Your article, “Leaked Email Highlights Israel’s Concerns About Clinton Campaign,” (October 14, 2016) by Dr. Rafael Medoff of JNS.org, may have misled your readers into thinking that Donald Trump is more committed to siding with Israel than is Hillary Clinton. How can we possibly know?

Both candidates say they are pro-Israel. The article was short on facts that would show otherwise in Mrs. Clinton’s case. Mr. Trump, on the other hand, has made statements that give reason to believe that, if elected, he may well press Israel to make significant concessions. Last December, speaking about the prospects for peace negotiations, he told the Associated Press, “A lot will have to do with Israel and whether or not Israel wants to make the deal—whether or not Israel’s willing to sacrifice certain things.” He said that they may not be willing to do so, adding, “I’m OK with that, but then you’re just not going to have a deal.” It would be a mistake to assume that “I’m OK with that” means he will readily accept the Israeli position. Mr. Trump considers himself the consummate dealmaker; failure is unacceptable. There is every reason to believe that a President Trump will use every bit of leverage he has in an effort to bring the parties to the table and force both sides to make concessions.The burdens and risks that he might place on Israel are, like Mr. Trump himself, unpredictable.

Ira Friedman