Washington:Israeli writer Shlomo Shamir believes that the results of the US midterm elections, in which the Republican Party suffered a defeat, have changed the balance of power in Washington and created a new political reality that may affect the relationship between the United States and Israel, noting that President Donald Trump's circles have begun to make sharp statements against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to Maan News Agency, Shamir said in an article published in the Maariv newspaper that the head of the Yeshar party, Gadi Eisenkot, officially has 28 days to conduct negotiations and try to form a new Israeli government, but he considered that the time available to him does not exceed 28 hours, given the importance of forming the new government and its impact on Israel's standing in the Western world, especially in the capitals of major countries.
He added that following the reports and analyses related to the efforts to form the new Israeli government, following the results of the Knesset elections, reveals a lack of awareness among Israeli politicians and influential figures regarding the relationship between the composition of the government in Jerusalem and Israel's political and moral standing in the international arena, especially in Western countries.
The writer considered that the interview with US President Donald Trump, which aired Sunday evening on the "60 Minutes" program on CBS, revealed the extent of Netanyahu's declining standing with the US president. He noted that Trump mentioned Israel during the interview in a tone that suggested annoyance, but the interviewer did not give him time to complete his answer, adding that prominent analysts in Washington informed him that the incomplete part of the answer was insulting and offensive to Netanyahu.
Shamir quoted a veteran Washington political analyst, who asked not to be named, as saying that Netanyahu has long ceased to be a popular figure in Trump's inner circle, and that he has recently become an unwelcome figure within the White House. The analyst added that Israel is no longer Trump's primary concern after the Republican Party's crushing defeat in the midterm elections, and that his interest in Netanyahu has diminished. According to analysts, Trump privately attributes the Republican defeat to his close relationship with Netanyahu, which they describe as more of a public relations exercise than a genuine friendship.
The writer believes that the results of the midterm elections have weakened Trump's ability to influence and lead the domestic political front and foreign policy during the next two years, as he can now launch initiatives and make decisions, but the Democratic majority in Congress and the Senate will obstruct his decisions and may prevent their implementation.
He argued that Trump's weakened position over the next two years gives Israel a rare political opportunity to re-establish an important and vital goal, which he said Netanyahu's government neglected and even buried, namely, restoring bipartisan American support for Israel. He explained that this support, which for many years formed the basis of American foreign policy in the Middle East, was undermined and weakened by Netanyahu, with the help of his close associate in Washington, Ron Dermer.
Shamir concluded by saying that forming a new Israeli government, without Itamar Ben-Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, and Benjamin Netanyahu, could allow for the restoration and practical revival of bipartisan American support, considering that this should be one of the main goals and tasks of the next government.