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Yair Lapid: Trump Could Become Most Popular President In Israeli History

Israelis are big fans of President Trump — and even local opponents of Benjamin Netanyahu are admitting it.

Yair Lapid, chairman of the centrist Yesh Atid party, told the political news site Axios that Trump was on his way to being the most popular American president in Israeli history.

Israelis across the political spectrum have praised Trump’s support for the Israeli government and particularly for moving the United States embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Sites around Israel are in the process of bearing Trump’s name. Israeli Minister of Transportation Yisrael Katz told CNN in December that a planned high-speed rail station in the Old City of Jerusalem will be named after the U.S. president.

And, as more nations announce intentions to move their embassies to Jerusalem, the country’s housing minister is moving to build a new diplomatic district, which he said could be called “Trump Town.” Construction Minister Yoav Gallant told The Jerusalem Post in April that his ministry is actively working to clear space for new diplomatic buildings in the ancient city.

The Axios report that noted Israeli enthusiasm also included a quote from a senior European official claiming that the relationship between the U.S. and Europe had reached a state of “crisis.”

Alyssa Fisher is a news writer at the Forward. Email her at [email protected], or follow her on Twitter at @alyssalfisher

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