Donald Trump visited the Middle East, but did not include Israel on his agenda. Is there tension between him and Israel over the war in Gaza?
US President Donald Trump visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates this week. His visit was closely watched by Israel, where Trump chose not to go.
Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already been to the White House twice, political analysts in the country were left with the feeling that something was not quite right. This is happening at a time when Israel is facing increasing criticism over the war in Gaza from many countries around the world. In recent days, Israel has increased its airstrikes in Gaza, and on Friday alone, according to local health authorities, more than 90 people were killed, including children.
"If we look at the last month and especially the last week, in a number of actions and statements, Trump has completely ignored Netanyahu and kept him in the dark, even marginalizing Israel as if it were not an ally," commented former Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas, who is now a writer for the daily "Haaretz".
The unexpected release of American-born Israeli hostage Edan Alexander was the result of direct negotiations between the United States, Hamas and mediators, according to sources familiar with the matter. Another sign that Netanyahu is being ignored, or at least certainly not in Trump's sights.
Is there a problem between Trump and Netanyahu?
During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Trump signed an arms deal with Riyadh worth $142 billion, as well as a $600 billion investment deal that will help Saudi Arabia further develop its technological potential. All of this could prove to be a threat to Israel's military and technology industries.
When Netanyahu rushed to Washington in April to persuade Trump to lift tariffs on Israel, the mission was unsuccessful. On the other hand, the American president seemed to surprise him with the information that the United States and Iran are holding talks on Iran's nuclear program. This meeting was very different from their first in February, when Trump talked about how Gaza would become a "Riviera" and its population will be forcibly displaced.
Another decision by the US administration raises questions - the US has reached an agreement with the Houthis in Yemen. Just two days earlier, the militant group fired rockets at Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport. The Houthis have vowed to continue their attacks on Israel until the war in Gaza is over. According to Israeli analyst Alon Pinkas, "Trump does not like the manipulation and constant delusions regarding Gaza and Iran" coming from Netanyahu.
Trump wants to redraw the situation in the Middle East
Trump preaches a foreign policy that can be called "transactional", explains Pinkas. "Netanyahu can only give him two things he doesn't have yet: a ceasefire in Gaza, which the Israeli prime minister himself broke in March, perhaps because he misread Trump's lack of interest as a green light for new attacks, and Iran," the expert said. "But while Trump continues to claim that he wants a deal with Iran and that he will pursue it, Netanyahu is not stopping his bellicose rhetoric." Other observers say Trump is working for a complete change in the region. Former Israeli consul general to the United States Yaki Dayan does not think Trump is ignoring Netanyahu. "I think he is taking into account all the very complex and important issues on which normalization for Israel depends - both with the Syrians and the Saudis." But Dayan said Israel could have taken a central position in this redrawing of the situation in the Middle East. But Netanyahu has not delivered the most important thing Trump wants - an end to the war in Gaza. If the Israeli prime minister provides solutions to this problem and the conflict with Iran, however, "first, there will be no governing coalition and second, there will be no reason for him to remain prime minister."
Can the US force Israel to stop the war?
The war in Gaza is a catalyst for the processes ahead. It seems that the latest negotiations between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar, have failed. At the same time, Israel is intensifying its military offensive, and Netanyahu continues to promise that he will not stop the war. The Israeli prime minister's office recently even approved a proposal for Israel to occupy a large part of the enclave and displace Palestinians once again - this time to the south. This could be considered a war crime under international law.
Israel has agreed to the US humanitarian aid plan for Gaza, no matter how controversial it is, but the blockade of the enclave remains in force. Since March, people in Gaza have not been getting food, medicine, or fuel. This has devastating consequences. During his visit to Qatar, Trump said that "there is a concept for Gaza" and, in his opinion, it is a very good one. "We will make it a zone of freedom, the US will intervene and it will become a zone of freedom," said the US president.
The war in the Gaza Strip is preventing Trump from achieving one of his long-term plans - normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Despite all indications of problems between Trump and Netanyahu, however, there is no prospect for the US head of state to ask the Israeli prime minister to stop the military offensive. "The war worries Trump. Ultimately, however, if no agreement is reached, there is no one to stop Netanyahu from continuing it. The Americans will not do it," analyst Dayan is convinced. Trump even claims that developments in the region are "positive for Israel".
According to Dayan, however, there are quite worrying elements in the recent developments - from large-scale arms deals with Riyadh to talks with Tehran. "At the same time, it is good for Israel that Trump wants to change the balance in the Middle East, and not have the Chinese, the Russians or anyone else do it for him," the expert adds.