President Trump gives Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a 'boosting' gift to help him re-elect

America wants Netanyahu re-elected?

In fact, the establishment of a defense alliance between the US and Israel is not a big step, because existing agreements between the two countries stipulate that Washington must protect Tel Aviv in the event of war. Moreover, Israel is the country that receives the most economic and military aid from the US.

On average, the US provides Israel with about $3 billion in direct aid each year. With a population of just over 6 million, this amount of aid equates to nearly $500 per year for each Israeli citizen.

Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu (left) is among the few world leaders who maintain friendly and cordial relations with President Doanald Trump. Photo: Getty

Israel also receives more "favors" from the US, such as funding for Israel in the manufacture of advanced weapons, access to blueprints for new weapons, priority in early delivery of weapons contracts, etc. In other words, although it has not signed a defense alliance with the US, Israel has enjoyed many incentives equal to or greater than those of the countries that have signed it.

In addition to NATO and the Rio Treaty with Latin American countries, the United States has recently signed mutual defense treaties with Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Australia and New Zealand.

The idea of ​​a US-Israeli mutual defense treaty has been mentioned by previous US presidents and was determined to be unnecessary. So why does President Donald Trump want to sign this treaty?

First, the alliance between Washington and Tel Aviv is considered closer than ever under President Trump. A formal joint military pact with Israel, if signed, would be a meaningful symbol of the warm relationship between the two countries and President Trump personally with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Thus, both in theory and in practice, the US-Israel alliance would become the most cohesive and strongest.

Second, President Trump's announcement of his intention to sign a treaty with Israel just three days before the country's general election clearly shows that the US leader wants Mr. Netanyahu to be re-elected.

After the phone call with the Israeli leader, Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter: “I look forward to further discussion after the Israeli elections and when we meet at the United Nations later this month.” That prospect is no different from Mr. Trump’s firm belief that Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu will win the September 17 election, continue to serve as Prime Minister and come to the United Nations meeting in the United States.

In many ways, Netanyahu’s re-election is a boon for Trump. Personally, Netanyahu is among the few world leaders who have maintained a friendly and cordial relationship with President Donald Trump. Under the 69-year-old prime minister, Israel is seen as a “loyal” ally that helps the US maintain its military presence and political influence in the Middle East, especially in dealing with Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an election campaign in Jerusalem. Photo: EPA

If Mr. Netanyahu's opponent wins, the US will likely face many difficulties in implementing the Middle East peace plan - a "deal of the century" - expected to be announced in the near future.

In addition, demonstrating a deep concern for Israel’s security will help Mr. Trump win the support of American Jewish voters in next year’s presidential election. Mr. Trump’s victory in 2016 was partly due to the support of such voters.

Therefore, the latest announcement about the mutual defense treaty with Israel can also be seen as an effort from Washington to "support" Mr. Netanyahu's re-election.

A meaningful gift

For Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, the upcoming election is expected to decide his political fate. After the general election last March, despite declaring victory, Mr. Netanyahu was unable to form a new government within 42 days and was forced to dissolve the Knesset to hold a new general election.

If his party loses this election, Mr Netanyahu will have to leave politics. This would not only be a political defeat but also risk exposing him to lawsuits for fraud and bribery.

Ahead of this important election, many polls show that Mr. Netanyahu's Likud Party is at a disadvantage when its "heavyweight" opponent, the centrist Blue and White Party led by former Chief of Staff of the Army Benny Gantz, is winning close support.

With such a “vital” reality, in this election campaign, Mr. Netanyahu is trying to play all his “cards” to gain an advantage. A few days ago, he declared that he would annex the Jordan Valley into Israeli territory if re-elected.

US and Israeli troops conduct joint exercises in southern Israel in December 2018. Photo: Reuters

This move has been strongly criticized by the international community, especially the Palestinians and the Arab world, but it has pleased the Israeli right-wing forces. Previously, Mr. Netanyahu had been constantly lobbying the US government to sign a mutual defense treaty with Israel. And now, with President Donald Trump's commitment, Mr. Netanyahu is like receiving a "gift" at the right time.

In fact, not all Israelis welcome the joint defense agreement with the US. Netanyahu's rival Benny Gantz criticized it as a "misguided intention" that could complicate the issue of Israeli sovereignty.

However, most conservatives and far-right in Israel expect this agreement to help strengthen the interests of the Jewish state in the Middle East, especially in the context of Iran's repeated announcements that it will return to nuclear research and development.

Once the agreement is signed, Israel will receive maximum security protection in the Middle East. Of course, the US President's statement also clearly stated that once Mr. Netanyahu is re-elected, the US will officially discuss this issue.

Therefore, although it is just a statement, an announcement of a US-Israel defense treaty will help Mr. Netanyahu in the near future to have the possibility of being re-elected for another term. If these scenarios become reality, the Middle East will have many more disturbances and surprises decided by the "couple" of leaders Trump - Netanyahu./.