What is Netanyahu thinking when he openly attacks Harris and supports Trump?

What goes through Netanyahu’s mind when he cultivates Donald Trump while declaring open war on Kamala Harris? It started with a pointed dig at her during his address to Congress and continued with a briefing by a “senior political official”. From there, it was but a short road to becoming the target of attacks by the entire right wing in Israel.

This although Harris’s voting record on our issues when she was in the Senate was excellent, donors are opening their wallets, volunteers are knocking on her doors, polls are smiling upon her, and her election to the presidency is a real possibility.

She will stand against Trump, who like her supports ending the war in Gaza as soon as possible. Unlike her, he believes in “America First”, a separatist approach that is incompatible with the US’s position as the leader of the free world and which will weaken its allies, including Israel. This before his statements that could be interpreted as antisemitic or problematic positions of his chosen deputy.

Achievements that Netanyahu touts and which happened during the Trump presidency – moving the embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, the Abraham Accords – should not be underestimated. But he is clearly unexpected and can turn on us in a minute; we won’t be the first. What does Netanyahu think when he so visibly favors him?

Trump recounted that during their recent meeting in Florida, he asked Netanyahu why Jews vote for Democrats. He who sees himself as the leader of world Jewry answered that it is a habit. Translation: if only they would listen to me, they would come to their senses and support you. Trump often slanders Jews who vote for Democrats. Our prime minister saw fit to support that view of our brethren, while insulting every Democratic Jew. What was he thinking?

Mr. Netanyahu is familiar with the system of government in the US. He knows that although the president has a lot of power, he needs separate approval from both houses of Congress for every law he tries to pass and for every dollar he wants to spend. He may have noted that in the last fifty years, only twice (2003-2007, 1977-1981) did one party manage to hold the three centers of power (the White House and both houses of Congress) for four consecutive years.

You don’t need to be an expert to understand why a threatened country that depends on the US can’t treat half of its political establishment as an enemy, why bipartisan support is vital, and why we shouldn’t interfere in internal politics there. Until Netanyahu’s leadership, that was a sacred principle.

Much is yet to be written about discord that Netanyahu sows in Israel in order to preserve his power, when everyone is judged according to personal allegiance and “Smoll” (left) is a curse instead of being a legitimate political and social position. But attacking Kamala Harris? Who may well enter the Oval Office in January, and regardless, will be a powerful influence the Democratic Party in the coming years? What for? What was he thinking?

But we know what he was thinking. Someone once said that for Netanyahu, tactical considerations aim for the midday news, and strategic long-term planning is aimed at the weekend newspapers. His goal – headlines – was achieved. Consequences? That is another matter.