For Israeli leader, Trump brings friendship – and risks
JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming White House visit aims to cement ties to a surprisingly supportive U.S. president — but it also presents a political minefield.
While Netanyahu appears to have hit it off with President Donald Trump, he will have to tread carefully during their meeting or risk being seen as endorsing divisive policies that have alienated key constituencies in Israel and the United States.
“On the one hand, the prime minister is going to want to and absolutely should establish a close working relationship with the new president,” said Dan Shapiro, who earlier this month completed his term as President Barack Obama’s ambassador to Israel.
But on the other hand, Shapiro said “there is a risk that by seeming to associate too closely with certain proposals, and perhaps in some ways with him personally, there’s an alienation factor for other key (American) constituencies that have been part of the bipartisan pro-Israel coalition. That is something the prime minister may want to keep in mind.”