Former Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Warns Trump’s Support Is Interest-Driven, Israel Faces Diplomatic Decline
Danny Ayalon, former Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister and ambassador to the United States, criticized the nature of Israel’s relationship with the Trump administration in a 103fm interview. He argued that President Donald Trump’s support for Israel is motivated solely by self-interest rather than genuine friendship. Ayalon said, "When Trump embraces someone, it is not out of true friendship but for his own interests." He also faulted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for intertwining his personal legal troubles with national interests, a move Ayalon believes Trump exploits fully.
Ayalon sharply condemned the recent US-Iran agreement, describing it as a humiliating capitulation by the American administration. He accused the US of releasing funds to Iran and failing to respond to Iranian provocations, allowing Iran to dominate the agenda. According to Ayalon, Iran sought to separate the Hormuz Strait issue from the nuclear question to secure calm, which the US has accepted.
Highlighting the critical phase of US support amid what he called a "1,000-day war" beginning under the previous administration, Ayalon noted that despite bipartisan presidential support, Israel has lost backing in Congress and the Senate due to mistakes over the past decade. Nevertheless, he emphasized that the US remains Israel’s only true ally and partner.
Ayalon pointed out a stark contrast between official US government support and the unfavorable public and political opinion toward Israel within both the Democratic and Republican parties. He warned that Israel’s global standing, including in the US, is at an unprecedented low, with Israel increasingly marginalized. He attributed this partly to demographic changes in the US over the last 25 years, where minorities such as Muslims, Hispanics, and African Americans have gained greater political influence. Ayalon concluded that while the situation can be remedied, it requires addressing these underlying shifts.
