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Foreign ministers

Trump's Shift on Israel: A New Era in US Foreign Policy

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The recent diplomatic shift towards Israel marks a significant departure from the stance of former US President Donald Trump's first term. Trump's policies have created an unbridgeable gap between the US and Israel, prompting British Foreign Secretary David Lammy to denounce Israel's actions in Gaza and express concern for ordinary Palestinians. This shift is largely attributed to Trump's willingness to disregard Israeli preferences and pursue an "America First" foreign policy.

Key Takeaways:

  • Trump's US foreign policy has become increasingly independent, disregarding Israeli preferences and prioritizing American interests.
  • The US and Israel have diverged on key issues, including the Iran nuclear deal, Gaza conflict, and Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.
  • Netanyahu's coalition with right-wing parties has given him immense influence over policy, making it difficult for him to resist their hardline stance.
  • Trump's decision to negotiate a new nuclear deal with Iran, despite Netanyahu's opposition, has created a predicament for the Israeli prime minister.
  • Netanyahu's personal factors, including his corruption trial, have contributed to his predicament and further eroded his position.

Statistics:

  • Since Trump's first term, the US has scrapped the Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran; moved the US Embassy to Jerusalem; recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights; and brokered the Abraham Accords between Israel and four Arab countries.
  • In 2020, Netanyahu congratulated Joe Biden for his election victory, but Trump still nurses a grudge against the Israeli prime minister.
  • Israel's right-wing coalition partners, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, have immense influence over policy and are pushing for a hardline stance on the Gaza conflict.
  • Netanyahu's corruption trial has been ongoing since 2022, with a possible prison sentence hanging over him.

Sources:

  • Trump's Peace, a 2021 history of the president's first-term peacemaking efforts written by Barak Ravid
  • An interview with Richard Haass, a veteran American diplomat and president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations
  • A statement by Ksenia Svetlova, an associate fellow of Chatham House and a former member of the Israeli Knesset

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