Former President Donald Trump has once again stirred controversy by sharing a video that contains inflammatory remarks about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The video calls Netanyahu a "deep, dark son of a bitch," marking a continuation of Trump's history of reposting controversial clips and images critical of establishment policies in Washington. Despite the caustic nature of the video content, Trump and Netanyahu have maintained a "very friendly, warm" relationship, particularly regarding discussions on hostage negotiations and Syria policy.
During Netanyahu's recent US trip, Trump hosted him at his Mar-a-Lago residence, reinforcing their diplomatic rapport. Trump's tenure as president delivered significant diplomatic victories for Netanyahu, notably recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019 and supporting the Abraham Accords with Gulf states. These moves have strengthened ties between the United States and Israel, benefiting Netanyahu's political agenda.
Trump's political appointments further highlight his hardline stance on Middle Eastern policy. He has nominated Pete Hegseth as defense secretary, an evangelical Christian whose tattoos of crusader-associated symbols have sparked discussions in diplomatic circles. Likewise, Trump's choice for Secretary of State, Senator Marco Rubio from Florida, opposes a Gaza ceasefire and has publicly called for Israel to "destroy every element" of Hamas. His pick for UN ambassador, Elise Stefanik, has dismissed the United Nations as a "cesspool of antisemitism" due to its criticism of civilian casualties in Gaza.
Amid ongoing conflict in Gaza, Trump has issued a stern warning that there will be "hell to pay" if Hamas does not release its hostages before his potential return to office. Currently, around 100 hostages remain in Gaza after 15 months of conflict, with two-thirds believed to be alive. The war has resulted in over 45,000 Palestinian deaths and displaced the majority of the 2.3 million residents of Gaza, who are now enduring harsh winter conditions.
Economist Sachs suggests that Netanyahu has pursued a strategy since 1995 to dismantle Hamas and Hezbollah by targeting their supporting governments in Iraq, Iran, and Syria. Trump's decision to amplify Sachs's comments aligns with his assembly of what Israeli settlers refer to as a "dream team" of staunch supporters of Israel's state policies. This development could signal a shift favoring Netanyahu’s expansionist policies, particularly concerning settlement expansion and potential annexation in the West Bank.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has echoed sentiments aligning with Trump's view on Israeli-Palestinian issues.
"There's no such thing as a West Bank"
"There's no such thing as a Palestinian"
— Mike Huckabee