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Israelis want Trump to ‘make Israel normal again’

Israelis want Trump to ‘make Israel normal again’

For many Israelis longing for a war-free future and the release of hostages still held in Gaza, US President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House on Monday is a source of hope.

On the eve of his inauguration, three female hostages were freed after 15 months in captivity by Hamas militants, after mediators Qatar, the United States and Egypt reached a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

Trump, whose envoy participated in the negotiations even before his return to the presidency, took credit for the agreement after months of fruitless negotiations.

But many Israelis have been awaiting his return for some time, even before the ceasefire.

In Tel Aviv’s Sarona shopping district, a huge banner bearing the image of the president-elect was erected weeks ago.

It shows Trump with his fist raised in defiance. The title, a reference to the hostages, reads: “ALL OF THEM UNTIL 20.1 OR HELLFIRE WILL OPEN.”

In early December, Trump warned of “hell” if, before his inauguration, Hamas did not release the dozens of Israeli hostages held since its Oct. 7, 2023, attack that sparked the Gaza war.

With the first three releases on Sunday, 91 hostages remain in Gaza.

– ‘Rules about to change’ –

The Tel Aviv banner was an initiative of the Tikva Forum, a campaign group of relatives of hostages who oppose a deal with Hamas.

“Hamas has to realize that the rules are about to change in the Middle East and that it is time to bring the hostages back immediately,” the group said in a statement.

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Its members have been anticipating the return of the American billionaire to the helm in Washington, Israel’s closest ally and its main military backer.

But it is not just Israelis who oppose a deal who are hopeful.

In the run-up to the takeover, his image has become a fixture at weekly demonstrations calling for the release of the hostages.

The red caps handed out at protests allude to those proudly worn by Trump supporters.

But instead of “Make America Great Again,” the ones used in Israel say, “End this damn war.”

Protesters carried signs that read: “Trump, thank you for handling this,” “President Trump, bring them home” and “Let’s make Israel normal again.”

“I know that when I return, things will change, but I’m not sure to what extent,” said Gaya Omri, a protester at a recent demonstration in Jerusalem.

“My only hope is that I can end this war. “This is what we want,” he said.

– Aligned –

During his first term, Trump broke with much of the international community and moved the US embassy to Jerusalem.

The Israelis claim the city as their undivided capital, while the Palestinians claim its eastern sector as theirs.

Trump oversaw historic normalization agreements between Israel and three Arab countries: Bahrain, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.

It also recognized Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights, again going against much of the world and numerous UN resolutions.

As a sign of gratitude, an Israeli settlement in the territory, which Israel has occupied since 1967, was renamed Trump Heights.

“President Trump put us on the map,” said Yaakov Selavan of the Golan Heights Regional Council.

“It gave us the best public relations campaign we’ve ever had and we hope the new US administration continues that,” he said.

This time, some of Trump’s Cabinet picks again suggest a favorable line for Israel.

The incoming president’s pick for US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, is a strong supporter of Israeli annexation of the occupied West Bank.