Netanyahu’s para-para strategy meets its ultimate test with a Trump-led opportunity for a decisive regional future
Benjamin Netanyahu’s “para-para” approach—taking things step-by-step, even painstakingly—has defined his political career and shaped his strategic vision for Israel. Now, with the election of Donald Trump, Netanyahu’s strategy is bearing fruit. Trump’s victory can be seen as a miracle for Netanyahu and his vision of a robust, secure Israel, unconstrained by the diplomatic compromises that many insisted he make. Bibi’s patient approach, choosing when and where to make concessions, has finally found its moment, with the White House ready to support Israel’s long-term security rather than pressuring it into short-sighted compromises.
To understand Bibi’s method, consider the famous Israeli joke about the old bull and his young son standing on a hilltop, looking down at a field full of cows. Overwhelmed by the sight of so many, the young bull is uncertain, daunted by the idea of approaching them all. The old bull smiles knowingly and reassures his son, “Son, it’s easy—take them one by one.” In Hebrew: para-para.
This wisdom captures the essence of Netanyahu’s approach to Israel’s security. Not panicking after October 7. Tackling each challenge as it arises, patiently and systematically, has been his defining strategy—a strategy that many criticized as intransigence but that now stands vindicated with the election of Trump. Only Bibi.
Imagine, for a moment, if Bibi had taken the opposite path, conceding to pressure for ceasefires and hastily-brokered deals. This was the path urged by those who saw compromise as a moral high ground. But a ceasefire, hastily entered into, would not have brought Israel peace; it would have brought its enemies time to regroup. Netanyahu understood that without truly addressing the fundamental threats, any deal would be a temporary Band-Aid, leaving Israel vulnerable. By refusing to compromise on the principle of security-first, he laid the groundwork for a genuine, sustainable path forward, making it clear that only when Israel’s safety is uncompromised can lasting peace be achieved.
Front by Front: The Strategy that Made Trump’s Tailwind Possible
Consider the fronts Netanyahu has navigated to maintain Israel’s security. On each, the para-para strategy has proven essential, and Trump’s victory now allows Israel to pursue its security goals without diplomatic interference.
Iran: Netanyahu’s insistence on the dangers of the Iran nuclear deal went largely unheeded for years. The Obama administration was committed to an agreement that Bibi argued would give Iran time and resources to build a nuclear arsenal. By refusing to endorse this deal, Netanyahu risked isolating Israel but made it abundantly clear that a nuclear Iran would never be an acceptable outcome for Israel. He rallied support, particularly among Republicans and international allies, laying the groundwork for a policy reversal that would finally find backing in a Trump administration eager to take a hard line on Iran. Bibi’s para-para strategy on Iran was clear: never concede Israel’s safety in exchange for temporary appeasement. Trump’s election now makes it possible to dismantle this flawed deal and bring meaningful pressure on Iran.
The Palestinian Front: The para-para approach was equally evident in Netanyahu’s handling of the Palestinian issue. Over and over, he refused offers for ceasefires that did not include enforceable commitments to security. The West, meanwhile, routinely urged concessions, seeing these as necessary steps toward peace. But Netanyahu insisted that Israel could not sacrifice security on the altar of diplomacy, refusing any plan that did not guarantee an end to incitement and violence. Critics labeled him obstructionist, but Bibi held fast, waiting for a time when the White House would recognize the need for a security-first solution. Trump’s election offers this very alignment. For the first time in decades, Israel has a U.S. administration that sees eye to eye with Netanyahu’s insistence on genuine security, allowing him to pursue stability without risking Israel’s sovereignty.
Gaza: Netanyahu’s approach in Gaza followed the same para-para logic. Ceasefires without stringent guarantees would have merely allowed Hamas to rearm. Netanyahu knew that any momentary calm would not lead to real peace and would put Israeli civilians in danger. He chose the patient path, even when the world called on him to compromise. Now, Trump’s victory signals a partner who will support Israel’s right to defend its borders decisively. With a White House tailwind, Israel can at last pursue policies that bring true security to the people of the south, not fleeting calm that collapses with the next rocket attack.
Diplomatic Isolation: Netanyahu’s para-para strategy also extended to combating Israel’s diplomatic isolation. For years, he built relationships with key allies, quietly strengthening Israel’s economic, technological, and military ties worldwide, even as the international community criticized his policies. Rather than making concessions for temporary favor, he reinforced Israel’s self-reliance, knowing that true respect would come only when Israel’s strength was undeniable. With Trump’s victory, Netanyahu’s steadfastness is paying off. A U.S. administration that does not waver in its support of Israel’s right to defend itself signals to the world that Israel’s policies have firm backing from the strongest country on the planet.
Vindication of the Para-Para Approach
Through patience and pragmatism, Netanyahu has brought Israel to a moment of historic opportunity. Trump’s election offers a White House that values strength and security over quick-fix compromises, precisely the support Israel needs to tackle its challenges in a way that guarantees the safety of its people. The para-para approach, which critics labeled as obstinate and stubborn, now stands as a masterclass in strategic foresight. Bibi’s ability to see the long game, refusing to cave to international demands, has yielded results only possible with Trump’s tailwind.
By choosing to advance, one step at a time, rather than accept ill-fated compromises, Netanyahu has created an environment where Israel’s security concerns can be addressed without sacrificing sovereignty. Just as the wise old bull knew, real success is achieved slowly, step-by-step. Netanyahu’s patient strategy, which found its vindication in Trump’s victory, has prepared Israel to pursue a lasting peace on its terms—one secured by strength, not weakened by concession.most powerful ally. A diminished Iran, weakened economically and militarily, would not only safeguard Israel but would also shift the regional balance, positioning Israel as the dominant force in the Middle East.
It appears Bibi looked at history and followed the examples of other leaders faced with seemingly overwhelming odds (he needed only look back about 85 yrs to WW II), who took the task down to size by tackling it 1 but at a time, instead of allowing the enormity of the whole to overwhelm him. Churchill certainly faced seemingly insurmountable odds. FDR wisely selected 2 generals and an admiral who viewed the battles in that fashion, too. And by doing so, an “impossible” war was won, probably the last war to actually be won (not defaulted, or handed over) by either side, in almost a century! Had Bibi defaulted to global pressures, Israel would just be a sitting duck, awaiting the next, worse attack, AGAIN! Between selfish families not considering the consequences to all Israelis of their demands, and global entities that collectively want Israel destroyed and her people obliterated, what was being demanded was literally national suicide! Instead, Israel is poised to have the 1st real peace, when this war is won, that she has had in centuries!