JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his supporters celebrated Donald Trump’s election as president, hailing what a frontrunner of the Israeli settler motion referred to as an ally who would help them “unconditionally”.
Congratulating Republican Trump, Netanyahu mentioned the previous president had made “historical past’s biggest comeback”.
“Your historic return to the White Home affords a brand new starting for America and a strong recommitment to the nice alliance between Israel and America,” he mentioned in an announcement, which was echoed by the leaders of the hard-right nationalist spiritual events in his coalition.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has been preventing Israel for greater than a yr in Gaza, mentioned the election was a matter for the American individuals, however it referred to as for an finish to the “blind help” for Israel from the USA.
“We urge Trump to be taught from (President Joe) Biden’s errors,” Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri instructed Reuters.
The end result is a aid for Netanyahu’s coalition, which has clashed with Biden’s Democratic administration over the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon which have fuelled protests worldwide and left Israel more and more remoted internationally.
Because the world watched the US election on Tuesday night time, Netanyahu took the opportunity to sack his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, one of many Biden administration’s and the US navy’s favoured interlocutors within the authorities.
“The present administration trusted minister Gallant,” mentioned Ephraim Sneh, a former brigadier normal within the Israeli military.
The removing of Gallant, in the course of a multi-front conflict that threatens to escalate right into a full-scale confrontation with Iran, drew protesters to the streets in Israel however was welcomed by Netanyahu’s camp.
Israel Katz, Gallant’s substitute who had been serving as international minister, mentioned Trump’s victory would strengthen the alliance with Israel and assist to safe return of the 101 hostages nonetheless remaining in Gaza.
