Israeli military commentator Alon Ben David, in a column published by the newspaper 'Maariv', argued that U.S. President Donald Trump has made a political misstep that harmed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by attempting open support for him. Ben David noted that Trump's disrespect towards the Israeli president undermined any chances of achieving his objectives.
Ben David explained that while Trump has succeeded in influencing several matters, citing his intervention in an American team player's case, he believes that politics differ from sports, and Trump's public pressure tactics do not yield similar outcomes.
He added that any genuine attempt to assist Netanyahu should have been conducted quietly and away from the media, rather than publicly criticizing the Israeli president, suggesting that such an approach backfired.
On the Iranian issue, the writer asserted that Trump failed to impose his terms on Tehran, predicting that the chance for reaching a comprehensive agreement remains slim, and the crisis will persist as Iran holds firm to its positions.
He also encouraged the Israeli government to seriously engage in negotiations regarding Lebanon, suggesting that achieving security arrangements in cooperation with the Lebanese state could ease tensions on the northern border and reduce security burdens on Israel.
The article touched on Turkey's growing role in Syria, warning that increased cooperation between Ankara and Damascus might shift the regional balance of power, especially with Turkey's contribution to rebuilding Syrian military capabilities.
In conclusion, Ben David posited that Israel, after years of relying on military strength, needs to adopt a more effective diplomatic approach to address evolving regional challenges, stating that some conflicts cannot be resolved by force alone.