US Elections 2024: Israel's Ben Gvir and Smotrich rejoice as Trump wins

Ultra-nationalist Israeli ministers rejoiced as Donald Trump won the US presidential elections in a historic come back to the White House. 

"Yesssss," said far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a convicted racist, anti-Palestinian and pro-settlement ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a brief post on X. 

Bezalel Smotrich, dubbed the de-facto "governor" of the occupied West Bank and accused of leading the annexation of the Palestinian territory, was also quick to react as the election results were coming in. 

"God bless Israel. God bless America," the finance minister said on X. 

Trump won the presidential race against Democrat challenger Vice President Kamala Harris by early Wednesday.

During his first tenure as president between 2016-2020, Trump implemented a foreign policy seen by some people as one of the US' most pro-Israel. 

He recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and recognised Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights among other pro-Israeli policy moves. 

Favoured candidate

He has long been viewed by some right-wing Israeli politicians as the favoured candidate in this year's election. 

In July, Ben Gvir told Bloomberg that a win for Trump would benefit Israel.

“With Trump it will be clearer that enemies must be defeated,” Ben Gvir said.  

Yesssss 💪🏻🇮🇱🇺🇸 https://t.co/kPqkYI3PDP

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) November 6, 2024

His comments were made the day before Netanyahu was set to meet with US President Joe Biden and Harris in Washington. 

"The US has always stood behind Israel in terms of armaments and weapons, yet this time the sense was that we were being reckoned with - that we were trying to be prevented from winning...That happened on Biden's watch and fed Hamas with lots of energy," he added. 

Smotrich also previously backed the projected Republican president for showing "courage and integrity" after a mistranslated transcript of Trump's comments circulated in Israeli media, claiming he opposed a two-state solution.

'Friend of Israel'

Other ministers in Netanyahu's rulling coalition, including from his Likud party, also experessed their joy at Trump's comeback. 

"Welcome back Mr. President!!" wrote Education Minister Yoav Kisch.

Shlomo Karhi, the minister of communications, wrote that Trump was a "true friend of Israel", adding that he will stand with Israel in bringing back the hostages as well as securing "absolute victory".

Congratulations to President Trump on his victory! A true friend of Israel returns to the White House, a leader who understands and values the strength of our alliance. Together, we will continue building an unbreakable bond for a secure and prosperous future for both nations.… pic.twitter.com/iEKCaiGKA6

— 🇮🇱שלמה קרעי - Shlomo Karhi (@shlomo_karhi) November 6, 2024

Netanyahu himself also took to X to congratulate Trump on what he called "history's greatest comeback".

Addressing both Trump and his wife, Melania, Netanyahu called his campaign run "a huge victory".

"Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America," Netanyahu wrote.

"In true friendship, yours, Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu," he signed off. 

US-Israel ties

Israel's war on Gaza has left US-Israel ties under serious pressure, even as the Biden administration has continued over the course of the 13-month conflict to offer military and diplomatic support to Israel.

Last month, the White House put Netanyahu on notice that he had 30 days to take specific steps to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza or risk losing US military aid.

Meanwhile, Trump reportedly told Netanyahu last month that he needed to end the war by the time he returned to office, assuming he would win.

The former US president was apparently repeating comments he had shared in July when the two met for the first time in four years at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.