Israel’s right-wing coalition has welcomed Donald Trump’s victory amid recent threats of more attacks from Iran and a significant government overhaul in Israel alongside the US elections.
Former foreign minister Israel Katz was made defense minister on Tuesday night after Israel’s premier fired Yoav Gallant after a long-running feud between the two.
Katz, known for his outspoken, right-wing views, wrote on X: “Congratulations to President-Elect Donald Trump on his historic victory. Together, we'll strengthen the US-Israel alliance, bring back the hostages, and stand firm to defeat the axis of evil led by Iran.”
Israelis had been waiting anxiously for the results to come in, feeling Trump was the only ally to have in the face of confrontation with Iran and war of attrition with its proxies Hamas and Hezbollah.
Israeli Ruth Cohen, a Netanyahu supporter, told Iran International: “This is such a relief. Waking up to this news that we have Trump makes me feel a lot safer.”
Jean Arnold, an American Christian who splits her time between Israel and the US, was also relieved at the news. “I think Israel is safer now under Trump,” she told Iran International.
“He’s not my first choice domestically but there is no other option in the current climate who can protect Israel the way I think Trump can.”
Trump was tough with Iran during his first term and many expect him to use the same pressure tactics against Tehran that he used from May 2018 to the end of his term. In addition to pulling out of the JCPOA nuclear agreement during his time in office, in 2020, Trump ordered the assassination of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.
Taking out the man responsible for the deaths of multiple US personnel in addition to orchestrating terror attacks globally, made Trump and his administration targets for retaliatory killings by the Iranian security forces.
On being assigned the role of defense minister, Katz also used it as a chance to highlight the country’s major threat, Iran, which in addition to launching direct attacks on the Jewish state this year, is supporting militias fighting Israel from Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq and Syria, amid the war in Gaza.
“We will work together to march the security system to victory against our enemies and to achieve the goals of the war: the return of all the abductees as the most important value mission, the destruction of Hamas in Gaza, the defeat of Hezbollah in Lebanon, the containment of Iranian aggression and the return of the residents of the north and south to their homes in safety,” the long-time Netanyahu ally wrote on X after the news sent shockwaves through Israel.
Riots broke out on the streets of Israel after Gallant’s dismissal was made public. Long seen as a peacemaker, his departure bodes for a more radical approach to Israel’s military policy, led predominantly by Netanyahu.
Former parliament member Ksenia Svetlova scolded Katz after the announcement calling him a puppet for the PM. “Netanyahu has full confidence in the fact … that you won't dare to open your mouth and object even if he pours hot tea down your pants,” she wrote on X.
Israel is still waiting for a promised retaliation from Iran for an aerial bombardment last month which disabled large swathes of Iran's air defenses and according to the Israeli military, left Iran vulnerable to further aerial penetration.