Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu had their first public meeting on Wednesday, and it revealed Netanyahu’s approach to the newly elected U.S. President: giving him praise.“Mr. President, you have shown great clarity and courage in confronting the challenge head on. Under your leadership, I believe we can reverse the rising tide of radical Islam, and in the great task, as in so many others, Israel stands with you, and I stand with you”, Netanyahu said during his time to speak at the joint news conference.
It appears that Netanyahu is more optimistic about relations with President Donald Trump than former U.S. President Barack Obama. In particular, Netanyahu was not a fan of the Iran nuclear deal that Obama negotiated, calling it “one of the worse deals I’ve ever seen.”
For his part, Donald Trump has also criticized the Iran deal, but does say “Israelis are going to have to show some flexibility, which is hard.” He also seemed to signal, however, that he was open to rewriting the Iran deal.
Furthermore, Netanyahu has backed away from the concept of a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, something that President Obama supported. Trump, on the other hand, is much more indifferent on the subject:
“I am looking at two-state, and one-state, and I like the one that both parties like. I’m very happy with the one that both parties like. I can live with either one. I thought for a while the two-state looked like it may be the easier of the two. But honestly, if Bibi, and if the Palestinians, if Israel and the Palestinians are happy, I’m happy with the one they like the best.”
But in general, Palestine has expressed their desire for a two-state solution. In response to the statement, professor Mosheer A. Amer at the Islamic University in Gaza City, Palestine expressed serious concern about the new U.S. President.
“This is going to give Israel a free hand to do what it wants. At least Obama had some control over Netanyahu.”
But while Trump seems much friendlier to many of the Israeli Prime Minister’s agenda, he did express his own view forcefully in some areas, explaining that he wanted to see Netanyahu “hold back on settlements for a little bit”, and that he “would like to see a deal be made”.
Trump’s approach to working with the Israeli Prime Minister seems to be to express alliance, yet ensure the United States’ own interests as seen by Trump are put first.
Finally, towards the end of the presser, Donald Trump was questioned about reports of a rise in anti-Semitism in the United States after the President’s rise to power. Netanyahu defended the U.S. President on this front, saying:
“I have known the president, and I have known his family and his team for a long time. There is no greater supporter of the Jewish people and the Jewish state than President Donald Trump. I think we should put that to rest.”
Donald Trump has been widely accused of racism, bigotry and emboldening white supremacists and neo-nazis in the United States and abroad.
All in all, the press conference between the two prominent world leaders was a demonstration of a friendship that has already been established between Donald Trump and Netanyahu. The Israeli Prime Minister, with his flattery of the U.S. President, is hoping to have a better chance to advance his own agenda with the new President. Neighboring countries and communities to Israel, particularly Palestine, may be feeling anything but optimistic.
