President-elect Trump announced yesterday that neither former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley nor former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be a part of his new administration. That was a wise move by Trump. Let's examine the reasoning behind Trump's savvy decision:

Nikki Haley's Record

• Most of Haley's campaign funds came from the defense industry and the pro-Israeli lobby.
• During her presidential campaign, Haley was willing to go to great lengths for the Jewish vote and funding, promising to cut all US aid to nations deemed unfriendly to Israel.

• Haley's tenure at the UN Assembly involved pushing anti-Palestinian and anti-Iranian resolutions, even as Israel faced over 400 condemnations despite US opposition.
• She called for Americans to report and publish the names and photos of pro-Palestinian protesters across cities and universities, equating opposition to Israeli policies with a threat to national security.
• During a visit to Israel, Haley was reported to have written “FINISH THEM!” on artillery shells, implying a stance against not just militant groups but all 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza.
• Haley criticized Trump for being too old to lead, positioning herself as a more suitable, younger alternative.

Mike Pompeo's Stance

• Pompeo, another key Republican figure, was perceived as placing Israel's interests above America's, which critics argue endangered US citizens abroad.
• He was the first US Secretary of State to visit an illegal Jewish settlement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, signifying tacit approval of the land seizures.
• In November 2020, Pompeo overturned a longstanding State Department opinion that declared these settlements inconsistent with international law, as noted by the BBC.
• He spent his final weeks in office coercing Middle Eastern and African countries to recognize Israel, allegedly employing tactics of entrapment, intimidation, and blackmail.
• Before leaving office, Pompeo labeled criticism of Israel's military actions as anti-Semitic, effectively stifling pro-Palestinian advocacy under the guise of combating anti-Semitism.
• Despite his significant weight loss, critics argue that his judgment remained flawed.

It’s high time that hawkish figures like Haley, Pompeo, and other advocates of unconditional Israeli support accept that Palestinians have the right to resist occupation under UNGA Resolution 37/43, which legitimizes all means of resistance, including armed struggle. President Trump's decision underscores that neither Haley nor Pompeo fit the administration’s future vision.

Mahmoud El-Yousseph is a Palestinian freelancer for Islamicity.com, ColumbusFreePress.com, and The Ugly Truth.XYZ. He can be reached at [email protected].