Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit the jackpot with the election of Donald Trump. He could not hope for a more ardent supporter than the US president-elect to energize him and the hardliners in his coalition to continue their campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon and seek to diminish the regional influence of Iran.

But, given the complexity of the Middle East, it will not be easy for Trump to stabilize the region by guaranteeing Israel’s regional predominance.

Although Trump has said he is not afraid to use American power to advance what he sees as America’s national interests, he does not like conflict. His motto is that he ends wars, not starts them. He proudly claimed that no war broke out during his first presidency and that he vigorously sought to end the war in Afghanistan responsibly through a peace deal with the Taliban, but that it was President Joe Biden who bungled the US withdrawal from the country. the country.

Regarding the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, however, he promised Netanyahu all the help he needs to succeed against Hamas and Hezbollah, and to push back Iran as the main villain and sponsor of terrorism in the region.

In the weeks since his election victory, Trump has already appointed a foreign policy team comprised of decidedly pro-Netanyahu and pro-Israel elements. Hailing from the far right, many linked to Christian evangelical movements, the group includes Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel and Steve Witkoff as envoy to the Middle East. Both men are well known for their deep attachment to Netanyahu and his hardline national security and finance ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Huckabee also denies the existence of Palestine as a historical entity, previously stating that there is no such thing as a West Bank, but rather Judea and Samaria as part of the God-given Jewish homeland.

They are supported in this move by Israel-focused Vice President-elect JD Vance, Trump’s deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, and a series of candidates: Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, Congressman Mike Waltz as National Security Advisor, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik as Secretary of State. Ambassador and Fox News anchor Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense.

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Trump’s “Israel First” policy in the Middle East can only help Netanyahu’s leadership become more assertive in achieving their goal of “Greater Israel” – which is enshrined in the Likud party platform and refers to to all territories, from the Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea. – and seek to limit Iran’s regional capabilities. He is now ready not only to pave the way, at least in northern Gaza, for Israeli settlements, to strengthen control over southern Lebanon and to push Iran into wider confrontation, but also to declare annexation of the West Bank. In this context, Smotrich has already ordered the competent authorities to prepare for the extension of Israeli sovereignty over illegal settlements.

As Israeli scorched earth operations continue unabated in Gaza, with defenseless civilians, including many children, killed or dying daily from hunger and disease, there is no respite in Lebanon either. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has ruled out any ceasefire until Hezbollah is completely disarmed and pushed back beyond the Litani River – 30 kilometers north of the Israeli border. Meanwhile, weakening and humiliating Iran remains Israel’s main target, with the full support of Trump and his Middle East team.