by Avi Greentzeig, former editor of the Kav Itonut chain and Hadrei Hadarim website, translated by Hillel Fendel.
Just over a week ago, when Prime Minister Netanyahu began an
important trip to Washington as the first foreign leader to visit newly-reelected
President Trump, the media here was rife with warnings: "Trump Demands
that Israel Stop the War," "Trump Doesn't Like Netanyahu," and so
on.
Over-zealous reporters rushed to tell us that the one-on-one meeting
between the two would last "only 15 minutes," and pompous
commentators in the TV studios explained that Trump would exact a high price
from Israel. First and foremost, they warned us that Trump doesn't like wars
and that Israel would not be permitted to continue its campaign to destroy Hamas.
And then came Trump.
In an unforgettable press conference before reporters from all
over the world, Trump smashed to smithereens 100% of the prognoses, musings,
nonsense and lies that had been heard here in the preceding days. The leader of
the world gave Israel more or less every possible thing it could have asked for
– and then added a bonus.
Not only did the president not hint in any way or form that he has
any intention of restricting Israel, he actually made it clear that as far as
he is concerned, Israel can renew the war and finish the job of cleaning out
Gaza. He then added the words that shook up the world: “We should go to other
countries of interest with humanitarian hearts, and … build various domains
that will ultimately be occupied by the 1.8 million Palestinians living in
Gaza… The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip [and] we'll own it…"
This little addendum that he stuck in was one that, had it been
uttered five minutes earlier by an Israeli, would have led to a police
investigation for possible incitement, ordered by Attorney-General Gali Bahrav
Miara. Just ask former MK Michael Ben-Ari.
Even as we debate, justifiably so, exactly what the chances are
that Trump's Gaza plan will be actualized, we must remember that its very
announcement grants Israel some important gains. For one thing, it means that
the U.S. has reversed the extreme anti-Israel policies (in some areas) of the
Biden Administration - which leads in turn to a reduction of international
pressure upon us. The Biden term's point of departure was that even given that Israel
had no other choice after Oct.7th, it is still a war criminal
country. From this followed the halt of U.S. armaments to Israel, as well as
strong American pressure to increase "humanitarian aid" to
Hamas/Gaza. This led to the bizarre scene of the installation of a pier in
Gaza, under American auspices, for the benefit of "innocent" Gazans.
Trump has changed the American perspective. As of now, the Gazans – whether because they are "unlucky," as Trump said, or because they are a bloodthirsty, murderous gang – must be moved aside and sent away. From now on, every discussion starts with that point of departure. If the Saudis or the Qataris, or even Hamas itself, want to soften the decree, it will be up to them to make an acceptable offer.
And then also came Iran. I've
seen that there are many in Israel's nationalist camp who were disappointed
that Trump did not declare outright war on Iran, or something close to it. But
the truth is that when Trump said he would rather negotiate with Iran than go
to war with it, he gave Israel even more than it needs regarding the Iranian
nuclear threat. To elaborate:
Israeli thinking is that when we hear about "diplomatic
understandings" or a deal with Iran, what immediately comes to mind is the
Obama era. But with Trump, it's different: When he presents a diplomatic
option, he is not referring to a temporary freeze or dubious understandings –
but rather something that will put a total and absolute end to Iran's nuclear
aspirations.
For one thing, Trump has already signed an order directing his Secretaries
of State and Defense to do everything necessary to drive Iran’s oil exports to
zero. In addition, he said clearly: “If we made the deal, Israel wouldn’t bomb
them." Basically, Trump is simply telling the Iranians to destroy their
own nuclear reactors, so that Israel doesn't have to. Sounds like a good deal
to me.
Now that Netanyahu has returned from Washington, he can get back
into the Israeli routine of petty coalition fights and wasted courtroom time about
years-old articles on the Walla website. It is therefore worth remembering,
briefly, the gap between what the media here originally expected and the
reality - which includes "small" achievements in America such as the
imposition of sanctions on The Hague, the launch of an official campaign
against anti-Semitism on campuses, and another weapons package for Israel worth
a billion dollars.
It seems that we can sum up very simply: This was one of the most
successful, if not the most successful, trips to Washington, D.C. of an Israel
prime minister. Its welcome results will accompany us for many years ahead.
Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister.