Haaretz: Trump will replace Netanyahu due to high 'maintenance' costs

(Patria) - Israeli columnist Eran Yashiv published an article in the Opinion section of Haaretz, stating that newly elected US President Donald Trump will not miss any opportunity to try to remove Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from power, given the "high costs of his maintenance", regardless of their previous friendship.

The Israeli columnist believes that it is in Trump's interest to remove Netanyahu from power because he is a person who needs constant attention, care, and support. He points out that his opinion is not an accurate prediction, but an analysis of Trump's "unstable and unpredictable" views, prioritizing economic reasons.

Yashiv, a professor of economics at Tel Aviv University, says that Netanyahu, according to Americans, is a person whose "maintenance is demanding", as Israel received almost 18 billion dollars in military aid from the United States last year.

Trump has expressed a desire for American taxpayers' money not to be spent on foreign conflicts, whether in Ukraine or Israel, and has acted accordingly. Providing support for the current unrest in the Middle East is not on his agenda.

Yashiv asks in the text: "Does Trump have obligations to Netanyahu?" and answers decisively: "No". Trump despises Netanyahu and resents his ties to US President Joseph Biden. Now that he is free from electoral obligations, his campaign promises no longer hold any significance, as he said.

The Israeli columnist poses a new question: "How can Trump 'remove' Netanyahu?" and answers that it can be done in two ways. First, by sending a message to Israeli parties, especially the ultra-Orthodox ones, that "Netanyahu's career is over". He believes they would quickly comply with these demands.

Second, through financial pressure and using a "carrot and stick" approach with Netanyahu, his Likud party, and "other powerful figures", the author states. In the best-case scenario, they will easily remove him from power.

Netanyahu's office announced on Wednesday that the Israeli Prime Minister spoke with Trump to congratulate him on his election victory, adding that the conversation was "warm and friendly", and that they discussed the "Iranian threat" and the need for joint work on Israel's security.

"Your historic return to the White House gives the United States a new beginning and a renewed commitment to the great alliance between Israel and the United States," Netanyahu wrote on the X platform.

Trump emphasized that his conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was "very good", reports Al Jazeera.