Trump’s latest inauguration has been good for Netanyahu, and ahead of the November 5 elections, the former president has sent mixed messages on his Middle East policy.

His remarks ranged from encouraging Netanyahu to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities, which Israel avoided in Saturday’s strikes, to criticizing the Israeli leader, saying “If I were president, the Oct. 7 attack would never have happened” and that he would put pressure on it. Israel should end the wars.

But analysts say these vague policies, combined with Trump’s “Make America great again” campaign slogan, are what Netanyahu is hoping for.

An isolationist, Trump, as a Republican president, could give Netanyahu more freedom in the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.

“One of the turning points for Netanyahu is the US elections. He prays for Trump’s victory, thinking that this will give him a lot of freedom of action, which will allow him to do what he desires,” said Gidon Rahat, Professor of Hebrew Political Science. University of Jerusalem told AFP.

Political commentator and former Netanyahu chief of staff Aviv Bushinsky similarly said: “His experience with the Republicans is very good… Unlike the Democrats, who are much tougher on him.”

close personal relationship

In his 17 years as prime minister, Netanyahu has served against only one Republican leader, Trump.

During his presidency, Trump has made several moves that upend some longstanding U.S. policies regarding Israel, its conflict with the Palestinians and the broader region, while bolstering Netanyahu’s reputation at home.

The Republican president moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, which Israel claims as its undivided capital, recognized Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights and oversaw the normalization of ties between the three Arab states and Israel.

Trump also withdrew from the nuclear agreement with Israel’s arch-enemy Iran and reimposed harsh economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has long had a frosty relationship with Netanyahu, despite insisting on “firm support” for Israel.

Unlike Trump, Biden warned Netanyahu not to attack Iran’s oil production and nuclear facilities.

Trump and Netanyahu also have close personal relationships; The former US president boasted this week about his frequent phone calls with the Israeli prime minister.

“We have a very good relationship,” Trump said at a rally in Georgia. “We will work very closely with them.”

Bushinsky said these positive results would outweigh any concerns.

“I think Netanyahu would be willing to take the risk of Trump’s unpredictability,” he said.

popular in israel

Trump is not only Netanyahu’s favorite, but also the Israeli public’s favorite.

An opinion poll conducted in September by Mitvim, the Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies, found that 68 percent of Israelis see Trump as the candidate who will best serve Israel’s interests.

Only 14 percent chose Vice President Kamala Harris, despite her repeated declaration of support for Israel and Israel’s right to self-defense.

“In Israel, more than any other liberal democracy outside the United States, Trump is more popular than Harris,” said Nadav Tamir, a former Israeli diplomat and Mitvim board member in the United States.

According to Tamir, a new Trump administration may come with surprises.

He said the former president is increasingly surrounded by Republicans “who are isolationist and don’t want America to be the leader of the free world or the leader of international alliances.”

‘Insecurity’

Palestinian political scientist and pollster Khalil Shikaki said there is not much interest in either candidate among Palestinians.

“Palestinians do not trust either candidate and see little difference between them,” he said.

Hamas official Tahir al-Nunu told AFP he believed “successive US administrations have always been biased against Israel”.

On the streets, Palestinians said that no matter who wins, life in their land will not improve.

“I don’t believe that American elections will have a positive impact on our political reality,” said Leen Bassem, 21, a student at Birzeit University in the occupied West Bank.

Hassan Anwar, 42, a rugged engineer, also said he did not believe there was any difference because “American policy is completely clear that it supports and supports Israel.”