Tel Aviv: As the United States approaches its pivotal elections, Israel’s political stance has taken center stage, with the Israeli government reportedly favoring Donald Trump over Kamala Harris. This preference stems from Trump’s perceived willingness to offer Israel greater autonomy in its regional policies, a position that has significant implications for Middle Eastern geopolitics.
According to Anadolu Agency, a former Israeli foreign minister, Shlomo Ben-Ami, expressed that despite differences in their domestic policies, both Trump and Harris have similar stances on the Middle East. However, Netanyahu’s government views Trump as a more favorable candidate due to his track record of supporting Israeli sovereignty and sidelining Palestinian statehood. Ben-Ami highlighted that Netanyahu, akin to Putin’s approach in Ukraine, anticipates that Trump will offer Israel a “free hand” without exerting pressure.
Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli ambassador, noted Israel’s departure from its traditional bipartisan app
roach in Washington, suggesting that Netanyahu is poised to congratulate Trump should he win. However, Pinkas cautioned that this alignment could backfire if Harris prevails or if Trump, once elected, does not provide Netanyahu with the autonomy he desires.
Despite Trump’s historical support for Israel, Pinkas warned that Trump’s reluctance to involve American troops might limit his backing, particularly if regional tensions escalate into broader conflicts involving the US. Trump is likely to heed advice from other regional allies such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, over Israel.
In contrast, a Harris presidency could bring increased resistance from the White House, with Harris showing a more assertive stance towards Israel compared to the current administration. Though not a Zionist, Harris may not be as accommodating of Netanyahu’s policies, especially given her critical stance over the past year.
Both candidates, despite their rhetoric, have assured support for Israel, but neither presents a compre
hensive resolution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, indicating that the Middle East is no longer a primary interest for the US. Pinkas remains doubtful of significant US intervention regardless of the election outcome, noting that the Middle East’s strategic importance has waned in American foreign policy.
Shlomo Ben-Ami criticized President Biden for not appointing a peace envoy to the Middle East, marking a departure from past US administrations. He anticipates that Harris might advocate for human rights and pressure Israel against settlement expansions, yet remains skeptical about the prospects for a two-state solution under the current right-wing Israeli government.