Some in Israel see Donald Trump as a kind of presidential Santa Claus. Others warn that his “gifts” come with a price. Trump is a transactional guy, they say, and that’s true. But it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Let’s remember: Israel has been paying for American support all along. It’s only under Trump that we’ve finally gotten anything good out of the deal. In fact, some might argue that the price under previous administrations was even higher, while the returns were abysmal. Every concession Israel has made under non-Trump American pressure has to date resulted in not more, but less safety and security for Israelis.

Trump does things differently because at heart he’s a businessman, not a politician. Politicians sell dreams, usually unattainable ones, while demanding payment up front. A businessman gives you what you want, and then requires remittance.

With Trump, Israel knows what it’s getting. Israel doesn’t need to hope that American promises or guarantees are fulfilled. The deed is done, the goods are delivered, and only after is Israel asked to make good on its end of the bargain.

With guarantees from past American administrations in hand, Israel:

• Agreed to negotiate with Yasser Arafat’s PLO and permit that terror group to move to Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip;
• Withdrew from the bulk of the biblical heartland;
• Let the PLO build up a paramilitary force to “fight terror”;
• Forcibly removed Israelis from the Gaza Strip so the Palestinians could have a Jew-free zone to turn into an independent state.

And what have those payments, and so many others like them, bought for Israel? Only violence and suffering. (The large US military aid to Israel doesn’t count. That was part of the Camp David Accords and tied to peace with Egypt.)

By contrast, in his first term Trump gave Israel:

• The US Embassy in Jerusalem and official recognition of the city as Israel’s capital;
• Recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights;
• Peace and normalization with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.

Thus far Israel hasn’t been asked to pay any significant price for those moves, besides perhaps postponing a proposed annexation of Judea and Samaria. What Trump wants most is stability so that he can get on with advancing American interests. And unlike past US presidents, he believes that Israel wants the same and trusts the Israelis to deliver given the proper conditions.

Whereas previous US presidents were driven largely by political agendas and ideologies, Trump just wants to keep business rolling, and any players who are going to help him do that are going to receive his full support, perhaps even at no additional cost.

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