Two senior officials from Israel’s security establishment have voiced concerns to The Times of Israel about former President Donald Trump’s repeated calls for a swift resolution to the ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza. They fear that failure to comply could lead to tension if Trump were to return to the presidency in January.
“There are internal political constraints to ending the war quickly,” one official stated, emphasizing the complexities stemming from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, which includes far-right factions opposed to hostage deal proposals tied to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Additionally, there is a strong consensus within the Netanyahu government against allowing the Palestinian Authority to play any role in Gaza’s governance. This has contributed to the prolonged conflict, as Israel struggles to identify a viable alternative that would prevent Hamas from regaining control in areas vacated by the IDF.
An anonymous lawmaker from the opposition acknowledged that continuing the war until after the 2025 U.S. presidential inauguration could sour relations with Vice President Kamala Harris if she wins the election. However, they noted that Netanyahu has successfully navigated clashes with Democratic presidents in the past without significant repercussions, often campaigning on his ability to stand up to them.
The lawmaker highlighted that a confrontation with Trump would be a new challenge for Netanyahu, who would prefer to avoid such a scenario, especially with the far-right ministers in his cabinet, such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, potentially complicating his position.
Netanyahu and Trump shared a close relationship during Trump’s presidency from 2016 to 2020, characterized by significant policy shifts, including moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights. However, their rapport soured after Netanyahu recognized Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election, leading Trump to criticize Netanyahu as an obstacle to peace.
In recent months, they seem to have reconciled ahead of the November 5 presidential election, with Trump hosting Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago resort in July and maintaining contact since then.
The opposition lawmaker indicated that Netanyahu would prefer a Trump victory in the upcoming election but cautioned, “Be careful what you wish for.” They pointed out that Trump’s relationships with Arab leaders have shifted, with these leaders increasingly advocating for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Trump, in a recent interview with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Arabiya network, expressed admiration for the Gulf rulers, a stark contrast to the strong ties that had previously characterized his administration. The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, recently declared that normalization of relations with Israel would not occur without the establishment of a Palestinian state—a significant hardening of conditions compared to prior negotiations with the Biden administration.
The opposition MK noted that, unlike during his presidency, Trump would no longer have electoral pressures influencing his decisions, suggesting that he might not have fully resolved his disagreements with Netanyahu.