In less than a month, the second Trump administration will take office in Washington, and in Israel, numerous people are appearing in the media pretending to be close with the president and his team. However, in reality, you can count on one hand those who are actually just one text message away from future senior American cabinet members. Among these select few is Elie Pieprz (52), a political consultant who grew up in the US and immigrated to Israel, who for the first time – and likely the last – shares the story of his work.
We meet at Mishkenot Sha'ananim in Jerusalem, where he, his wife Judith (a psychologist by profession), and their daughters have lived in recent years. An emotional connection to the historic neighborhood brought them here.
In interviews with media outlets worldwide, Pieprz doesn't discuss his activities but rather explains what is happening in Israel. "I prefer to work behind the scenes, I am not used to talking about things I do," he said. However, looking back at Pieprz's career reveals that in many cases, he was a trailblazer.
"They knew me as the kid with the strange name and the kippah," he recalled of his early days. Back in the 1980s, even observant Jews didn't wear kippahs in their workplaces. His father, himself a government employee, never removed his kippah, and the son followed suit.
In those days, Reagan's success against the USSR in the Cold War reached its peak. Following the spirit of the era, he connected with the Republican administration – this during a time when American Jews almost universally aligned with Democrats. In Silver Spring where he grew up, many community members worked in the federal government. Through these connections, he landed a summer internship with the Secretary of Development in Reagan's second administration. "My role was simply answering letters," he recounted.
From this junior government position, this young professional found his way into political campaigns, where he connected with figures who would eventually become key players in America: New York Mayor and Trump confidant Rudy Giuliani, New York Governor George Pataki, leading pollster Frank Luntz, and most significantly – Kellyanne Conway, who would become Donald Trump's senior advisor.
Conway never explained to Pieprz why she took him under her wing, but since their first meeting more than 30 years ago, she has continued to advise and support him. For his part, he offered her and everyone he worked with professional, honest, and discreet service. Pieprz operates without stepping on toes or manipulating situations, instead working quietly and methodically for his clients.
Initially, his work was purely political, supporting Republican candidates across America. One of these candidates, interestingly, was a young congressman named John Thune, who would soon become Senate Majority Leader. Pieprz also spearheaded a broad initiative to name streets across America after Ronald Reagan, including the renaming of Washington's National Airport in honor of the late president.
After marriage, he transitioned to the tech industry and officially took a 12-year break from politics. In practice, though, he remained involved, assisting various candidates and maintaining his connections. The major shift occurred in 2010 – coinciding with his move to Israel, he decided to return to public activity, particularly focusing on connecting Israel to American politics.
"I believed I had the connections to make an impact. I knew there was strong support for Israel among the American public, but I wanted Israel to become a domestic issue, a personal and local matter for voters rather than just a distant foreign policy topic," he explained his vision.
In the spirit of this vision, his first major project was "I VOTE ISRAEL." During the 2012 US elections, Pieprz encouraged Israelis with American voting rights from both parties to submit their votes by mail from Israel. This pioneering initiative marked the first campaign outside US borders calling on Americans to vote in elections. The model was later replicated in other countries with his guidance and support.
"It's important to understand that some US voting districts have 5% of their electorate living in Israel. Places like Teaneck, Five Towns, and similar communities are heavily populated with Jews, many of whom have made aliyah. This gives Congressional candidates compelling reasons to campaign in Israel," he explained.
A key strategic factor involves mobilizing evangelical support. "When evangelical voters and pastors in America witness events here, it energizes them. When Israelis expressed frustration with Obama's perceived abandonment of Israel, leaders there used this sentiment to mobilize their base. Even in the recent election, despite initial evangelical hesitation about Trump, Israeli anger toward Biden and Harris helped overcome these reservations and solidify support," Pieprz explained.
The "I VOTE ISRAEL" campaign in 2012 saw 80,000 Israelis participating in US elections from Israel. By last November, with direct Republican Party investment, this number grew to approximately 300,000 Israelis exercising their voting rights – overwhelmingly supporting Trump.
Pieprz continued expanding his influence. In 2013, Danny Dayan, then chairman of the Yesha Council, recruited him to establish the organization's international division. "I was such an outsider that I didn't even know who Danny Dayan was or what the Yesha Council represented," he recalled. This period coincided with intense pressure from the Obama administration when a "Palestinian state" was a mandatory talking point at every US political gathering. The future of Judea and Samaria dominated American political and media discourse. Pieprz was tasked with building vital bridges between the settlement movement and the world's most influential capital.
Through persistent, methodical effort, he began breaking down barriers. Leveraging his Washington connections and deep understanding of the political machinery, he initially focused on bringing congressional staffers to Judea and Samaria. This gradually expanded to members of Congress themselves. The watershed moment came during Donald Trump's presidency, culminating in then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's historic visit to Psagot Winery and the declaration that settlements in Judea and Samaria do not violate international law.
"I recall a pivotal meeting in Psagot during a J Street-sponsored visit (the left-wing Jewish lobby) when a Black Democratic congressman pulled me aside and said: 'Meet me in Washington without Jeremy Ben-Ami', J Street's CEO. Though his initial positions drastically differed from mine, he recognized the merit in our arguments and wanted to hear them unfiltered. Another breakthrough came in 2018 when a Pennsylvania congressman, initially highly critical, confided after our meeting: 'I know you're right.' These seemingly small moments marked significant shifts in perspective.
"Our strategy aimed to demonstrate to Americans that Judea and Samaria isn't some extreme venture beyond the mountains requiring concealment. At that time, no Israeli or American organization would bring visitors to the settlements, and this secrecy created a stigma that proved damaging. We sought to show that maintaining a presence in Judea and Samaria isn't extreme or problematic, but rather represents Israel's mainstream position, led by serious individuals."
Simultaneously, Pieprz worked on transforming the narrative through language. He pioneered the consistent use of "Judea and Samaria" instead of "the territories" or "the West Bank." Today, many incoming administration officials embrace this terminology, understanding its deeper significance.
Crucial connections
In recent years, Pieprz has facilitated crucial connections in Washington and Europe for the Security Movement, led by Brigadier General (ret.) Amir Avivi. Recently, Avivi visited Mar-a-Lago and met with National Security Advisor-designate Mike Waltz and other senior Trump administration officials.
Another ongoing initiative involves supporting groups and communities from Muslim nations, including delegations from Yemen, Pakistan, and even Iran. "These connections often develop through word-of-mouth. Their strategy involves leveraging Israel's unique relationship with the US to gain Washington's support." Some groups have visited Israel, though Pieprz maintains discretion about these sensitive engagements.
This extensive background sets the stage for the new era beginning in Washington on January 20, 2025. Throughout his career, Pieprz has worked closely with key figures including Mike Waltz, Vice President-designate JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (who "survived a precarious situation in Ramallah and requested to visit Joseph's Tomb in Nablus together," Pieprz recalled), UN Ambassador Elise Stefanik, and Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. His multiple interactions with Trump himself inform his projections about the future.
"These individuals share our fundamental perspective on Israel. They grasp Judea and Samaria's vital importance. For some of them, a Palestinian state is an absolute red line. Their most significant attribute is exempting Israel from the 'America First' doctrine. While they aim to restructure America's role as the West's protector and financier, Israel represents a unique case. Trump values self-reliant allies, and Israel exemplifies this principle. That's the basis of his distinct approach toward Israel."
Regarding Stefanik's upcoming UN role, Pieprz stated: "Alice brings excellence to the position. While she won't dismantle the UN, she'll effectively reduce its influence and likely defund organizations and agencies operating against American interests. Both she and Trump believe America undermines itself by submitting to UN authority."
On Israel's strategy post-January 20, Pieprz advised that "Israel must project strength and maintain an unapologetic stance. Trump respects strong partners, hence his regard for Putin and Erdogan. Rather than self-restraint, Israel should think innovatively about its objectives. Trump likely opposes a Palestinian state. He's skeptical of Ramallah's leadership, viewing them as perpetually dependent rather than self-developing. Their anti-American stance particularly troubles him – something Trump won't tolerate."
