Israeli officials expressed their optimism of a potential restoration of relations between Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and former US President Donald Trump after the latter shared a statement by Netanyahu on Truth Social on Wednesday condemning the attempted assassination on Saturday.

Netanyahu wished Trump “continued strength” on behalf of “Israel,” while expressing his shock regarding the assassination attempt, stressing that the attack was not only a threat to the presidential candidate, but to America and democracy.

The occupation’s prime minister shared three additional statements and posts on social media expressing his solidarity with Trump, referring to him as "President" rather than "former president."

Like all Israelis, my wife Sara and I were shocked by the horrific assassination attempt on the life of President Donald Trump.

This wasn't just an attack on Donald Trump. This was an attack on a candidate for the presidency of the United States. This was an attack on America.… pic.twitter.com/AzeiL78uNU

— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) July 14, 2024

'Trump was still angry'

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The two politicians' relationship deteriorated after Netanyahu congratulated US President Joe Biden following his victory in the 2020 presidential elections, resulting in Trump accusing the Israeli prime minister of disloyalty.

"I haven't spoken to him since," Trump said in a 2021 interview, proceeding to curse Netanyahu.

Since the incident, Netanyahu's aides have attempted to reconcile the two leaders, including meeting with the former president at least four times within the past three years and praising Trump by reading passages from Netanyahu's book in Mar-a-Lago.

"But every time we thought we managed to put this behind us we discovered that it didn't work and that Trump was still angry," one of Netanyahu's aides told Axios.

Despite Trump claiming that he still personally liked Netanyahu, he has been critical of the Israeli prime minister's government. Although the former president has publically declared his support for "Israel," he has expressed his concerns about the occupation's lack of seriousness in achieving peace with the Palestinians before October 7. In addition, Trump has denounced "Israel's" inactive role in the assassination of  Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleiman, claiming it left the US to take the risk.

A former Trump advisor told Axios that Netanyahu should not expect an early invitation to the White House if Trump is victorious in the upcoming presidential elections in November, but stated the leaders may be able to work together if they are both in office in January.

While giving a presidential speech at a Pennsylvania rally on Saturday, Trump was shot in an apparent assassination attempt.

Condemnations then poured amid the shooting, with world leaders condemning "political violence".