As the world waits to see what a second term for Donald Trump might look like, expectations in my home state, Israel, are higher than ever. After four complicated years with President Joe Biden and his administration, the yearning for a leader who strengthened US-Israel relations to an unprecedented level is understandable.
Having personally attended and reported on key events – such as the opening of the American Embassy in Jerusalem, the recognition of the Golan Heights, and the first official Israeli delegations to Manama, Abu Dhabi, and Rabat – I can offer firsthand insight into the differences between the two administrations.
President Donald Trump's support for Israel was built on three key principles: strength, stability, and the absence of public criticism. While there were occasional differences and even personal tensions between Trump's team and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's, both sides understood that airing grievances publicly would only harm their countries. As a result, they kept their disagreements behind closed doors.
Under those principles, In May 2017, President Trump opened his Middle East policy with a clear and decisive stance against terrorism and extremism. He delivered this message in Saudi Arabia before most Arab leaders, then flew directly to Israel aboard Air Force One, signaling his vision for the region. Shortly thereafter, the Gulf States, for the first time, allowed commercial airlines to fly through their airspace en route to the Jewish State.
That was a small step in aviation history, but one giant leap toward peace, since five years later, despite the ongoing war, those routes remain open. Even when American Airlines suspended flights to Tel Aviv, carriers like Emirates and FlyDubai continued their operations, ensuring that the peace established by the Abraham Accords in 2020 endures. This peace is now a part of daily life for Israelis, Arabs, and foreigners alike.
In contrast, the same cannot be said of the 46th president. While Mr. Biden's self-definition as "Zionist" seems authentic, his policy was mixed. During the most difficult 15 months of Israel's recent war, Biden sent tens of thousands of tons of ammunition to support Israel – a contribution that will be remembered as a significant part of his legacy. However, at other times, his administration seemed to impose unnecessary obstacles. Whether it was restricting Israel's ability to attack terrorist centers in Gaza, echoing accusations of a "famine in Gaza," or imposing sanctions on Israelis without evidence or cause.
This mixed policy – helping with one hand while hindering with the other – is widely seen as one of the reasons Israel has not yet fully achieved its war objectives: the destruction of Hamas' military power, the elimination of its governance, and the release of hostages. Surprisingly, Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently acknowledged this issue, explaining that public pressure on Israel only emboldened Hamas. Whenever there has been public daylight between the United States and Israel and the perception that pressure was growing on Israel… Hamas has pulled back from agreeing to a cease-fire and the release of hostages," Blinken told The New York Times. Unfortunately, the pressure was not just a perception – it was real and detrimental to Israel's efforts. And there was a daylight.
Given the contrast between the years 2017-2020 and 2021-2024, it's clear why approximately (according to the Republican branch in Israel) 80% of the 300,000 Israelis eligible to vote in the 2024 elections supported Trump. They believe, and likewise many Israelis, that he will do – or allow Israel to do – what Biden did not: destroy Iran's nuclear facilities, remove restrictions on IDF operations in Gaza, allow Gaza's population to seek refuge elsewhere, block the ICC arrest warrants against Israeli leaders, lift sanctions on Israelis who were punished without cause, and potentially complete the peace process by bringing Saudi Arabia into the fold.
Above all, Israelis have learned the hard way that when attacked, there is only one path to victory: "Fight, fight, fight." The next president is likely to share this view.
