In a surprising twist, former President Donald Trump — once celebrated in Israeli circles for his hard stance on Iran — is now reportedly urging Israel to hold off and give U.S. diplomacy a chance to work. That advice isn’t sitting well with many Israeli-Americans, who vividly remember what happened the last time diplomacy was given free rein: cash to Tehran, hollow promises, and an emboldened Iranian regime.

Israel is not a pawn in anyone’s strategy. It’s a sovereign nation that answers to its own citizens, not foreign negotiators. When Trump ran, many Israeli-American voters saw him as a needed course correction after the Obama- and Biden-era deals with Iran. But if he too starts preaching patience while Iran builds capacity, that support may waver. Israeli voters — and many Americans who support the Jewish state — don’t want more talk. They want safety, security, and the right to act when survival is on the line.