Ioana TOFF: Pure Strategy

(Ioana TOFF, Editor-in-chief of the Romanian Gazette)

There is a reason why Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu continue to appear together in the global news spotlight. It is not nostalgia. It’s a strategy. A clear, cold, but extremely effective one. It’s an alliance between two leaders who share the same political instincts, the same tough stance on Iran, and the same deep understanding of what national security means, both for Israel and for the United States.

In recent days, amid rumors of a possible new nuclear deal with Iran, the press has been quick to speculate. Trump reportedly advised Netanyahu not to strike the Islamic Republic while negotiations are ongoing. “I told him it’s not the right time, we’re close to a solution,” Trump said.

Some interpreted this as a retreat. A weakness. A distancing. But it is none of these things. It is coordination. It is strategy. It is not like it was during Obama’s time. We are no longer talking about backroom deals that put the Iranian regime on a pedestal and marginalize Jerusalem. We are talking about tough inspections, real pressure, and a firm stance: Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. Punctum.

Netanyahu knows this. He always has. He and Trump don’t need hourly phone calls or press conferences to demonstrate their unity. Their alliance is built on a principle rare in diplomacy: no cracks. Not just in appearance, but in policy, timing, and principles.

Today, with Trump in a position of influence and Netanyahu at the helm of the government, their strategic bond continues to shape the global agenda, calm the markets, and cause unease in Tehran. And yet, some of the media want to create tension. To invent rifts. Headlines such as “Trump calls for restraint from Israel” or “Netanyahu retaliates” do not reflect reality. They are journalistic fictions for those who long for the days when America considered Iran a reliable interlocutor and Israel an obstacle. But those days are over.

Trump and Netanyahu are not uncontroversial figures. They are criticized, caricatured, challenged. But their track record speaks for itself. The facts speak for themselves. And the reality is this: during their joint tenure, the Middle East has been more stable. Trump, with his instinct as a negotiator. Netanyahu, with the cold reasoning of a military strategist. The end result is the same: Iran without nuclear weapons, Israel without fear of abandonment, and America far from the shameful position of financing its enemies.

It is no coincidence that during Trump’s presidency, US policy toward Israel took the most pro-Israeli direction in recent history: moving the embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing the Golan Heights, cutting off funding for UNRWA, withdrawing from the nuclear deal, and signing the Abraham Accords. Real peace. Real power. Without cracks.

Do we remember what the world looked like before this alliance? Do we remember the buses exploding in Tel Aviv? Do we remember American diplomats moralizing Israel while Iran was planning attacks in Europe? We remember. And Trump and Netanyahu remember.

That’s why we trust them. Not because they are perfect. But because they are clear. Because they act. Because they don’t blink when it comes to the security of the State of Israel or regional stability. If Netanyahu refrains from an attack because Trump asks for time to negotiate, it is not a concession. It is real diplomacy. Mature. Coordinated. Where symbolism is set aside in favor of efficiency.

That’s partnership. That’s leadership. It’s imperfect. It’s courageous. But it works. No, we’re not going back to 2015. We’re moving forward, toward a new Middle East — one shaped by strength, confidence, and an alliance that doesn’t need to be reinvented every election cycle. Let the critics murmur. Let the editorials gossip. The reality is simple: Trump and Netanyahu know exactly what they are doing. And the rest of the world is just trying to catch up.