Jerusalem Post Editor-in-Chief Zvika Klein said the Israel-Hamas war would have been “worse” now had former Vice President Kamala Harris won the presidency in the 2024 election.
Klien is arguing that President Donald Trump’s unconventional diplomacy brought the breakthrough ceasefire agreement that critics once claimed was impossible.
He made the comments during an interview with Fox News.
It follows Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire deal that includes the release of 20 living Israeli hostages and the return of the remains of several others still held in Gaza.
In exchange, Israel agreed to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
The agreement marks the first stage of Trump’s 21-point Middle East peace plan, a broader effort the administration says aims to establish “lasting peace through strength and accountability.”
Trump’s Ceasefire Agreement Praised in Israel
The Jerusalem Post’s front page went viral for praising Trump’s success in bringing the hostages home.
Klein said the deal received “vast majority support” from Israelis across political lines.
“It was just all very surreal and a lot of people felt a bit of relief for the first time in a very long time,” Klein said.
“It was a crazy day.”
Klein described the agreement as a historic turning point, crediting Trump’s “out-of-the-box approach” to negotiations.
“They [the Biden administration] were definitely part of it,” Klein said.
“But I think they were stuck.
“They needed this out-of-the-box approach to this conflict in order for there to be some sort of a solution, because otherwise I feel like we’d still be stuck.
“And the approach that Trump takes in general is just very nonconventional, out of the box.
“And I think that’s what we needed.”
The ceasefire deal also coincided with Trump’s visit to Israel.
During the trip, Trump addressed the Knesset in what Klein described as both “very entertaining” and “an amazing speech.”
The president used the address to call on Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his longstanding corruption charges.
The moment dominated headlines across the country.
Contrast With Harris and the Left
When asked if Harris, who has been widely discussed as a potential Democrat presidential frontrunner in 2028, could have achieved similar results, Klein dismissed the notion outright.
“If Kamala Harris were in office, it would be worse,” Klein said.
“If it was Biden continuing, it’s a different story.”
He added that the problem would stem from Harris’s advisers.
Klein describes her team as “very, very to the Left when it comes to Israel.”
“It’d be terrible because of the people surrounding her,” he said.
“Biden, you know, he really loves Israel.
“You can’t take that away from him. He knows Israel.
“You can’t say the same thing about Kamala Harris.
“And the people who were advising her were very, very to the left when it comes to Israel, not supportive of Israel, very critical and more supportive of the Palestinians.”
Trump’s Standing Among Israelis
Klein said Trump remains deeply popular in Israel, particularly following the ceasefire and hostage releases.
“People who are Jewish and religious speak very similarly to evangelicals in the U.S. about Trump — ‘sent by God,’” Klein said.
“It’s interesting to kind of see those parallels.”
The Jerusalem Post editor noted that Prime Minister Netanyahu, whose approval ratings had plunged prior to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, has “bounced back dramatically” since the ceasefire announcement.
However, Israelis remain divided about his long-term future.
“The ceasefire will earn him more points,” Klein said.
“But Israelis are also looking for a change.”
Trump’s 21-Point Plan for Peace
Trump’s Middle East plan, announced during his Asia tour earlier this month, lays out a 21-step framework for stabilizing the region through a combination of military deterrence, economic development, and energy cooperation.
The agreement between Israel and Hamas represents the plan’s first phase, centered on hostage recovery and demilitarization of Gaza.
Trump has maintained that “peace through strength” remains the cornerstone of his foreign policy, a message that has resonated strongly with Israeli leaders and voters.
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