Trump’s Center East journey handed Israel a historic alternative — if it chooses to behave, specialists say

[ad_1] TEL AVIV – As President Donald Trump wrapped up his high-stakes Center East tour on Friday, many media retailers portrayed his determination to bypass Israel as proof of a rift with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Nonetheless, whereas Air Drive One didn't land in Israel , specialists say Trump’s go to superior insurance policies that align carefully with Israeli pursuits and offered a strategic alternative that Jerusalem has but to grab.

Avner Golov, vice chairman at MIND Israel and a former senior director of Israel’s Nationwide Safety Council, advised Fox Information Digital, "Israel sees a large wave approaching to comb throughout the Center East — a wave of momentum and alter. The choice it faces is whether or not to journey it or be crushed beneath it."

TRUMP MAKES HISTORIC UAE VISIT AS FIRST US PRESIDENT IN NEARLY 20 YEARS

<img src="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/1200/675/gettyimages-2214269251.jpg?ve=1&tl=1" alt="RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - MAY 13: U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attend a bilateral meeting at the Saudi Royal Court on May 13, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Trump begins a multi-nation tour of the Gulf region focused on expanding economic ties and reinforcing security cooperation with key U.S. allies. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)" width="1200" height="675"/> President Donald J. Trump, left, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attend a bilateral assembly on the Saudi Royal Courtroom on Could 13, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photograph by Win McNamee/Getty Pictures)

All through the go to, Trump emphasised factors that instantly replicate Israeli priorities. On Tuesday, he condemned the Oct. 7 Hamas assaults, referred to as for Saudi Arabia to affix the Abraham Accords and warned Iran over its nuclear ambitions . On Wednesday, he even prolonged the normalization initiative to Syria.

When requested aboard Air Drive One about skipping Israel, Trump stated, "That is good for Israel. Having a relationship like I've with these nations... I believe it is superb."

In Doha on Thursday, Trump went additional, stating: "I wish to see [Gaza] be a freedom zone. And if it’s mandatory, I believe I’d be proud to have the USA have it, take it, make it a freedom zone."

In keeping with two Arab officers quoted by The Times of Israel , U.S. Particular Envoy to the Center East Steve Witkoff advised mediators in Doha that Washington doesn't intend to stress Israel into ending the battle in Gaza — aligning with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s agency stance.

On Friday, President Trump was requested in an interview with Fox Information Chief political anchor, Bret Baier on Particular Report, if he was pissed off with Netanyahu. Trump responded, "No, look, he is obtained a troublesome scenario. You need to bear in mind there was an October seventh that everybody forgets, it was some of the violent days within the historical past of the world. Not the Center East, the world, once you have a look at the tapes. And the tapes are there for everybody to see."

Israel Protection Forces troops re-enter the Gaza Strip following the collapse of the ceasefire. (IDF)

A readout launched on Thursday by the State Division of a name between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Prime Minister Netanyahu, additionally confirmed continued assist for the Jewish state.

"The Secretary burdened the deep U.S. dedication to its historic relationship with Israel and the ironclad U.S. assist for Israeli safety," including "The Secretary and Prime Minister mentioned Syria following President Trump’s historic assembly with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia. The Secretary and Prime Minister additionally shared their mutual dedication to ensure Iran by no means possesses a nuclear weapon."

TRUMP SIGNS AGREEMENTS WITH QATAR ON DEFENSE AND BOEING PURCHASES

Channel 12 chief political correspondent Amit Segal advised Fox Information Digital, "There may be an uncomfortable expertise from an Israeli perspective to see Air Drive One flying over us on its solution to nations, a few of that are outright hostile and others semi-hostile. In case you are not on the desk, you might be on the plate."

"However this isn’t private. It’s not about Netanyahu and Trump," Segal added. "Trump has full assist for Israel — however when American pursuits come first, he acts accordingly. It’s America First."

Dan Senor, host of the podcast "Name Me Again" and a former state division official, agreed that regardless of headlines suggesting rigidity, coverage tells a distinct story.

"There’s at all times noise within the press," Senor advised Dana Perino, co-anchor of Fox Information Channel's " America's Newsroom." "However coverage proper now may be very robust. We’re seeing most stress on Iran, no public criticism of Israel — at the same time as dozens of Israeli tanks are positioned close to Gaza."

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TRUMP SAYS HE'LL DROP SANCTIONS ON SYRIA IN MOVE TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS

"What I discovered problematic in previous administrations — particularly below Obama — was when personal criticism turned public," Senor added. "That gave others a inexperienced mild to pile on Israel. This administration, even when it disagrees, isn’t airing it. And that issues most."

On Friday, in a proclamation marking Jewish Heritage Month, Trump said, "I imagine there has by no means been a better buddy to the Jewish folks than my Administration. We are going to by no means deviate from our conviction that anti-Semitism has no place within the biggest nation on the earth. Because the forty seventh President of the USA, I'll use each applicable authorized instrument at my disposal to cease anti-Semitic assaults gripping our universities. We are going to proudly stand with our buddy and ally, the State of Israel. I'll by no means waver in my dedication."

Tamir Haiman, former head of Israel’s Navy Intelligence and now director of the Institute for Nationwide Safety Research, stated the Israeli authorities feared being caught off guard.

"This can be a participant so robust that generally, with out meaning to, he can throw a small participant off the sphere — like a large who’s spinning and by chance knocks somebody out of his method together with his shoulder," Haiman advised Fox Information Digital.

Nonetheless, he emphasised that the developments in Saudi Arabia , Qatar and Syria should not inherently dangerous for Israel — until the federal government fails to behave.

"The missed alternative right here is big," he stated. "There have been two main levers Israel had — Israeli consent to U.S. arms offers with Saudi Arabia and American consent to lifting sanctions on Syria. Each might have been used to advance key Israeli pursuits: normalization with Saudi Arabia and ensuring Syria’s development follows a non-jihadist path. And we [Israel] misplaced each."

President Donald Trump, left, is offered with the Order of Zayed, the UAE's highest civilian distinction, by UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Thursday, Could 15, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP/Alex Brandon)

TRUMP SAYS US HAS GIVEN IRAN PROPOSAL FOR NUCLEAR DEAL

The sense of urgency grew final week when Trump abruptly paused U.S. airstrikes on Iranian-backed Houthis simply days after a missile landed close to Ben Gurion Airport. Experiences quickly adopted that Washington had dropped its demand for Israeli-Saudi normalization as a prerequisite for a U.S.–Saudi nuclear pact — a strategic objective lengthy championed by Netanyahu.

Reuters later confirmed the shift. In the meantime, Saudi officers made clear that progress on the Palestinian subject stays a prerequisite for any nuclear deal — one thing seen as unlikely whereas the battle in Gaza continues.

"After the Saudi story, the place we had been thrown below the bus, I stated we have to cease and examine," Haiman stated. "We shouldn’t simply say it’s the president’s whims. We have to ask, ‘What is determined by us? What wants to alter?’ I’m undecided they’re doing that."

The sharpest potential rift stays Iran. Jerusalem views a nuclear-armed Tehran as an existential menace. Haiman calls this "a historic window" to cease it, by power if wanted. "The American curiosity is to complete wars, not enter them, and to seal a deal higher than Obama’s," he stated, warning {that a} diplomatic observe pursued over Israel’s head might quickly restrict Israeli navy choices.

Edan Alexander meets together with his prolonged household following his launch. (IDF)

Monday’s launch of 21-year-old American-Israeli Edan Alexander , freed after direct talks between Washington, Qatar and Hamas, added to some fears of Jerusalem being sidelined. Israel performed solely a logistical position.

Inside Israel, the Gaza battle continues to divide strategists over whether or not to maintain urgent Hamas or cease the battle for a hostage deal. Haiman referred to as the present "struggle, deal, struggle" rhythm "boiling the frog," however acknowledges that with out a hostage deal now, the 21 residing hostages won't survive.

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Golov believes it's time for Israel to cease reacting and begin shaping occasions. He urged Jerusalem to push Washington to demand that " Qatar must stop funding Hamas, cease Al Jazeera’s incitement, and pay a worth for interfering inside Israel." Israel, he argued, doesn't have the leverage to do this alone.

"It should anchor itself in a regional bloc — with the Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan — states which can be simply as frightened of a Muslim Brotherhood resurgence." To get there, he stated, Israel should climb aboard the wave Trump has already set in movement.

Efrat Lachter is an investigative reporter and battle correspondent. Her work has taken her to 40 nations, together with Ukraine, Russia, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, and Afghanistan. She is a recipient of the 2024 Knight-Wallace Fellowship for Journalism. Lachter will be adopted on X @efratlachter.