This Sunday, as the Israel Day Parade makes its way down Fifth Avenue, New Yorkers gather in a lively, festive atmosphere.
Yet beneath the celebrations, a sense of unease simmers—questions are being raised across New York, America, and Israel.
For instance, what exactly is President Trump doing?
With some of his recent comments and actions, it’s a question that feels quite relevant, especially in light of his whirlwind visit to three Arab nations last week.
People are concerned that he might have an unrealistic outlook about regions that continue to struggle and the precarious situation of Israel.
I touched on my feelings about this in a Friday article, where I noted, “President Trump emerged from one palace, greeted by another, embracing Arab leaders, while many Israelis worried that they may be losing a strong ally in the White House.”
“It felt like we were at a grand celebration in the Middle East—like a gala filled with beautiful costumes, wealth, and vibrant exchanges. But then we realized we might just be in a fantasy, like Cinderella before the clock strikes twelve.”
Lack of Communication
There are plenty of reasons for this worry. One of them is the noticeable rise of anti-Semitism globally, including in the U.S. Some factions within American political parties seem to have ties to pro-terrorism agendas, with Trump being perceived as their ally.
However, the president has not been forthcoming about crucial developments, such as a ceasefire agreement with the Houthis that did not require them to stop the rocket attacks on Israel.
Before that, he didn’t inform Israel about initiating discussions with Iran until just days before the first meeting.
Moreover, the absence of a visit to Israel during this trip sends a signal about a cooling relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Adding to the tension, the U.S. negotiated directly with Hamas to facilitate the release of Edan Alexander, the only living American hostage in Gaza. Hamas labeled the release a goodwill gesture toward Trump.
This action has been seen as undermining Israel, as it overlooked other hostages and allowed Hamas to ramp up military efforts in Gaza.
On the flip side, Trump’s trip did yield some promising news for Israel.
During a meeting with Syria’s new leadership, Trump encouraged interim President Ahmad Alshara to recognize Israel and join the Abraham Accord.
Reports indicate that Israel and Syria have actually begun discussions on this front, which would be a significant shift, considering Syria’s historical refusal to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist.
But these aren’t ordinary times with Trump and his unconventional approach; discussions stemming from his visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE are producing tangible outcomes.
The president has promoted messages of peace and prosperity, shared his optimistic vision for the region, and, of course, emphasized the importance of purchasing American products.
The potential deal valued at up to $2 trillion makes this trip notably successful in job creation for the U.S.
Positive Talk
From a geopolitical angle, his travels have positioned America to counter China’s expanding influence across various fronts.
Additionally, the president’s aggressive negotiations concerning possible deals with Iran aim to curb its nuclear ambitions.
Even some Democrats have admitted that Trump’s dynamic presence on the world stage benefits America and global stability, but it’s understandable for Israelis to be apprehensive that what’s advantageous for Trump and the U.S. might not align with their interests.
The typical concerns remain: Hamas, the Houthis, and especially Iran pose existential threats to Israel.
There is anxiety that the agreement with Iran, which deals with nuclear facilities, is just a temporary fix, reminiscent of the flawed deal brokered by Obama, and that Iran may eventually return to enriching uranium for weapons targeting Tel Aviv.
Netanyahu initially favored military action to dismantle these facilities, but subsequently decided to give negotiations another chance.
For Israel, any assurance from Iran is insufficient unless it involves complete dismantlement of nuclear capabilities.
Furthermore, if the U.S. eases sanctions as part of this deal, Iran will have the financial means to support groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, potentially allowing for more crises.
Trump seems aware of these Israel-centric concerns and, in addition to his gestures toward Syria, has publicly encouraged Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accord.
Embracing a “no surprises” policy with Israel could be beneficial. For instance, notifying Netanyahu about outreach to Iran prior to making it public would have avoided some friction.
The ceasefire deal with the Houthis should have included a clause to prevent attacks on Israel.
Avoid a Massive War
At present, news of a U.S.-only ceasefire and invitations for Iran has sparked fears that Trump has sidelined Israel, making Netanyahu appear weak domestically.
However, it’s not unreasonable to afford Trump one last chance for a peaceful resolution with Iran.
Though he was quick to take military action against Qasem Soleimani, during his first term, he demonstrated a desire to evade another major conflict, reflecting a shift within the GOP.
The era of George W. Bush and the controversial war in Iraq is behind us.
Trump has made it clear in speeches that he doesn’t support “state builders, neocons, or liberal nonprofits” who have failed to resolve issues in places like Kabul and Baghdad.
We’ll soon know what his ultimate stance will be regarding Iran.
When Trump invited the Supreme Leader for negotiations earlier this year, he set a deadline of two months for progress.
If Iran doesn’t agree to dismantle its facilities by then, Trump indicated that America, with Israel’s assistance, would take action.
The deadline is approaching. The time for a decision is now, Mr. President.
