Trump, the peacemaker, can make peace in Israel - opinion
With neither bloc likely to win a majority, could Trump broker a Netanyahu-Eisenkot deal built around confronting Iran?
As the Israeli election approaches, the future of the nation hangs in the balance. With no clear majority in sight, President Isaac Herzog faces the daunting task of mediating between the competing factions. However, there may be another player with the power to shape the outcome: former President Donald Trump.
Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu this week, just days before voting, was motivated by the prospect of disarming Iran. The Israeli leader's promise to confront Iran's nuclear ambitions appealed to Trump, who vowed to assist in that endeavor. The scenario of Trump facilitating a national unity government between Netanyahu and his rival, Gadi Eisenkot, is not entirely implausible.
Eisenkot would likely be hesitant, but Trump might offer him a position in a coalition government if he agreed to form one with Netanyahu, under the promise of a future handover of power.
While the plausibility of such an arrangement is debatable given the animosity between the two leaders, it is not entirely out of the realm of possibility. Trump's intervention could provide the necessary credibility to Israel's security decisions, helping to alleviate concerns about timing and motivations behind potential military action.
Ultimately, though, the most critical factor will be whether Israel's leaders can build trust with the public. A military operation that is genuinely necessary for national security could end up further eroding confidence in the government and the IDF. In this context, the involvement of a powerful figure like Trump could help restore faith in Israeli decision-making, providing a level of transparency and legitimacy that Netanyahu cannot guarantee alone.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
