Trump's Endorsement of Netanyahu Should Be Ignored Amid Post-Election Pressure

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a move the author argues Israelis should disregard. This intervention, occurring just before an election that could determine Israel's democratic future, is seen as an attempt to influence the outcome. Trump's endorsement, which inaccurately portrays Netanyahu as a great wartime leader, is described as a blatant interference in a democratic process of an allied nation.

Trump's past actions, such as supporting nationalist candidates in Poland and Hungary, indicate a preference for leaders who challenge democratic norms. The article contends that Netanyahu aligns with this style, citing the current government's actions against the judiciary and other institutions as evidence of a pattern of eroding checks and balances. The author criticizes Netanyahu's tenure, pointing to the October 7th security failure and the ongoing war in Gaza as national disasters, while also highlighting the strategic and economic risks posed by his coalition partners, including ultra-Orthodox parties seeking exemptions from military service and far-right ministers advocating for settlement expansion.

The article suggests that current polls indicate Netanyahu's bloc may not secure a majority, but forming an alternative government could be challenging due to Netanyahu's past rhetoric against Arab political parties. A significant risk highlighted is Trump's potential to pressure opposition leaders, like Gadi Eisenkot and Naftali Bennett, to join a Netanyahu-led government, possibly by promising progress on normalization with Saudi Arabia.

Such intervention would severely undermine Israeli sovereignty. The author posits that only a concrete, actionable agreement involving Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian leadership, detailing normalization terms, Palestinian self-determination, security guarantees, and timelines, could justify considering a coalition that includes Netanyahu. This hypothetical scenario, based on the 2020 "Deal of the Century," would require swift diplomatic action and firm commitments from all parties. Without such a robust regional peace deal, any pressure from Washington to keep Netanyahu in power should be rejected outright, as Trump should not override the will of Israeli voters.