Conservatives Concerned by Trump’s Appeal for Israel to Conclude War
TL/DR –
Two Israeli journalists recently interviewed former US President Donald Trump, expecting him to express strong support for Israel’s war in Gaza. Instead, Trump reportedly expressed concern about the global perception of Israel’s actions and called for an end to the war, much to the surprise of the journalists. Some commentators have interpreted these comments as an indication that Trump might not be as supportive of Israel in a potential second presidential term as he was in his first.
Two Israeli journalists recently traveled to Palm Beach, Fla., hoping to get a strong endorsement from Donald J. Trump for Israel’s Gaza war. However, their interaction with Mr. Trump at Mar-a-Lago left them disconcerted.
One of them, Ariel Kahana, a senior diplomatic correspondent for Israel Hayom, wrote that Mr. Trump’s comments about Israel were surprising and dissatisfying.
Mr. Trump told the interviewers that Israel’s Gaza attack was negatively affecting its global image and Israel should end the war soon. His remarks sounded more like President Biden’s statements than the typical support Netanyahu receives from Washington Republicans.
“You need to end the war,” said Mr. Trump. “We need peace. We can’t keep this going.”
Trump’s statement seemed more troubling to Mr. Kahana than Mr. Biden’s calls for a cease-fire. He felt Trump was willing to stop the war and return Israel to its former glory, a message he found problematic.
Trump aides, however, insisted this was a misinterpretation. They pointed out that Mr. Trump fully supports Israel’s right to self-defence and advocates for a quick, decisive, and humane end to the conflict to restore peace and stability.
Nevertheless, a divide exists between Trump and congressional Republicans, who are showcasing their support for Netanyahu’s government. They are meeting Mr. Netanyahu, planning to \invite him to address Congress, and encouraging Israel to annihilate Hamas.
Trump’s ambiguous remarks have allowed different audiences to interpret his public statements according to their wishes. He has not revealed his policy on Israel, causing skepticism among right-wing Israel supporters who fear he might not be a steady ally if he gets a second term.
Despite the policy vacuum, Trump’s former advisers have been suggesting their own solutions. Kushner, for instance, suggested that Gaza’s waterfront property could be valuable with Palestinians moved to the Negev Desert in southern Israel.
Mr. Trump’s former ambassador to Israel, David M. Friedman, has proposed Israel’s full sovereignty over the West Bank, effectively ending the two-state solution. However, it is unclear whether Mr. Trump supports Friedman’s proposal.
Still, many believe that with Trump’s uneven support for Israel, a two-state solution that Palestinians would accept is unrealistic. Views on Trump’s recent interview differ, but some see it as a sign that his support for Israel might not be as strong in a potential second term.
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