Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with former President Donald Trump on Friday at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, aiming to mend a previously strained relationship.
The relationship between the two leaders soured after the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Following President Biden’s victory, Netanyahu congratulated Biden, leading Trump to express his displeasure. In an interview with Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, Trump stated, “I haven’t spoken to him since,” and added a more blunt sentiment, “F–k him.”
Netanyahu had tweeted, “Congratulations Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Joe, we’ve had a long and warm personal relationship for nearly 40 years, and I know you as a great friend of Israel. I look forward to working with both of you further to strengthen the special alliance between the US and Israel.”
Now, Netanyahu seeks to rebuild his relationship with Trump. In his Thursday speech to Congress, Netanyahu praised Trump’s efforts in the Middle East. He thanked Trump for his leadership in brokering the Abraham Accords. He recognized Trump’s support for Israel on various fronts, including recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the Golan Heights as part of Israel.
Michael Makovsky, president and CEO of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, emphasized the importance of a positive meeting between Netanyahu and Trump.
He noted the significance of their relationship for both nations, citing strong pro-Israel sentiment among the Republican base and the potential for Trump to gain support from voters discontent with Biden’s policies toward Israel.
Congratulations @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. Joe, we’ve had a long & warm personal relationship for nearly 40 years, and I know you as a great friend of Israel. I look forward to working with both of you to further strengthen the special alliance between the U.S. and Israel.
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) November 8, 2020
The upcoming meeting marks a new chapter in Trump-Netanyahu relations. On “Fox & Friends,” Trump acknowledged Netanyahu’s recent positive remarks and expressed his appreciation.
However, Trump also stressed the urgency of resolving the conflict with Hamas, urging Netanyahu to expedite the military campaign.
The former president asserted that the Hamas attack on October 7, which resulted in nearly 1,200 deaths, including over 30 Americans, would not have occurred if he had been re-elected.
Trump emphasized the need for a swift resolution to the conflict and the importance of securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
Richard Goldberg, a former National Security Council member during the Trump administration and current senior adviser for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, commented on the delicate timing of Netanyahu’s visit.
He suggested that a strategy of maximum pressure on Iran and strong support for Israel would best promote security and peace.
The meeting at Mar-a-Lago is anticipated to be a critical step in restoring the alliance between Netanyahu and Trump, with significant implications for U.S.-Israel relations.