This article originally appeared in Israel Hayom on January 4, 2026.
The new year 2026 begins amid international diplomatic turmoil exacerbated by the US attack on Venezuela and the capture of President Maduro. The Ukrainian crisis remains unresolved, while uncertainty hangs over all fronts in the Middle East.
Benjamin Netanyahu returned to Jerusalem satisfied with his fruitful talks with Donald Trump in Florida and congratulated him on his “bold and historic intervention” in Venezuela.
However, the geopolitical situation in Latin America is very different from that of the Middle East, and therefore, in order to resolve complex negotiations and defend our national interests in close coordination with the United States, we suggest adopting a rigorous doctrine in the spirit of Henry Kissinger’s “step-by- step- diplomacy.”
Trump is not an ideologue but a seasoned and shrewd businessman, a believer in the law of the strongest. Economic power remains his primary focus.
Trump and Netanyahu have a knack for turning every event into a spectacle. The perfect presentation, the polished image before a camera or audience, always plays a significant role in their conduct. They flatter to gain sympathy and exploit favor according to the circumstances. Both crave a competitive edge, and for them, politics is the ultimate aphrodisiac. They believe they can find original solutions to old problems.
Clearly, when conducting foreign policy, one primarily seeks the interests of one’s own country, while also assessing the strengths of each partner. The focus is on practicality, not ideology. This is how Kissinger suggested to Richard Nixon that he enter into discussions with Maoist China, which led to the normalization of Sino-American relations as early as 1971. Then, just after the Yom Kippur War of 1973, and in order to stabilize the Middle East, he brokered partial disengagement agreements between Israel, Egypt, and Syria.
It is regrettable that, on the eve of this crucial meeting in Florida, some Israeli media outlets, as usual, disseminated information from anonymous sources suggesting a new crisis, intense pressure, and numerous disagreements with the American administration. These media outlets chose to downplay the positive aspects by focusing on the form rather than seriously analyzing the substance of the discussions. Through ignorance of the issues, and sometimes out of malice, some correspondents opted for cynicism, sensationalism, and gossip.
Doubt and criticism are essential in journalism, but personal or political opinions and unfounded information are unacceptable. Now, on news channels, we witness daily a blatant and grotesque disproportion in editorial judgment and a childish competition between different political commentators. Netanyahu, on the other hand, is wrong to ignore the Israeli press and prefer interviews only with foreign media. The contempt he displays for journalists representing Israeli television viewers and newspaper readers is unacceptable and is backfiring on him.
That said, Netanyahu’s visit to Mar-a-Lago and his presence at the New Year’s gala hosted by Trump succeeded in clearing up some misunderstandings and strengthening Israeli-American relations and the personal friendship between Trump and Netanyahu.
However, disagreements still remain regarding the solution to the Palestinian problem or the role of influence of Erdogan’s Turkey or Qatar.
Trump is unpredictable and vindictive. He always harbors resentment and doesn’t move on easily. In his speeches, he constantly criticizes the intricacies of his predecessor Joe Biden’s policies and mocks him.
As a result, Netanyahu is facing a severe test and will have to proceed cautiously. To resolve the various problems and dispel misunderstandings, it is crucial to adopt a common strategy, a true realpolitik based on an assessment of power dynamics and the national interest.
There is no alternative to the alliance with America, and we should therefore safeguard it while pursuing an independent policy that prioritizes our security interests. In the common interest, prior consultation is always preferable before any major decision.
Therefore, in order to put Realpolitik into action, we should practice step-by-step diplomacy and prepare the ground and public opinion before each step, especially regarding the future of the Gaza Strip.
On this particular issue and others, we observe that the Arab world is deeply divided. It does not form a united and cohesive bloc on the Palestinian question or on the Iranian threat. Each state acts according to the wealth of its energy resources, its own strategic and economic interests, and its influence on regional affairs.
Geopolitical rivalry and commercial competition between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, as well as disagreements with Qatar backed by Turkey, complicate the deployment of an international force in Gaza and the dismantling of Hamas.
In this context, it is necessary to conduct discreet diplomacy and maintain permanent security contacts between the various intelligence services to build mutual trust, address points of disagreement respectfully, know intentions in advance, and be able to establish good relations with the main actors in the region.
In this sense, the recognition of Somaliland is undoubtedly an excellent initiative devised by Mossad. It provides Israel with leverage over the Arab and Muslim world and a significant strategic and economic presence in the Horn of Africa. The enthusiastic welcome from the local population also proves that many African countries strongly desire fruitful cooperation with Israel. Our duty is to keep our promises and not disappoint them.
In this context, the United States must follow us in order to deter Iran, the Houthis of Yemen, and the Somalis, and thus guarantee the independence of Somaliland and free international navigation in this region of the world.
In Iran, the protest movement against the high cost of living and the deteriorating economic situation has spread throughout the country in recent days. For the time being, the demonstrations do not appear to be accelerating the fall of the Islamist regime, but a desperate attack by the ayatollahs against Israel cannot be ruled out. Close coordination with the United States is crucial to counter any attempt by the Iranians to launch ballistic missiles and explosive drones against the Jewish state.
Donald Trump’s warning to the ayatollahs about possible intervention if Iranian authorities fired on peaceful protests proves a strong American determination to react to any violent repression by the Iranian regime against its own population, but also to any attack against Israel.
The capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his prosecution in New York will undoubtedly encourage Iranians to overthrow the ayatollahs, but only a spontaneous popular uprising supported by the United States can overthrow this nefarious regime that has destabilized the Middle East for five decades.
