Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed US President Donald Trump during a meeting at the White House in Washington, DC on April 7. Their first stop was Riyadh, followed by a meeting with the king of Saudi Arabia in an effort to enhance relations with the Arab world. Subsequently, the president delivered a speech in another regional capital outlining a new vision for the Middle East. Notably absent from their itinerary was a visit to Israel.
In 2009, President Barack Obama’s decision not to visit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu upon his return to office was seen as a slight and marked the beginning of strained relations between the two leaders. Fast forward to the present, as President Donald Trump gears up for his first visit to the region in his second term, the issue of visiting Israel remains unaddressed. Despite promises of a “historic return to the Middle East” with a focus on stability and mutual respect, Israel is once again omitted from the travel plans. Israeli officials are wary of potential surprises following Trump’s previous unexpected announcements on various Middle East issues.
While there were inquiries about the possibility of a visit to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, Trump dismissed the idea for his current trip. The President indicated a willingness to visit Israel in the future but stressed that concrete results would be necessary to justify the visit. With no immediate breakthroughs expected, such as a Gaza ceasefire or aid agreement, the likelihood of a visit to Israel remains uncertain.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s attempts to engage with Trump have not yielded significant results, particularly in light of the President’s recent overtures to other key Middle Eastern nations. The lack of leverage on Netanyahu’s part in Washington poses challenges in securing favorable outcomes from the Trump administration. Amidst uncertainties and shifting dynamics in the region, the relationship between Israel and the United States continues to face complexities and uncertainties.
Trump can be seen as celebrating a victory for American manufacturing. Despite years of staunchly supporting Trump on the international stage, Netanyahu now finds himself with limited options, according to Pinkas. In the past, Netanyahu has relied on his Republican allies to exert pressure on the White House during Democratic administrations. However, Netanyahu has refrained from openly criticizing Trump and is unlikely to do so now due to his current lack of leverage.
As Trump’s visit to the region approaches, Israeli officials have heightened concerns about its potential outcomes. In the lead-up to his trip, Trump has taken actions that have left Netanyahu feeling sidelined. Trump has engaged in negotiations with Iran regarding its nuclear program without completely ruling out the possibility of Iran maintaining civilian nuclear capabilities. He has agreed to a ceasefire with the Houthis that does not stop their attacks on Israel and is no longer insisting that Saudi Arabia normalize relations with Israel as a condition for a Saudi civil nuclear program.
Israeli officials are worried about the implications of Trump’s meetings and receptions with Gulf leaders, who have been critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza and its ongoing blockade of the strip, on his stance towards the war and ceasefire negotiations. The US has been pressuring Egypt and Qatar to persuade Hamas to release some hostages in return for a temporary ceasefire and humanitarian aid.
There are indications that the Trump administration aims to achieve even more, with the release of Edan Alexander potentially leading to immediate peace deal negotiations. Although a comprehensive agreement to end the war has not been reached yet, Trump has expressed his goal of achieving this outcome.
The relationship between Trump and Netanyahu appears to be more strained than ever, especially after Netanyahu emphasized the importance of defeating Hamas over securing the release of hostages. If a deal with Hamas for the return of additional hostages becomes feasible, the US is expected to intensify pressure on Israel to accept it.
While there were doubts about whether Hamas’ leader in Gaza, Mohammad Sinwar, would agree to a limited deal, Hamas appears to have strategically outmaneuvered Israel this time, particularly in relation to Trump. Trump’s visit to the region may serve as a catalyst for reaching a deal.
Moving forward, it is crucial for both sides to avoid surprises, as stated by a source familiar with the matter.
Dan Shapiro, a former US Ambassador to Israel and senior fellow at the Washington, DC-based think tank, the Atlantic Council, emphasized the importance of trust in the partnership between the US and Israel. According to Shapiro, President Trump is pushing forward aggressively to achieve his objectives, including progress on a ceasefire deal and a hostage release. Shapiro highlighted Prime Minister Netanyahu’s tendency to delay major decisions and prioritize his political survival, which may have led to the White House making decisions without consulting Israel.
Shapiro commented on Trump’s frustration with Netanyahu, a sentiment shared by previous presidents who have worked with the Israeli leader. While US Ambassador Mike Huckabee in Jerusalem sought to downplay speculation about a rift between Trump and Netanyahu, he expressed confidence that Trump would visit Israel this year. Huckabee praised Trump’s support for Israel, stating that no other president has done as much for the country.
However, Israelis have a different perspective. Media outlets like Yedioth Ahronot and Israel HaYom have highlighted the perceived strains in the relationship between Trump and Netanyahu. A cartoon in Yedioth Ahronot depicted Trump cooking a soup of surprises while Netanyahu looked on nervously. Columnist Shai Golden of Israel HaYom warned that Netanyahu may have unwittingly fallen into a trap with Trump.
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