With the leadership in Israel in question, what allies are prepared to support the U.S. in the face of a fight with Iran?
Uncertain about the future of his leadership in Israel, on Wednesday PM Bejamin Netanyahu cancelled his trip to the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting in New York. It was a meeting he only missed once in his 10-year tenure according to the Jerusalem Post, but he cancelled amid political uncertainty whether he will win.
The Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, ran against "Bibi" in an uncalled election. Gantz is expected to form a new government, which could interfere with future U.S./Israel relations. One of the strongest allies in the region, the U.S. is Israel's largest donor and has been a source of support on Christian and well as political grounds.
Before the election Trump was poised to work more closely with Israel, saying this just weeks ago:
“I had a call today with Prime Minister Netanyahu to discuss the possibility of moving forward with a Mutual Defense Treaty, between the United States and Israel, that would further anchor the tremendous alliance between our two countries. I look forward to continuing those discussions after the Israeli Elections when we meet at the United Nations later this month!”
Looking for support in that part of the world as tensions with Iran rise over a recent bombing, Trump is keeping other allies close. He reached out to British PM Boris Johnson following news of Netanyahu's pending election results and his subsequent decision to forego the UNGA, a place both men have used as a perch to trumpet their diplomatic positions in the world. Trump said he ahs not spoken to the man he has called a "friend" and appeared to distance himself from the situation telling reporters in California, “Our relations are with Israel, so we’ll see what happens."
The President and the Prime Minister reaffirmed the value of the Special Relationship in addressing shared security concerns, most notably Iran’s destabilizing behavior. The two leaders look forward to seeing one another at the United Nations General Assembly.