GNITN - Special Edition

Israel At War – Day 472

Free, Free, Free At Last

Very Thankful

I can tell you that after 4 years of the worst president of my lifetime, today couldn’t come fast enough. And for Israel, after over 15 months of being restricted at every turn by an US administration that stabbed Netanyahu in the back at every turn we finally have a US president and administration that will let Israel fight this war the way they want to fight it. We hear more on how thankful the PM is in a report from The Times Of Israel:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered his congratulations to US President Donald Trump on his inauguration Sunday, and said he believes the “best days” of the US-Israel alliance are ahead.

He noted that good things happened in Trump’s first term and looked forward to the next one:

“Your first term as president was filled with groundbreaking moments in the history of the great alliance between our two countries,” Netanyahu said in an English-language video message, citing Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing Israeli sovereignty in the Golan Heights.

“You brokered the historic Abraham Accords, in which Israel made peace with four Arab countries,” he added. “I believe that working together again, we will raise the US-Israel alliance to even greater heights” and will “complete the defeat of Iran’s terror axis and usher in a new era of peace and prosperity for our region.”

The PM then thanked President Trump for getting the current ceasefire deal jump started:

Netanyahu also thanked Trump for his role in pushing for a ceasefire-hostage release deal in Gaza, which went into effect Sunday and has so far seen three hostages freed.

Trump has been widely credited for contributing to Israel and Hamas’s acceptance of the deal, which went into effect Sunday, following vague threats he made of “hell to pay” in the Middle East if the captives did not go free before his inauguration, and a reportedly “tense” meeting between Netanyahu and Trump envoy Steve Witkoff.

Netanyahu then talked about a golden age for the two countries:

“I look forward to working with you to return the remaining hostages, to destroy Hamas’s military capabilities and end its political rule in Gaza, and to ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel,” the prime minister added. “I am sure, Mr. President, that under your leadership, the best days of our alliance are yet to come.”

Now that Trump’s team is in place it is clear they have no intention of letting Hamas lead Gaza, although the framework for the current agreement moves in that direction:

Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Mike Waltz, said in an interview Sunday that “Hamas will never govern Gaza. That is completely unacceptable,” though he did not call for any resumption of fighting unless the terror group were to break the terms of the agreement.

The three-stage deal, which also commits Israel to release thousands of Palestinian security prisoners and detainees, calls for negotiations in its second phase to reach a permanent end to the war and withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu Will Meet With Trump

The two world leaders intend to meet in person soon although they are talking remotely:

Talks are already underway for a potential visit by Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington to meet Trump as early as next month, according to Hebrew media reports Monday.

The pair spoke last week when Netanyahu thanked Trump for his help in brokering the six-week ceasefire-hostage release deal, and “the two decided to meet in Washington soon,” according to the Prime Minister’s Office.

The new US president also mentioned meeting with Netanyahu:

In an interview on Saturday, Trump said he and the Israeli leader would be meeting “fairly shortly,” without elaborating on a timeline. A visit during the month of February would mean the pair would meet during the first six-week stage of the ceasefire deal that Trump helped push toward completion.

For his part the PM hasn’t taken many trips during the war:

Netanyahu has taken few trips abroad since the start of the war against Hamas on October 7, 2023, most recently addressing the UN in September 2024. He underwent prostate surgery last month and sources say his health will also be a factor in scheduling the trip.

As expected, Israeli leaders also congratulated President Trump:

President Isaac Herzog and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also sent congratulatory messages to Trump upon him entering his second term in office.

Herzog lauded Trump’s “unwavering commitment to Israel’s security and to building a better future for our region” and added a “special thank you for your commitment to bringing all our hostages home.”

The Foreign Minister then added his thoughts on Trump becoming the US president:

Sa’ar issued a statement, saying that “during your first term you were Israel’s greatest friend,” and thanking the US president for his “efforts that helped secure the initial release of our hostages.”

“I’m sure that the special Israel-US alliance will reach new heights during your second term,” he added.

The thanks also came from other Israeli politicians current and past:

Other ministers and Israeli elected officials sent Trump messages of congratulations, including MKs Benny Gantz and Avigdor Lieberman, and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid.

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett also issued a statement of congratulations.

It is true that the next four years under President Trump will be much better for Israel than the previous four years. And it is my hope and prayer that Israel will be freer to defeat all the terrorism threats against it now as they enter a very strategic time. There have been hints of this current deal being only temporary and even that it won’t last long at all. However things play out Netanyahu and company have a true friend in Donald Trump and an administration that truly has its back unlike the turncoats they had to endure up until now. Like the gospel song says they are free, free, free at last. Thank God almighty they’re free at last!