Aaron David Miller

In June of 1996, when Bill Clinton finished his first conversation with Benjamin Netanyahu, an exasperated Clinton walked out of the office and exploded.

Who's the effing superpower here?

That's what Clinton said about Netanyahu.

Donald Trump answered

that question, at least for now.

And let me also add, having worked and voted for Republicans and Democrats, this is a man who is presiding over the erosion of American norms and institutions and undermining the very nature of constitutional government that his inaugural oath impelled him to protect.

And yet, he deserves enormous credit

for what he's done here.

Partly, it's a paradox.

Yeah, he acquiesced in Netanyahu's Gaza campaign for nine months.

In fact, he reversed almost everything that the previous administration under Joe Biden did to signal its displeasure, opposition.

to Israeli policies in Gaza.

He built up an enormous amount of currency with Netanyahu.

There's no question.

Trump 1.0, recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, moving the embassy, recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, saying almost nothing about Israel's annexationist policies on the West Bank.

He created a sugar high for Netanyahu.

He had the wherewithal

to actually then deliver.

In the words of former U.S.

Ambassador to Israel, Sam Lewis, he applied ample amounts of honey, Dave.