There had been some debate going into the President Trump’s second term about whether his approach to Israel would echo the pro-Israel policies of his first term. The efforts of his Middle East envoy, Steven Witkoff, to pressure Israel into agreeing to a bad deal with Hamas created some trepidation. But on his first day in office, Trump – in words and action – did much to reassure supporters of Israel.
At his rally at Capitol One arena, Trump brought freed hostages and families of current hostages onto the stage to greet them, and had them remain on stage during his remarks. The fact that they were there for his full remarks created some awkward moments (such as him talking about the “January 6th hostages” while standing just a few feet in front of Noa Argamani, who spent eight months in captivity in Gaza before being freed in a daring rescue mission). That said, it did send a powerful signal to have hostage families occupy such a prominent position on the first day of his administration, knowing that the image would be broadcast all around the world.
In his informal press conference while he signed executive orders in the White House later in the day, Trump also eased some fears that Israel would be forced into a bad final deal that would leave Hamas in power. “I’m not confident,” Trump responded, when asked whether he thought a final deal would be reached to end the war. “It’s not our war. It’s their war. I’m not confident, but they’re very weakened on the other side.” This was significant not only in that it suggested he believes it’s up to Israel to determine whether they are ready for the war to end, but also that he referred to Hamas as “the other side.” When asked about the future of governance of Gaza, Trump said, “you certainly can’t have the people that were there.”
Speaking of executive orders, Trump signed several that would have implications for Israel as well as American Jews:
– He rescinded a Joe Biden order that had removed sanctions he imposed on the International Criminal Court in the first Trump administration. The ICC, absurdly and disgracefully, issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, the former defense minister.
– Trump also rescinded arbitrary and discriminatory Biden sanctions against Israeli Jews living in Judea and Samaria who were deemed to be undermining the two-state solution.
– He issued an executive order that would increase vetting of those coming in on student visas and allow for deportation of those “who provide aid, advocacy, or support for foreign terrorists,” which could be used to target pro-Hamas activists who have been fueling antisemitic attacks on Jewish college students in the U.S.
A good start.