20 How Trump Will Affect Israel and Iran The arrival of a second Trump administration could significantly improve Israel’s strategic posture and place the Iranian regime under new pressure. Durin President Trump’s previous term, US-Israel relations strengthened, with policies that favored Israel’s security concerns. A breakthrough occurred between Israel and the moderate Gulf Arab states under the framework of the 2020 Abraham Accords, which disturbed Iran greatly. The second Trump term could further free Israel’s hand to offensively engage its adversaries without as much concern for diplomatic repercussions, or the withholding of arms – a tactic the Biden administration came to favor to show its displeasure with Israel’s war effort. While the Biden administration did provide over $17 billion of military aid to Israel after the October 7 mass murder attacks by Hamas, it has also consistently pressured Israel to prematurely abandon its war efforts against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. Biden has urged Israel to make do with limited offense in the face of an existential seven-front war that has been forced upon it by the Iranian axis. It is likely that support for future Israeli actions against Iran, whosenuclear programis racingahead, will be more forthcoming from a second Trump administration. An early indication of Trump’s appointees suggests not only unconditional support for Israel’s security, but also a hard line against Iran. Yaakov Lappin is an Israel-based military affairs correspondent and analyst. He provides insight and analysis for a variety of media outlets.
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