Trump allies defend him to Israelis anxious over Iran deal

American allies of U.S. President Donald Trump have been defending him to an Israeli public anxious about a U.S. interim deal with Iran and White House criticism. These interactions signal potential fissures in the long-standing alliance between Washington and Jerusalem.

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The United States and Israel have an unbreakable bond.

The U.S.-Israel relationship has experienced volatility, marked by initial confidence and subsequent public disagreements between Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu and many Israelis perceive a significant risk that Trump's Memorandum of Understanding with Iran will embolden a state they consider their deadliest enemy. They also worry it will limit Israel's ability to respond to threats from Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israelis sense the alliance, a cornerstone of their strategic approach, is under strain, especially as U.S. opinion polls indicate growing American dissatisfaction with Israel.

Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, stated on Sunday that "The United States and Israel have an unbreakable bond," acknowledging an "enormous level of anxiety about the relationship." He spoke at a foreign policy conference in Jerusalem where concerns about the alliance dominated discussions. Conservative commentator Mark Levin, a Trump supporter who has diverged from the president on the Iran deal, addressed the audience. While he opposed the agreement and advocated for the destruction of the "Iranian regime," he praised Trump for his support of liberty, religious freedom, Christianity, and Judaism.

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while he did not like the agreement and believed that the "Iranian regime" had to be destroyed, he nevertheless praised Trump for what he said was the president's support for liberty, religious freedom, Christianity, and Judaism.

Beyond the Iran deal's specifics, Israelis are concerned about Trump's push for a ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon and his critical remarks towards Netanyahu's resistance. Recent comments attributed to Trump include calling Netanyahu "f***ing crazy" and suggesting Israel should not destroy entire buildings when searching for targets. U.S. Vice President JD Vance also adopted a critical stance, noting that "Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time," while also suggesting that not all criticism of Israel should be dismissed as antisemitism. The emergence of such sharp views from Trump's Republican Party is particularly worrying for many Israelis, especially as U.S. Democrats have become more critical of Israel in recent years.

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Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time.