In Ukraine, concern dominates, while in Israel, the opposite feeling prevails. The results of this presidential election were received with a certain enthusiasm.
Benjamin Netanyahu was also among the first to welcome Donald Trump’s victory, hailing “the greatest comeback in history”. A flattering choice of words for the president-elect, because in 2020, Donald Trump had difficulty accepting Netanyahu recognizing Biden’s victory, which had strained their relations. After this message, the Israeli prime minister had a telephone conversation with Trump, according to his office.
In general, the majority of Israeli politicians, both the majority and the opposition, congratulated Trump, citing a strengthening of Israeli-American relations.
On the momentum of his first mandate?
What are the Israelis waiting for? They hope that Trump will continue the momentum of his first term, during which he increased diplomatic gestures in favor of Israel, notably by transferring the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. There is also the expectation of a tough policy towards Iran, with the Israelis wanting a strengthening of economic sanctions against Tehran.
In Israeli far-right circles, expectations for a new Trump mandate are high. Some leaders of the settlement movement hope, for example, that the new president will ease sanctions against violent settlers, imposed by the Biden administration, and allow the expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank.
On the Palestinian side, reactions are more cautious. Mahmoud Abbas’ Palestinian Authority simply expressed, in a statement, its aspiration to work with the new President Trump. Hamas, for its part, has indicated that it will judge Trump by his actions as president-elect.
