Israel expects the incoming Trump administration to take a hard line against Iran and its nuclear ambitions, which will create an opportunity for more peace deals with Arab neighbors, a senior member of Israel's security cabinet said.

By Emma Ashford, a columnist at Foreign Policy and a senior fellow with the Reimagining U.S. Grand Strategy program at the Stimson Center, and Matthew Kroenig, a columnist at Foreign Policy and vice president and senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly thrilled with Donald Trump’s successful re-election and hopes for a quick diplomatic victory in the Middle East. Protests broke out in Tel Aviv after Netanyahu fired his defense minister who called for a cease-fire in Gaza.

Iran-sanctioned attacks on U.S. personnel has surged since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel as Iran may pressure Washington to ease Israel's fight against Hamas and Hezbollah.

Israel's airstrikes on Iran last month destroyed a top-secret Iranian nuclear research facility at Parchin, according to reports.

The Israeli strike on Iran's Parchin military complex in late October will make it much harder for Iran to develop a nuclear explosive device if it chooses to do so, two Israeli officials told Axios.