Israeli and Palestinian Perspectives on the US Election

During Donald Trump’s previous presidency, Israel’s prime minister expressed such satisfaction that he named a settlement in his honor. Trump Heights consists of a secluded collection of pre-fabricated homes situated within the rugged, mine-laden terrain of the Golan Heights, with an impressive eagle-and-menorah sculpture overseeing its entry. At the horizon, purple mountain summits pierce the clear blue sky. This gesture served as a recognition of Trump’s decision to reverse five decades of US policy – and broad international agreement – by acknowledging Israel’s territorial assertions over the Golan, which was seized from Syria during the 1967 war and subsequently annexed unilaterally. For the inhabitants of this area – comprising two dozen families and a small number of stationed soldiers – the key concern is the potential influence that either Republican contender Trump or his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris could exert on Israel’s regional interests. Elik Goldberg and his spouse Hodaya relocated to Trump Heights with their four children, seeking the safety offered by a modest rural settlement. Following the 7 October Hamas attacks in southern Israel last year, they have observed the intensification of Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, along the northern frontier with Lebanon, located 10 miles from their home. Elik stated, “For the last year, our beautiful green open space has a lot of smoke, and our lovely view is a view of rockets that Hezbollah is sending to us.” He added, “This is a war zone and we don’t know when it will end.” Elik conveyed his desire for the incoming US administration to “do the right thing.” When questioned about the meaning of this, he responded, “support Israel.” He remarked, “Support the good guys, and have the common sense of right and wrong.” This type of expression is frequently heard in Israel. It is also the kind of rhetoric that Trump comprehends. During his previous term as US president, he gained the approval of Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu by withdrawing from an Iran nuclear agreement that Israel opposed, facilitating landmark normalization accords with multiple Arab nations, and acknowledging Jerusalem as Israel’s capital – actions that went against decades of US policy. Mr Netanyahu previously referred to him as “the best friend Israel has ever had in the White House.” With America’s upcoming vote, the Israeli leader has openly shown his esteem for the Republican contender, and surveys indicate that this sentiment is widely shared. Approximately two-thirds of Israelis would favor Trump’s return to the White House, as per recent polls. Fewer than 20% seem to desire a victory for Kamala Harris. One survey indicates this figure falls to merely 1% among Mr Netanyahu’s core supporters. Gili Shmuelevits, 24, while shopping in Jerusalem’s Machane Yehuda market, stated that Ms Harris “showed her true colours” when she seemed to concur with a demonstrator at an event who accused Israel of genocide. The vice-president commented, “what he’s talking about, it’s real.” She subsequently clarified that she did not hold the belief that Israel was committing genocide. Rivka, who was shopping in the vicinity, declared she was “100% for Donald Trump.” She explained, “He cares more for Israel. He’s stronger against our enemies, and he’s not scared.” She added, “I get that people don’t love him, but I don’t need to love him. I need him to be a good ally for Israel.” In the view of many individuals in this region, effective allies do not exert pressure, criticize, or impose restrictions. The conflict in Gaza has contributed to creating a rift between Israel and its US partner. Harris has adopted a more vocal stance in advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza and has placed greater importance on humanitarian concerns. Following a meeting with Netanyahu at the White House in July, she stated that she would “not be silent” regarding the situation in Gaza and conveyed that she had communicated to him her “serious concern about the scale of human suffering” and the fatalities of innocent civilians. Mr Trump has characterized the conclusion of the war as Israel’s “victory” and has previously opposed an immediate ceasefire, reportedly advising Netanyahu to “do what you have to do.” However, numerous Palestinians perceive scant optimism in either contender. Mustafa Barghouti, a well-regarded Palestinian analyst and politician in the occupied West Bank, commented, “The overall estimation is that the Democrats are bad, but if Trump is elected it’ll be even worse.” He further stated, “The main difference is that Kamala Harris will be more sensitive to the shift in American public opinion, and that means more in favour of a ceasefire.” The conflict in Gaza has intensified calls from US allies, such as Saudi Arabia, for advancements toward a Palestinian State. Nevertheless, neither candidate has prioritized the creation of a Palestinian state in their political platforms. During the presidential debates, when Mr Trump was questioned about his support for it, he responded, “I’d have to see.” A significant number of Palestinians have abandoned hope for the prospect of a Palestinian state, and for US backing in general. Mustafa Barghouti remarked, “The general feeling is that the US has failed drastically in protecting international law, has failed the Palestinians more than once [and] took the side of total bias to Israel.” He concluded, “The issue of a Palestinian state is nothing but a slogan.” Regarding broader regional matters such as Iran, the two contenders have historically adopted distinct strategies, with Trump recently recommending that Israel “hit the nuclear first and worry about the rest later.” His comments preceded Israel’s execution of strikes on Iran, which were in response to an Iranian missile assault earlier this month. Danny Ayalon, a former Israeli ambassador to the US, suggested, “Maybe Trump would play more hardball, and the Iranians would be more hesitant if he was president,” though he noted that it is simple to exaggerate the distinctions between the two candidates. Currently, both Harris and Trump are discussing the creation of a new accord to impede Iran’s development of a nuclear weapon, and both aim to broaden the normalization agreements between Israel and adjacent Arab nations – specifically Saudi Arabia. Their methodologies, however, would diverge. Danny Ayalon stated, “I think if it’s Kamala Harris [in the White House], the direction will be bottom-up,” implying that truces in Gaza and Lebanon would take precedence before addressing the larger issues of Iran or emerging regional coalitions. Regarding Trump, he commented, “the direction would be top-down – he will go straight to Tehran and from there, try to sort out all the different prongs and theatres throughout the Middle East.” Those with political insight in both Israel and the US view Kamala Harris as more aligned with America’s conventional bipartisan stances on Middle East foreign policy, while Donald Trump is perceived as unpredictable, disinclined to engage America in international disputes, and inclined towards impromptu negotiations. Nevertheless, Ambassador Ayalon holds that public sentiment in Israel is influenced by more than just policy. He remarked, “Biden stood by Israel for the entire year.” He continued, “But did not get his recognition [because of] things like not inviting him to the White House – things that are more optics than real issues.” He asserted that in the context of US-Israeli relations, public displays – and emotions – are significant. He concluded, “A lot is personal. The [shared] interests are a given, but the personalities matter.” From the present until the US election on 5 November, BBC correspondents globally are investigating the potential consequences of its result in their respective regions, and how individuals worldwide perceive this presidential contest. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material on external websites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.