Why Netanyahu Isn’t Worried About Trump’s Syria Withdrawal
Israel doesn’t need the protection of American boots on the ground, and Bibi may be angling for another prize.
Bibi knows what he wants.
Photographer: Handout/Getty Images EuropeDonald Trump’s sudden Dec. 19 announcement that the U.S. would withdraw its 2,000 troops from Syria cost him his defense secretary and set off alarm bells among Israel’s staunchest U.S. supporters, notably Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. The one person we didn’t hear objecting was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
That’s less of a mystery than it might appear. Having carefully built a close relationship with Trump — one that has already resulted in the historic U.S. embassy move to Jerusalem and other signs of friendship — Netanyahu knows better than to publicly upbraid his ally. But behind the scenes, he’s worked to ensure that any American withdrawal not only doesn’t hurt Israel, but might deliver some benefits.