Trump’s Middle East Tour Raises Questions About U.S.-Israel Relations

TEL AVIV — As President Donald Trump wrapped up his high-stakes tour in the Middle East on Friday, various media outlets interpreted his decision to skip Israel as a potential rift with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It’s interesting to note, though, that while the Air Force didn’t land in Israel, experts suggest the actions undertaken during Trump’s visit align closely with Israeli interests and present strategic opportunities that Israel has yet to embrace.

“Israel is on the verge of a massive wave of change that could reshape the Middle East,” said Avner Golov, vice president of Mind Israel and a former senior director at the Israeli National Security Council.

During his trip, Trump emphasized that his actions were in line with Israeli priorities. On Tuesday, he condemned the Hamas attack of October 7th, urged Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords, and also warned Iran about its nuclear ambitions. By Wednesday, he had expanded his normalization initiative to include Syria.

When discussing the Air Force’s decision not to stop in Israel, Trump noted, “This is good for Israel. I have relationships with these countries… It’s quite beneficial.” In Doha on Thursday, he made an intriguing comment about Gaza, suggesting, “I want to see it. It will be a free zone. And if that’s needed, I believe the U.S. could claim it and ensure it remains a free zone.”

According to two Arab officials, a U.S. special mission informed Doha mediators that Washington would not press Israel to conclude the war in Gaza. When asked in an interview whether he harbored any dissatisfaction with Netanyahu, Trump replied, “No, he has a difficult situation. People seem to forget about October 7th— it was one of the most violent days in history.”

Recent conversations between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Prime Minister Netanyahu revealed continued U.S. support for Israel. Rubio reassured Netanyahu of America’s unwavering commitment to Israeli security, discussing Syria after Rubio’s meeting with Saudi leaders.

Amit Segal, a political correspondent, reflected on the Air Force’s path, expressing discomfort from an Israeli viewpoint as it flew towards the region. “However, this isn’t personal. It’s not about Netanyahu and Trump,” he clarified. “Trump supports Israel fully, but when American interests are at stake, he acts decisively.” Dan Senor, a former State Department official, echoed this sentiment, stating that despite media portrayals, U.S. policy remains firm in applying pressure on Iran without criticizing Israel publicly.

Furthermore, Trump asserted that he would suspend sanctions against Syria while working towards normalizing relations. Senor pointed out that past administrations, particularly under Obama, faced issues when private criticisms became public, allowing others to act against Israel. He emphasized that the current administration has refrained from airing grievances in public, which is crucial.

Concerns over Saudi Arabia’s evolving role in the region are apparent. Tamil Hayman, former head of Israel’s military intelligence, noted that the Israeli government fears being caught off guard. He advised that while Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Syria’s developments may not necessarily be negative for Israel, the window of opportunity could be slipping away. “We had two primary levers—support for the Saudi arms deal and U.S. consent to lift sanctions against Syria—now both have evaporated,” he remarked.

The ongoing hostilities in Gaza continue to create divisions among strategists in Israel about the best course of action—escalating against Hamas or seeking a pause for hostage negotiations. Golov encouraged Israel to pivot from a reactive stance to a more proactive role in shaping events. He is advocating for Israel to collaborate with regional allies like the Emirates and Saudi Arabia to exert pressure on actors such as Qatar that contribute to ongoing tensions.