Israeli Leadership Urged to Shift Focus from Trump’s Persona to Strategic Influence

An Israeli commentator draws lessons from the biblical story of Esther to address Israel’s current approach to U.S. President Donald Trump. Instead of debating whether Trump personally supports or disappoints Israel, the key question should be how to ensure that the most powerful person in the world makes decisions that safeguard Israel’s security and future.

The article emphasizes that King Ahasuerus, not the antagonist Haman, was the decisive figure in the Purim story, acting based on his interests and the counsel of those around him. Similarly, Trump’s decisions reflect American interests shaped by his advisors and environment, not personal feelings toward Israel. Therefore, Israeli leadership should focus on influencing the decision-making environment rather than trying to interpret Trump’s personal mindset.

The piece critiques Israeli public discourse for either idealizing or demonizing Trump, arguing both views err by focusing on personality over policy and interests. The United States remains a superpower beyond Trump’s tenure, and Israel must work to minimize gaps between American and Israeli interests through smart policies, diplomatic initiatives, and sustained influence efforts.

Drawing on the Esther narrative, the author suggests that Israeli leaders should engage broadly with U.S. institutions such as Congress, think tanks, Jewish communities, evangelical groups, and business sectors. The goal is to shape how Washington perceives regional realities, emphasizing that Iran is a broader problem, regional stability cannot be achieved through concessions to aggression, and Israel’s security is integral to the strategic order benefiting the U.S.

The article concludes that Israel’s challenge is not to wait passively for decisions but to act consistently and wisely across all relevant arenas to embed Israeli interests into the calculations of global power holders. This approach, modeled on Esther and Mordechai’s strategy, could ensure Israel’s survival and security today as it did in ancient times.