Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has a “Trump problem”. As he kicks off his campaign ahead of the general election in October, he cannot secure an endorsement from the man he calls “our greatest friend in the White House”.
Donald Trump seems to be enjoying the chance to oversee an Apprentice-style contest to help pick Israel’s next prime minister. He is teasing Netanyahu, much as he seems to relish teasing his Vice President, JD Vance, and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, over who should get the Republican presidential nod in 2028. But underneath the teasing there is real tension.
This week, Trump told Fox News that it was “most appropriate for me to stay out of Israeli elections, but I may endorse somebody” – pointedly not mentioning Netanyahu.
It masks an even greater problem, one for the whole of the country. Israel’s conduct in Gaza risks fracturing its relationship with the US, the ultimate guarantor of Israeli security. A short-lived tactical victory could become long-term strategic defeat.
Shorts
