President Donald Trump’s victory in the US election has been welcomed in Israel. As results emerged confirming Trump’s emphatic win, gigantic billboards appeared across Israel congratulating Trump’s win.  At the very same moment when results were confirmed, a barrage of rockets, perhaps not coincidentally, were fired by Hezbollah at northern and central Israel. The two reactions could not have been more stark.

We must pray for the 47th President of the United States between now and January, and when he is finally sworn into office. Israel is optimistic that Trump will continue his strong support for the Jewish state that he demonstrated in his first term. During those four years, Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s rightful capital, moved the US embassy there, ended the notorious 2015 Iran deal, heaped pressure on the Iranian regime, recognised the Golan Heights as Israeli sovereignty, pulled the US out of UNESCO, held the UN to account for its bias against Israel, brokered the signing of the historic Abraham Accords – the peace agreement between Israel, UAE and Bahrain – caused Morocco to recognise Israel, and helped strengthen ties between Israel and other Arab states. Trump’s record suggests that his strong stance kept Israel’s enemies at bay, and many will be hoping that Israel’s enemies are today wary of the consequences of any further escalation against Israel.

Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was one of the first world-leaders to congratulate Trump, writing on social media:

“Congratulations on history’s greatest comeback! 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.

“Your historic return to the White House represents a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.

“This is a huge victory.”

Incoming Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz also praised Trump’s re-election, in a post on social media. “Together, we will strengthen the American-Israeli alliance, bring back the hostages and remain firm in defeating the axis of evil led by Iran,” he said.

When Trump enters office, he will be presented with a number of challenges. Many will hope that the next president will be strong against Iran’s aggression and push back their nuclear ambitions. Not only has Iran attack Israel twice this year directly, but Israel will also be looking for America’s support in defending itself against the onslaught of attacks by Iran’s proxies, Hezbollah, the Houthis and Hamas.

In a presidential debate earlier this year, Trump said the US needed to “let Israel finish the job” in Gaza. He is also said to have expressed his hope that the war with Hamas will be over before he enters office.

Trump’s first term was also marked by his ambitious plan to bring about a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, dubbed “Deal of the Century”. One could conclude that this seems very unlikely amid Hamas’s war with Israel and its holding of Israeli hostages; but equally Trump might regard any peace negotiation to be more realistic with Hamas removed from control over Gaza.

Trump also faces the challenge of an increase in antisemitism within the United States since the October 7th attacks. Responding to the news of Trump’s election, Hamas issued a statement urging Trump to listen to the anti-Israel voices within America: “The elected US President is urged to heed the voices that have risen from within American society itself for more than a year since the Zionist aggression on Gaza, rejecting occupation and genocide, and objecting to support and bias toward [Israel].”

But America being the closest ally of Israel, Christians should pray that this support increases under Trump.

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