“Make Israel normal again”, Israelis await the return of Donald Trump to the White House
In Israel, the return to the White House of American President-elect Donald Trump is raising great expectations, particularly for the release of hostages still held in Gaza. For the past ten days, those who come to have a coffee or do their shopping in Sarona, Tel Aviv’s shopping district, cannot miss the huge illuminated advertising panel. We see Donald Trump with his ear bleeding and his fist raised after the assassination attempt against him, and this injunction in capital letters: “Release them all before January 20 or hell will break loose.” »
A direct reference to a message from the president-elect at the beginning of December on his Truth Social platform, in which he promised hell to Hamas if it did not release the hostages held captive in Gaza before his inauguration. The Republican has renewed the pressure several times since, in similar terms, and his return to the White House is eagerly awaited by the Forum of Hope collective, which brings together relatives of hostages opposed to negotiations with Hamas and which financed the display. “Hamas must understand that the rules in the Middle East will change and that it is time to return the hostages now”affirms the Forum in a press release.
Nearly 10,000 kilometers from Washington, Mr. Trump is very present in the rallies organized every Saturday in major Israeli cities to demand the release of the hostages. Through disguises, red caps on which is written “Stop this f…war”inspired by those worn by Trumpist activists, or even signs calling on the president-elect to intervene: “Trump, please fix this” ; “President Trump, take them all home” ; « Make Israel normal again ».
-Donald Trump will have been during his first term (2017-2021) one of the most favorable American presidents in history towards Israel, with Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960s. Going against the policy followed by almost the entire international community, he first took the decision to transfer the United States embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a city that the Palestinians also claim to make it the capital of the state to which they aspire.
Donald Trump’s new team should follow the same line, the post of United States ambassador to Israel was notably entrusted to Mike Huckabee, a supporter of the annexation of the West Bank.