TOKYO: Israel may be looking to re-establish settlements in the Gaza Strip, according to a Japanese expert on the Middle East.

Keio University Professor TANAKA Koichiro believes Israel’s position will be strengthened considerably when Donald Trump become US President in January.

“Donald Trump is coming back to office in January and President-elect Trump happens to be the biggest asset that Israelis and Prime Minister Netanyahu have in the United States. So, once he’s back in office, I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu could do whatever he wants.”

“I believe that there is sort of a right-wing movement inside the Israeli government and in the society of Israel that are aiming to re-establish settlements inside Gaza, so there is no way or no tangible reason why the Israeli government and also the Israeli forces would agree to a ceasefire in Gaza at this moment. They are simply just going to carry on what they’ve been doing for the past year.”

Tanaka suggested that the Israeli government would wait for Trump to assume office and might then announce that they are planning an annexation of some parts of Gaza or all of Gaza.

“I believe strongly that President Trump is going to allow Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli government and Israeli military to do whatever they think is necessary. Prime Minister Netanyahu repeatedly said that they are doing a favor to the United States or even to the ‘civilized’ world when they have been attacking Gaza.”

Tanaka also warned of possible further clashes between Israel and Iran, with the possibility that Iran might still retaliate for Israel’s last attack.

“I believe that they [Israel] are going to intensify their activities either to sabotage some nuclear activities inside Iran or even get themselves ready to retaliate once again if Iran is going to attack Israel,” Tanaka said.