Mr. President, you are slated to touch down in Israel for only a few hours before moving on to Sharm el-Sheikh. It may be a brief stop, but its significance looms large.
Families of the Israeli hostages in Gaza have endured agony for two years – mothers, fathers, and children waiting for news of loved ones. Now, as Hamas is reportedly set to hand over all remaining captives by Monday, our nation is breathing a cautious sigh of relief.
We welcome your role in helping broker this deal and your presence here to mark the moment. In these precious hours on our soil, however, we implore you, Trump: don’t forget Israel.
Don’t forget that for us, these hostages are not just bargaining chips or headlines; they are our people, and their freedom is our ultimate victory, far more important than any blow dealt to Hamas.
Indeed, Israel has long placed an “extraordinary value” on each individual life, having released over 7,000 prisoners to secure the freedom of just 16 Israelis over the decades.
As you stand with our leaders amid the celebration of returning hostages, remember that this joy is tempered by lessons from history. Other American presidents have stood at similar crossroads, faced with decisions that tested their moral resolve and their loyalty to allies.
We ask you to learn from their experiences – the good and the bad – as you navigate what comes next.
The hostage release is not the end of the story
When Air Force One departs for Egypt, the real test begins. Mr. Trump, will you remember Israel’s interests once you’re in Sharm el-Sheikh? Our concern is that after a quick celebratory lap, attention will shift and we’ll be left to face the aftermath alone.
Please prove those worries wrong. The hostage release, while joyous, is not the end of the story. Over 200 Israelis were slain in the initial terror attack; an entire country was traumatized.
There is a war still to be resolved and a battered society to heal.
We look to you to ensure that Israel’s security is not treated as a check-box en route to a Nobel ceremony. In past crises, some US leaders pushed Israel for restraint or rushed to “move on” prematurely.
We need the opposite now: a steadfast commitment that Israel’s right to self-defense and to eradicate the threat of Hamas will be honored, even as diplomacy advances.
When you meet Arab and world leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh, carry with you the stories of the families you meet here. Remind President Sisi, the Qataris, and others that Israel has paid a painful price for simply existing in this region, and that any future arrangements, in Gaza or beyond, must guarantee that Israelis won’t be victimized again.
Do not acquiesce to any “solution” that leaves Hamas able to rearm or that compromises on the principle that Israeli lives are not bargaining chips. In short, don’t forget Israel when courting others’ favor.
Friendship is measured in the tough moments behind closed doors, not just the public ovations on a red carpet.
We in Israel remember
And one more thing, Mr. President, perhaps the most delicate point: We in Israel remember, even if too many elsewhere forget, that a large part of your signature achievements in office have been possible thanks to Israel.
It may not be popular to say it out loud in international forums, but it’s true. Your maximum pressure campaign on Iran, for instance, drew heavily on intelligence and moral arguments provided by Israel.
When our Mossad agents daringly seized Iran’s secret nuclear archives and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed them in 2018, it gave you ammunition to justify withdrawing from the flawed Iran nuclear deal, a move that fulfilled one of your key promises.
Israel’s behind-the-scenes courage helped you succeed in changing the West’s approach to Tehran. The historic Abraham Accords you midwifed? They built upon decades of quiet Israeli outreach and the reality of Israel’s security contributions in the region.
Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moving the US Embassy, an act of courage on your part, was rooted in a truth Israelis hold dear, and it won you enormous credit here.
In all these cases, Israel was not a bystander but a driving force that enabled you to shine.
We suggest this not to diminish your leadership, but to emphasize our partnership.
Do not forget that much of your current term’s successes are thanks to Israel’s support, counsel, and bold actions, including on Iran. You stood with us, and we stood with you. That bond must continue.