Former President Donald Trump has detailed his vision for U.S.-Israel relations if he were to secure a return to the White House, pledging to reverse what he called “terrible damage” inflicted by the Biden administration and implement a range of foreign and domestic policies aimed at supporting Israel and countering current presidential actions.
Commitment to Israel
In an op-ed published by Newsweek on October 17, Trump emphasized his commitment to Israel and outlined key measures he would pursue, including the reinstatement and expansion of the Muslim travel ban from his first term, restricting immigration for individuals supporting Hamas, providing Israel with its own Iron Dome defense system, and initiating what he termed “the largest deportation operation in American history.”
“When I return to the White House, I will once again stand with Israel 100 percent,” Trump affirmed. “The United States will fully support Israel in defeating, dismantling, and permanently destroying the terror group Hamas.”
The announcement follows a recent escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas. On October 7, Hamas orchestrated the deadliest Palestinian militant attack on Israel in history, prompting a fierce Israeli response, including extensive airstrikes and preparations for a potential ground offensive into Gaza.
As of the latest reports, the death toll has surged, with at least 4,000 casualties in both Israel and Gaza and an alleged further 500 people killed in a Gaza City hospital airstrike on Tuesday. The situation has further intensified as Israel implements restrictions on essential supplies to Gaza.
Renewing Abraham Accords
In his op-ed, Trump addressed his prior controversial remarks during the early stages of the Israel-Hamas conflict, seeking to clarify his unwavering support for Israel. He emphasized his role in brokering the Abraham Accords between Israel and several Arab nations while critiquing President Joe Biden’s approach to Israel and Iran.
“When I left office, Iran was weak, broke, and desperate to make a deal,” Trump recalled. “But then Biden came in, loosened my sanctions, and today Iran is producing more than three million barrels [of oil] a day.”
Trump’s proposed policies, aimed at reinforcing U.S.-Israel relations, include reinstating travel bans on Muslim-majority countries from his first term and extending the bans to Palestinian refugees attempting to immigrate from Gaza. He also plans to institute stricter immigration screening criteria to exclude those advocating for the abolition of Israel or sympathizing with Islamic extremism.
The former president emphasized a comprehensive immigration reform agenda, featuring stringent measures such as aggressive deportations targeting individuals with “jihadist sympathies.” This would involve revoking student visas from students expressing anti-American or antisemitic views and deploying ICE to address demonstrators promoting “pro-jihadist” ideologies.
“This is how I will begin to undo the terrible damage Joe Biden has done and end the Biden betrayal of Israel,” Trump declared. “In the meantime, the entire world must stand with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s war-time government as they seek to defeat these murderous enemies.”
While Trump’s op-ed outlines his proposed actions to reshape U.S.-Israel relations, the future of these policies will depend on the outcome of the upcoming elections and the direction the nation chooses to take in the coming years.
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
