US Signals Shift in Israel Relations From Trump to Leading Democratic Presidential Candidate
At a NATO summit in Ankara, US President Donald Trump embraced Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and indicated he is considering selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey and lifting sanctions against it. Hours later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Trump that such a move would pose a strategic threat to Israel, citing Turkey’s ties to Hamas, threats to Greece and Cyprus, and Erdoğan’s ambitions to restore the Ottoman Empire. Netanyahu’s detailed objections appeared directed specifically at Trump, aiming to influence the US president’s decision.
Trump praised Turkey’s military and loyalty, contrasting it with other US allies, and emphasized that the US must support countries that purchase its military equipment. This reflects Trump’s approach of prioritizing American interests and alliances over Israel’s security concerns. Erdoğan also expressed optimism about the F-35 deal, signaling confidence in Trump’s commitment.
Meanwhile, in Tel Aviv, Ram Emanuel, a prominent Jewish-American Democrat and former Obama chief of staff, is set to deliver a sharp critique of the Israeli government. Emanuel, whose family has deep Zionist roots, argued that unconditional US support for Israel was a mistake. He accused Netanyahu of turning Israel into a militarily successful but strategically isolated "modern Sparta," losing global support. Emanuel proposed a new US policy including sanctions on Israelis involved in violence against Palestinians and warned that the US would not support Israeli annexation plans.
Though Trump and Emanuel represent opposite ends of the American political spectrum, both send a similar message to Israel: US support is no longer automatic or unconditional. The debate in Washington has shifted from whether to support Israel to how and under what conditions. This marks a significant strategic change in US-Israel relations, ending the longstanding assumption that Israel’s American backing is guaranteed regardless of policy choices.
