Benjamin Netanyahu has often expressed his belief that Donald Trump is arguably the best ally Israel has ever had in the Oval Office.
In a bold display of support this week, the Israeli Prime Minister was among the first global leaders to extend his congratulations to Trump on his election victory, calling it “the greatest comeback in history.”
Such enthusiasm from Mr. Netanyahu comes as no big surprise.
During Trump’s initial term, he established himself as a fervent supporter of Israel.
Among his many actions, the Republican president made the historic decision to relocate the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, thereby recognizing the ancient city as Israel’s capital for the first time.
In a ceremony in 2019, Netanyahu even celebrated the establishment of “Trump Heights,” a region in a contested area near Syria.
Additionally, Trump’s administration officially declared the Golan Heights—territory widely regarded as part of Syria under international law—to be Israeli territory.
In another unprecedented gesture, Trump became the first sitting American president to pray at the Western Wall, the holiest site in Judaism.
In 2018, he also cut US funding to UNRWA, the United Nations agency that aids Palestinian refugees—this move came even before the agency faced significant scrutiny in the wake of the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.
Trump has continuously touted his pro-Israel stance, claiming no other president has been as supportive as he has.
The ultranationalist factions within Israel seem to concur.
For instance, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right national security minister, expressed his excitement on social media when Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris appeared imminent, tweeting, “Yesssss .”
It’s easy to see the rationale behind such sentiments.
During Trump’s administration, the US State Department ceased to view Israeli settlements in the Occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem as “inconsistent with international law.”
These settlements, typically referred to as illegal due to their location on land internationally recognized as belonging to the Palestinians, had long been a contentious point.
This particular policy change was overturned under Joe Biden, but it would hardly shock anyone if Trump decided to reinstate it upon returning to office.
At its very essence, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict represents a complex struggle over land—a battleground for two nations vying for one territory.
Israel has rapidly increased its settlements in the West Bank over recent years, and this growth has intensified since the events of October 7.
Estimates suggest that illegal Israeli settlements now account for roughly 40% of the Palestinian territories in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Such encroachments pose a significant barrier to achieving a two-state solution, as vast areas of land rightfully belonging to Palestinians have been seized.
It’s precisely this reality that Hamas referenced to justify the assaults on October 7, 2023—asserting that Israeli occupation is at the heart of their grievances.
Invariably, the aftermath of these events has escalated into a war between Israel and Hamas that shows no signs of slowing.
The pressing question now is how Trump’s unyielding support for Israel will influence the ongoing conflict with Hamas. Can he actually achieve peace in Gaza, as he frequently claimed during his campaign?
Reports indicate that Trump conveyed to Netanyahu in July that he desires the war to reach a resolution before he returns to office.
However, the specifics of what “resolution” means in Trump’s vision remain ambiguous.
Israel has suggested maintaining a military presence in Gaza even as hostilities cease, a notion that Hamas outright rejects, insisting that they will continue the fight unless Netanyahu’s government agrees to a full troop withdrawal and a lasting ceasefire.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire continue to flounder because the two sides have fundamentally different objectives:
Hamas aims to survive the war, ready to engage again post-ceasefire, while Israel is determined to eradicate Hamas altogether, viewing any temporary ceasefire merely as a pause in combat.
Closing that chasm seems improbable, regardless of how forcefully Trump presses for compromise.
Moreover, while Trump’s pro-Israel rhetoric is clear, his alliance with Netanyahu is equally noteworthy.
The upcoming administration is expected to recognize that Netanyahu’s political survival likely hinges on the continued conflict.
Some speculate that Netanyahu may even call for snap elections sooner than anticipated, banking on the ongoing turmoil to bolster his electoral prospects.
With political survival skillfully understood by both figures, it’s unlikely that Trump will exert significant pressure on Netanyahu.
Historically, Trump has granted allies more leeway in their actions, and we might expect this pattern to continue until his patience wears thin.
An emerging player in Trump’s circle of advisors is Richard Grenell, favored to become the new US Secretary of State. He recently articulated that Trump’s vision is ultimately “peace.”
However, it seems that this peace would come with stringent conditions skewed in favor of Israel.
Grenell pointedly remarked, “You can’t talk about a two-state solution when you have Hamas, a terrorist organization, leading one side. That’s simply unacceptable.” He emphasized the complicated nature of negotiating without addressing the funding sources for groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
It appears we may see a return to a “maximum pressure” policy directed at Iran in a second Trump term, akin to what occurred during his first term.
In summary, a Trump presidency may not extend a hand to Hamas, and such a stance raises concerns about the feasibility of achieving a ceasefire that would genuinely end the ongoing violence.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
