A Donald Trump victory would not be ‘good for Israel’

As Americans prepared to head to the polls, I heard from lots of Jews in the UK and elsewhere that a Donald Trump victory will be ‘good for Israel’. By this, they generally mean that Trump will be less critical of the Israeli government and the military action it is taking in response to 7 October than both his successor (and potential predecessor) Joe Biden, and opponent Kamala Harris.

That may well be true. However, Israel has already been able to strike Iran directly, something it surely could not do without at least implicit American support. Indeed, there are reports that American fighter jets were on standby should anything go wrong in the most recent mission. Unlike the current Labour government here, the Biden/Harris White House has not stopped selling certain weaponry to Israel as it takes on Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and, ultimately, Iran.

All in all, while there have been some disappointing rhetorical concessions to the anti-Israel left by Harris, there has been plenty of practical support from the administration she is currently part of.