, God bless you. Have an amazing summer and thanks so much for joining us. >> Thank you. Thanks so much. Have a great summer and and uh I hope it goes great for you and the show. >> Appreciate that very much. >> By the way, we didn't discuss what we always talk about at the end, which is the YU basketball team. You know, I saw that they every time I turn around, another kid is committed to YU. Are all these are all these really and and they're all high quality good players, right? >> They're excellent players. I I hats off to Elliot Stein that's in his team >> uh for recruiting these kids, including including um Tamil Goodman's son who's coming to YU, which uh which is a nice twist of faith. you could say in fact Tamier should have gone to YU. I think his path would have been different. Um but uh I think that this team is going to be great and I think that that's a real credit to uh um to the people and I think YU is doing amazing things. I think Ari Burman's done a fabulous job um as president and uh besides the basketball team, there's the dental school and all sorts of amazing developments at YU. So, you're alumni, you as an alumnest, you should be very proud. >> I I appreciate that. When you say dental, people need to realize it's literally just been founded, right? Like this is a big big major new development. >> Exactly. It's a and it's got um 100 people in the first class. So, they're doing very very well. The class the the class is located um in Herald Square in the Midtown campus. Um some a new uh project Herald Square building and it's fantastic really fantastic. So, credit to uh to the leadership of YU and uh again, we should all be very proud. >> Where do you spend the summer? Israel, the United States, the Catskills, Florida. Where where where are you during the summer? >> Not the Catskills. I go, not Florida. I I go back and forth from Israel uh to Europe. Actually, in my role as World Jewish Congress chairman. Oh, wow. I'm traveling the world meeting with uh >> with leaders of countries. I met with the leader of Germany and I'm meeting with uh all of these leaders throughout the summer. So, please God, I should be able to develop some relationships and help out Jews um all around the world. >> When you get my role, >> when you get to England, make sure you know which one's the leader. >> Yeah, that's funny. I'm I'm going to England. I'm going to Canada. I'm going to all the places that uh >> some of these countries you need a scorecard to keep track of who's in and who's out. You know what I mean? >> Exactly. Exactly. >> All right, Phil. Thank you so much. >> Take care now. Nothing to say. Well, >> always a pleasure. Phil Rosen, everybody. You need a scorecard. Is right. Uh Phil is chair of the chairmeritus of Lee Hood USA, chairman of the World Jewish Congress, as you just heard him mentioned, a proud board member up at Yeshiva University, and uh somebody who's very confident even today on July the 1st of 2026 in the Israel US relationship. It's America's one and only Jewish moments in the morning radio program heard on listener sponsored digital radio rather the web.com and the single network and of course on the beloved NSN