There are no guarantees that Trump will give Netanyahu everything he wants

The bar opposite the US embassy in Jerusalem is called Deja Bu – a clever reference to something you’ve drunk before.

And outside the gates of the US compound, Israel is eager for a second round of Donald Trump.

“I’m very happy,” said Rafael Shore, a rabbi who lives in Jerusalem’s Old City. “He understands the language of the Middle East.

“Iran will think twice about doing anything. I think if Kamala was elected, there would be no fear in the Middle East to attack America or Israel.”

The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, was one of the first to congratulate the new president-elect this morning. “Congratulations on a historic comeback!” he wrote on Twitter.

Netanyahu previously called Trump “the best friend Israel has ever had in the White House”.

Trump previously won favor here by scrapping the Iran nuclear deal opposed by Israel, making historic reconciliation agreements with several Arab countries and upending decades of American policy – and international consensus – by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Donald Trump’s first term in office was “exemplary” when it comes to Israel, said Michael Oren, Israel’s former ambassador to the US.

“I hope you will visit that again. [But] we have to have a clear idea of ​​who Donald Trump is and what he stands for.”

First of all, he said, the former president “doesn’t like wars” which he sees as too expensive. Trump called on Israel to end the war in Gaza immediately.

“He’s also not a big fan” of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Amb Oren said, and he has opposed the wishes of some Israeli leaders to annex parts of it.

Both of those goals could put him at odds with far-right groups in Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, who have threatened to bring down the government if the prime minister pursues policies they reject.

When called to choose between the recent demands of his US counterpart and the demands of his coalition partners, Benjamin Netanyahu is inclined to choose his coalition.

The tension with the current President of the United States, Joe Biden, has grown significantly as a result.

Michael Oren believes that Netanyahu will need to take a different approach with the next president.

“If Donald Trump takes office in January and says, ‘Okay, you have a week to end this war,’ Netanyahu will have to respect that.”

In Gaza, where Israeli forces have been fighting the Palestinian militant group Hamas, desperation has reduced some citizens’ focus on that one goal.

Trump has “strong promises,” Ahmed said. “We hope he can help and bring peace.”

Ahmed’s wife and son were both killed in the battle and his house was destroyed.

“Enough, we are tired,” he said. “We hope that Trump has the strength to be able to resolve this issue with Israel.”

Mohammed Dawoud, who was fired eight times during the Gaza war, said Trump’s victory means the end of the war is coming soon.

Another displaced resident, Mamdouh, said he didn’t care who won – he was looking for someone to help.

“There is no medicine, there are no hospitals, there is no food, there is nothing left in Gaza,” he said. “We want a strong person who can separate us from the Jews.”

In the occupied West Bank, home to the Palestinian Authority (PA), there is widespread skepticism about American influence, with many viewing American administrations from both sides of the political spectrum as siding with Israel.

“Low-level solutions that help the Palestinian people, or endless military support for Israel, will be the cause of future conflicts,” said Sabri Saidam, a senior member of the PA’s main party, Fatah.

“We would like to see a new kind of Trump, like Trump 2.0 who is determined to end the war quickly, and deal with the root of the conflict in the Middle East.”

Recent polls have suggested that more than two-thirds of Israelis want to see Trump return to the White House. But even here, there are those who warn about his unpredictability and his way of doing things.

“You will make the situation here uncertain and unsafe,” said one Israeli woman. “I don’t trust him to keep the peace. I think he will make the war very difficult.”

Israel’s former ambassador, Michael Oren, said he believes there is “huge success” if Israel cooperates with Trump, including the possibility of a landmark peace deal with Saudi Arabia and checking Iran’s influence.

But it would also be difficult for Netanyahu to navigate the demands and compromises involved in those regional goals.

Since Trump’s last term in office, moderate voices from both leaders have diminished.

Many in Israel view Trump’s first term with fond memories. But the relationship can be very different the second time around – and past performance is no guarantee of future returns.