Former President Donald Trump has probably a very complicated relationship with Israel, which has been the centre of discussion during his leadership and even now. During his entire presidency, Trump took several decisive actions that pointed to his complete support for Israel. But what does it imply when a U.S. president proclaims his support for Israel?
How was Trump supporting Israel, and what kind of changes to the relations between the USA and Israel did he bring? This is the case, and in this article, we will discuss Trump’s steps toward Israel, the statements and policies of this political leader, their presence in social networks, and the reaction of ordinary citizens, including supporters and adversaries.
Some of Trump’s policies towards Israel were, in fact, in a broader strategy of the Middle East that put emphasis on friendly relations and stability.
What remained unclear was how much and in what ways that outcome was intended by Trump, who sought to remake the regional order through his intense identification with Israeli leaders.
To it, he was frequently an outsider, thus always antagonising other world leaders, especially over the sensitive Middle East question, more specifically, the question of Palestine and Israel. Discussing his administration’s choices, we will discover how the support of Israel shaped not only the foreign policy of the USA but also international relations, as well as his political impact.
In this article, we have tried to present a fair analysis of Trump’s role in the Middle East, his positions on the major issues, and the criticality of the US-Israel partnership that the Trump presidency set.
Trump’s Key Supportive Actions Toward Israel
It is important to note that during his presidency, Donald Trump undertook a number of actions that were widely considered seriously pro-Israel. These actions also averted a shift in the historic relationship between the United States and Israel and were also landmark policies in US foreign policy. Whether it is moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and recognising the city as Israel’s capital or making deals in the Middle East, Trump’s moves did not go unnoticed by the pro-Israel organisations, as well as raising questions about their consequences. Now, let us look at the major moves and activities that characterised Trump’s backing for the Israeli side and their aftermath.
Recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital
The two most important decisions that were made during Trump’s presidency include the following:
In December 2017, he declared Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. This was a major shift in the US foreign policy because Jerusalem was regarded as a disputed city, and both Israel and Palestine each considered it as their capital. Trump’s decision was welcomed by most people in Israel and the pro-Israel lobbyists, while it was condemned by the Palestinians and most of the world. When America recognised Jerusalem, it also defied decades of policymaking because Jerusalem was a contentious city, and everyone could not agree on whose territory it was.
This was quite understandable as far as Israel was concerned, with the move having been viewed as giving due recognition to the unreserved importance of the city to the Jews. Jerusalem is not only a political capital of the country but also a religious and cultural one for Jewish people. The decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is a decision that many Israelis welcomed because recognition of their historical connection to the city was affirmed by Trump.
But this decision has also led to violence and protest, for example, among Palestinians who regard East Jerusalem as the future capital of Palestine. The world reacted in a split way, with some countries like Turkey and France deploring the act. Nevertheless, Trump’s commitment to Israel’s sovereignty over Jerusalem was unwavering.
Moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem
In May 2018, Trump decided to recognise Jerusalem as the United States capital and transfer the US embassy from Tel Aviv. This action was met; it was fulfilling a campaign agenda, thus solidifying Trump’s anti-Palestine and pro-Israel stand. The relocation was cheered by Israel and those supporting the country, while Palestinian organisations reacted negatively to the decision because they consider East Jerusalem as the capital of the potential Palestinian state. The move also upset seven decades of American foreign policy and the assumption that the status of Jerusalem should be determined diplomatically by Israelis and Palestinians.
It was not without controversy when they decided to shift the embassy. This sparked violence in Palestinian territories and other steps against the US from the Arab countries. But the relocation of the embassy was also seen as a sign of support for the state of Israel or, in other words, symbolic support for the Israeli move. Among the attendees of the event were leading representatives of the Israeli authorities and the American organisations supporting Israel, which became an important stage in the US-Israel cooperation.
His critics said the move scuttled the chances of the peace process between Israel and Palestine, but Trump remained adamant that the move was a way of pursuing a deal for the region. For his followers, it was a sign showing that America will always stand by Israel, the message they have been waiting for for a long time.
The Abraham Accords
During his presidency, Trump was instrumental in preparations for the Abraham Accords and signed the deal for Israel to establish diplomatic relations with the UAE and Bahrain. These two deals, signed early this year, were considered a significant diplomatic coup for Israel and a large step towards the realisation of peace in the Middle East. The Accords were the first-ever peace treaties signed between Israel and Arab nations in more than a quarter of a century since the Israel-Jordanian peace accord in 1994.
Abraham Accords extended arms of diplomacy to unmerited regions worldwide, and their importance transcends merely that. With such relations, Trump sought to shift the geopolitics of the Middle East by trying to pull Arab countries closer to Israel. The Accords were not only a diplomatic phenomenon, but they also signified an economic and technological cooperation agreement between Israel, UAE, and Bahrain, which was revenue-producing for all the signatories.
The agreements were welcomed and admired by many as being a move in the right direction towards the achievement of regional peace, although critics stated that it was a move that buried the Palestinian question. Still, it was a triumph of Trump’s administration in terms of diplomacy, and the Accords proved that he could strike certain deals in the Middle East.
Military Aid to Israel
Trump’s administration continued and even strengthened the support of the military to Israel. The U.S. channelled billions of dollars to help defend Israel and continued to maintain that Israel must be capable of defending itself in that part of the world. During Trump’s presidency, relations between Israel and the United States were only deepened further: Trump supplied Israel with the most advanced weapons, military equipment, and systems, such as the Iron Dome system that helps the country protect itself from rocket attacks.
This military assistance was usually portrayed as crucial for Israel within the context of a region that was becoming more threatening. While many Israeli officials applaud Trump’s steadfast approach towards guaranteeing Israel strong force compatibility, unsurprisingly, America was considered by most as Israel’s greatest ally. Still, opponents of Trump’s policy insisted on the fact that it was natural to neglect the human rights of Palestinians in favour of endorsing Israel without any questions. However, it deserves to be mentioned that throughout the campaign, Trump was fully devoted to his administration’s pro-Israel policy in terms of military support.
Withdrawing from the Iran Nuclear Deal
In 2018, Trump decided to pull out of the JCPOA, also commonly referred to as the Iran nuclear deal. Israel was also active in voicing its opposition to the deal, and it must have been quite pleased when Trump announced its withdrawal from the deal as a signal of triumph over the Iranian nuclear program. Till now, Israel had propagated the notion that the agreement did not halt Iran’s nuclear weapons program and that it was a threat to the country.
In giving the excuse to pull out, Trump appeared to be supporting Israel in boycotting Iran. The move also demonstrated Trump’s “America First” foreign policy, which prioritised U.S. security interests over multilateral agreements. Nevertheless, over-reliance on other European allies and international organisation’s concern about Trump’s decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal, Trump justified his stand by saying that the nuclear deal was inherently flawed since it did not address Iran as the world’s major state sponsor of terrorism. For the Israelis, the withdrawal was a sign of the U.S. indicating that it would be more forceful in countering Iran and its nuclear program.
Trump’s Statements on Israel
Trump did not only defend Israel on the political level but also expressed his support multiple times verbally. The president, through his campaign period and also after assuming office, approved of Israel’s force and its right to protect itself. For example, in his speech when he decided on recognition of Jerusalem as an Israeli capital, Trump said,
“We’re choosing fact-based diplomacy. We are only saying that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, which is an undeniable fact.
His speeches about the state of Israel were highly appreciated by evangelical Christians and various pro-Jewish organisations in the United States of America because they regarded him as the “leader who defended the state of Israel.”
That said, evangelical Christians, who form part of Trump’s electorate, regard the state’s existence as part of God’s plans; thus, the policies are even more crucial to them. The business mogul has remained consistent in his support for the state of Israel through support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, hence the support.
On the other hand, proponents of immigrants and critics of Trump accused him of bias in that direction, insisting that he has only supported the rights of the Israel nation while ignoring Palestinians. Many saw his administration’s position as tilted, providing almost no backing to peacemaking or negotiation with Palestinian authorities. Trump instead frequently acted as an opponent of the Palestinian’s own leadership, which prompted outrage from different Palestinian organisations and many worldwide organisations.
Social Media Reactions and Public Perception
Especially on social media, people are divided over Trump’s support of Israel with regard to foreign diplomacy, which is as divided as his politics. Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram have turned into the platforms where supporters and opponents clash, using #TrumpSupportsIsraael by #FreePalestine during the critical political period. Although President-Elect Trump had applauded positions that are favourable for Israel, an agenda that has been welcomed by many who have considered Trump a faithful friend to Israel, it has also received criticism from people who considered Trump’s decisions as being biased or insensitive towards Palestinian rights.
Pro-Israel Social Media Reactions
Many supporters applauded Trump’s clear pro-Israel bias on social media, especially conservatives and Jewish organisations sympathetic to the Israeli case. Hashtags #Trump and numerous positive comments were hashtags such as #Jerusalem, #thankyoutrump, #abrahamaccords, and other similar messages.
For instance, a tweet from a prominent supporter might read:
Thank you, President Trump, for recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. You’ve shown true leadership in supporting our ally!
Also, the conservative commentators focused on Trump’s pro-Israel moves, calling him a friend of America’s allies and a keep of Middle East peace. Loyalists on social media constantly praised his decisions to shift the American embassy and quit the deal on Iran’s nuclear deal; they claimed these were historic decisions that benefited both America and Israel.
Criticism from Pro-Palestinian Groups
On the other side, Trump’s actions provoked severe criticism from pro-Palestinian activists. They staged demonstrations on social media against his policies, especially the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Commencement hashtags such as #BoycottTrump and #FreePalestine emerged, and critics said that Trump’s ideas left no room for Palestinian voice.
The progressive activists on the left also spoke out when they thought Trump was unfair to Palestinians while showing favouritism to Israel. They said that he gave one side of the decisions, and thus, they could not agree on how his setup could bring a lasting solution to the Palestine and Israel conflict.
Final Verdict
Thus, it can be said that the support of Israel was one of the dominant tendencies in Trump’s policy, based on striking actions and statements, policy, and diplomacy. His actions, like recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, moving the embassy, and leaving the nuclear deal, were perceived by many as the most significant ones in support of Israel. However, these actions have been criticised vigorously, especially by Palestinians and groups who support them.
As the U.S. progresses further in the post-Trump era, the effects experienced by the country shall persevere with Trump policies imprinting deep imprints on the bilateral relations of the United States and Israel in Middle East diplomacy and the future of Israelis and Palestinians. It is still important to emphasise that Trump also left successes analysed in the context of Israel’s relations with its neighbours, as well as failures that shape the world in the field of peace and security.
FAQs
1. Why did Donald Trump support Israel during his presidency?
In defending the US support of Israel, Trump has cited mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty, the existentialist right of Israel to exist and to defend itself, as well as political and personal affiliation with pro-Israel lobby groups. Church: also Christian Zionists are to support him for the same reasons regarding peace in the Middle East and for his commitment to improve the relationship between the United States of America and Israel. Trump’s policies demonstrated his aspiration to tilt the foreign policy of the United States in support of Israeli interests, which made him make some crucial decisions, including recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
2. What do you think was Trump’s biggest achievement for Israel?
Trump made one of the most dramatic moves by ‘recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel’ in the end of December 2017. The first was the official change of the United States policy on Jerusalem, and the second one was the relocation of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May 2018. These decisions were perceived as big goodwill statements towards Israel and were met with approval, in general, by Israeli politicians and allies.
3. Was the Palestinian peace process damaged by Trump’s policies?
Trump’s actions, such as the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, were said to be provocative, and Palestinians saw them as regressive to the peace process. Most analysts criticised these stances, saying they benefitted only the Israelis but did not consider the Palestinians as well. At the same time, Trump’s administration was also engaged in some constructive processes, such as the normalisation of relations between Israel and several Arab countries within the framework of the Accords, which are called the Abraham Accords. Some political analysts began to see Trump’s policy as a new approach to Middle East peace diplomacy.
4. What is the Abraham Accords, and how did Trump support Israel through it?
The Abraham Accords were a series of agreements brokered by the Trump administration in 2020, leading to the normalisation of relations between Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain. These agreements represented a significant diplomatic breakthrough, as they marked the first peace deals between Israel and Arab countries in over 25 years. Trump’s role in facilitating the accords was viewed as a major accomplishment that helped further solidify Israel’s regional ties.
5. Did Trump support the military of Israel?
Yes, Trump maintained the US’s military aid to Israel so that Israel can always have a backup to defend itself from its neighbours. The Trump administration kept and even expanded helping Israel with military budgets and offering new technologies like the Iron Dome. His position was considered a firm guarantee for Israeli security, especially in the current skirmishes with Iran and other neighbours.
6. What impacts has Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal made on Israel?
US President Donald Trump’s decision to depart from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in May 2018 was to the liking of the Israeli political establishment, who had never been fans of the deal. Israel regarded the deal as a weak solution to stop Iran from gaining nuclear weapons. By withdrawing, Trump synchronised the United States policy to the Israeli position, crowding more pressure on Iran. It was regarded as a clear signal of commitment to the security of Israel as a result of Iran’s nuclear program.
7. What was the current state of the US – Israel relations under Trump’s policies?
During Trump’s presidency, the relations between the USA and Israel were improved, as Trump has always supported Israel and vowed to defend its rights. These included the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moving the embassy to Jerusalem, showing a clear departure from the Palestinian agenda. Diplomacy was another sphere where he achieved considerable success: the recognition of relations between Israel and Arab countries, the Abraham Accords, fortified the relations between the USA and Israel more than ever during his presidency.
