Who’s the Boss? Trump May be Calling the Shots, but Netanyahu Lives between a Rocket and a Hard Place
President Trump recently quipped that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “knows who the boss is,” a public admonition by Trump of Netanyahu that the former calls the shots. David Rubin, President and founder of the Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund, explains why Netanyahu has an itchier trigger finger. While critics argue Netanyahu has become increasingly aggressive in part to divert attention from his ongoing legal troubles at home, that assessment overlooks the harsh reality facing the tiny country every single day.
Israel Fighting for Survival every day
It is far more difficult to appreciate what it means to govern a nation roughly the size of New Jersey, surrounded by terrorist organizations and hostile regimes that have repeatedly vowed to eliminate the Jewish state. The tiny nation doesn’t have the luxury of waiting weeks to respond to emerging threats. Decisions are measured in minutes, not political news cycles.
- Survival demands split-second decisions few nations ever face.
- Security threats don’t disappear because politicians face legal battles.
- Distance shapes America’s perspective; proximity shapes Israel’s reality.
- Trump and Netanyahu share goals despite occasional strategic disagreements.
- Israel cannot afford hesitation when enemies openly seek its destruction.
Netanyahu’s domestic corruption trial has been highly publicized, and opinions about his leadership vary widely inside that country. But Rubin argues that reducing Israel’s security decisions to one man’s political fortunes ignores decades of history. Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and other enemies were committed to his coutnry’s destruction long before Netanyahu’s legal challenges began, and they will remain committed regardless of who occupies the prime minister’s office.
Trump can afford greater strategic patience because he leads a global superpower buffered by oceans and unmatched military reach. Netanyahu governs a country where enemy rockets, drones, and terrorists operate just beyond its borders. That reality naturally produces a far lower tolerance for risk and a much quicker trigger when intelligence points to an imminent danger.
Rubin can explain why what some observers interpret as aggression is, an unavoidable doctrine of survival. He can also discuss why occasional disagreements between Trump and Netanyahu should not be mistaken for weakness in the alliance. Friends can disagree on tactics while remaining united in purpose. Ultimately, the first responsibility of any nations is to ensure that its citizens live to see another day—a burden unlike that faced by almost any other democratic nation.
Relevant Article(s):
Trump says Netanyahu ‘knows who the boss is’, says sources – The Hindu
Q&A:
- Has America’s distance from the Middle East made it harder to understand that country’s security decisions?
- Why does Israel often have only minutes—not days—to respond to emerging threats?
- Are critics overlooking daily fights for survival by focusing solely on Netanyahu?
- How should Americans separate Benjamin Netanyahu’s legal troubles from Israel’s national security needs?
- Why does governing a country surrounded by hostile neighbors require a different military doctrine?
- Can President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu disagree on tactics while remaining strong allies?
- What does Israel’s proximity to Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and other enemies mean for its rules of engagement?
- What would happen if Israel hesitated when confronted with credible threats to its existence?
LEARN MORE BOUT THE SHILOH ISRAEL CHILDREN’S FUND HERE.
ABOUT DAVID RUBIN…
David Rubin and his three-year-old son, narrowly escaped heinous deaths at the hands of terrorists. Had it not been for his car suddenly starting, Rubin and his son would not have been so fortunate. The younger Rubin deals with the trauma to this day. That experience is what led David to establish the Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund, to help other young victims of Islamic terrorism, process and deal with their trauma.
Rubin, also the former Mayor of Shiloh, Israel is the author of seven books, including his latest, Confronting Radicals: What America Can Learn from Israel, which has recently been made into a movie. Rubin is the founder and president of Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund, established after he and his then three-year-old son were wounded in a terror attack.
Learn more at www.IsraelChildren.org (treating the victims of terror)
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