Israeli leaders have high expectations for U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term, with analysts suggesting that Israeli officials hope his unconventional approach to foreign policy will bring the desired results concerning their key security priorities.
However, as VOA reports, Trump’s efforts to secure a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia could cause tensions with the Jewish state.
Trump’s latest proposal to manage the Middle East conflict by relocating Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan is seen as a typical example of what many in Israel consider an unconventional approach to foreign policy. This approach could yield favorable outcomes for Israel, such as the aggressive stance against Iran, Israel’s primary adversary.
Many Israelis, particularly supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government, expect Israel to benefit from such policies, just as it did during Trump’s first term.
“I believe that by working together again, we will further strengthen the alliance between the United States and Israel. I am confident that we will defeat the axis of terror led by Iran and usher in a new era of peace and progress in our region,” Netanyahu declared.
Some Israeli analysts believe that with President Trump’s support, Israel may engage in the destruction of Iran’s nuclear program after the weakening of Iran’s defense systems and militant groups associated with it in Gaza and Lebanon through Israeli airstrikes.
“Israel needs the support, cooperation, and moral clarity of the new Trump administration in order to finally eliminate the Iranian regime and its nuclear program,” said Dan Diker, director of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Diplomacy.
Other analysts are less certain that Trump would support Israeli military actions against Iran.
“Initially, he will try to reach an agreement, of course, one that differs from the one he withdrew from, but reaching a deal will be his top priority,” said Helit Barel, former director of Israel’s National Security Council.
Trump has expressed his desire to expand the Abraham Accords, which were negotiated during his first administration between Israel and Gulf states, by brokering a peace agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
“He wants to be the person who brokered the deal of the century. The more Israel normalizes relations with the Gulf states, the more they can cooperate with each other to address security threats such as Iran or groups like ISIS—and the less America will need to get involved. From Trump’s perspective, in terms of his vision, he wants America to be less engaged,” said Jonathan Rynhold, an expert in Israeli-U.S. relations at Bar Ilan University.
Saudi Arabia has stated that any peace agreement with Israel will be contingent on progress toward the establishment of a Palestinian state, a solution that Israel’s right-wing government opposes.
Such a stance could lead to clashes between President Trump and Israeli leaders.
“He will try to reach a deal for some kind of Palestinian entity in the West Bank to resolve this issue once and for all with Israel. This signals that Israel needs to preemptively address this issue and offer a range of alternative solutions,” said analyst Diker, according to VOA.
President Trump has vowed to end all wars, and in Israel, the prevailing belief is that his efforts led to the current ceasefire with Hamas, as well as the agreement for the release of hostages.
However, finding sustainable solutions for Middle Eastern conflicts could prove to be a greater challenge for the returning American president.
