America's Middle East Shakeup: The Changing Tides for Israel
Keeping Distance from Trump: Israel Expresses Concern over Being Excluded from a Revamped Middle East They Contributed To
As President Donald Trump embarks on his grand tour of the Middle East, Israel finds itself playing Cinderella, left out and without a dance, while its old fairy godmother, the U.S., flirts with new Arab suitors.
For years, Israel has played the gatekeeper to Washington's favor, using its special bond with America to keep Arab states at bay. Historically, these Middle Eastern nations seeking U.S. approval have had to cozy up to Israel first, but this appears to be changing under Trump.
At the heart of the issue, Trump met with Syria's new president, Bashar Al-Assad, despite Israel's insistence that the man responsible for prolonging the Syrian civil war is a threat to the nation's security. It seemed Trump neglected to invite Israel to the party, willingly trading its support for swift deals with Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Israel's concern is understandable. The Middle East is undergoing a significant transformation, with old enemies making unexpected alliances and traditional enemies becoming potential allies. The Jerusalem Post's Jonathan Tobin points out, "The Trump administration has pursued a policy that gives priority to America-first diplomacy, with the powerful lure of commerce and energy projects replacing ideology and morality as the prime motivators for U.S. engagement in the region."
In this new landscape, Israel faces a challenging position, as its interests are overshadowed by Saudi Arabia's financial prowess and Turkey's strategic importance. Boasting a robust economy and ambitious foreign policy, the Gulf countries are eager to cement their ties with the U.S., offering lucrative deals and opportunities that the Trump regime finds hard to resist.
This shift in priorities becomes clear when comparing Trump's first term and his current Middle East strategy. In his first term, Trump gave Israel unprecedented backing, overturning decades of American foreign policy. But now, Trump seems to be pursuit of quick wins, focusing on economic growth and diplomatic agreements, such as the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and the release of hostages.
Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has little to offer Trump in this quest for quick victories. For nearly two years, Israel has waged a brutal campaign in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of countless Palestinians without achieving its objectives. Netanyahu's refusal to end the war without the return of all hostages and his reluctance to accept a pathway to Palestinian statehood stand in the way of a historic normalization accord with the Gulf states. As a result, Netanyahu risks losing Trump's favor.
Looking back, we see echoes of this approach in President Obama's first term. Obama famously skipped Israel on his very first visit to the Middle East, and his administration often violated the unwritten rule of no surprises, leading to public spat withNetanyahu, particularly around the Iranian nuclear deal.
While there is unlikely to be a repeat of such public confrontation under Trump, doubts linger about his intentions towards Israel. Trump's assertion that the era of American lecturing in the Middle East is over suggests a shifting focus in U.S. policy. As the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains an intractable issue, it is possible that Trump is placing Israel in a backup role, waiting for a moment when the region is more receptive to Israeli demands.
In conclusion, President Trump's foreign policy has introduced new dynamics to Israel's role in the Middle East. Israel's special bond with the U.S. is being tested, as America prioritizes its relationships with Gulf states and pursues quick wins. The question remains: Will Israel once again become America's dance partner, or has it been relegated to the sidelines?
[3]: The Washington Institute[4]: The Jerusalem Post[5]: The New York Times
In this new landscape of American foreign policy, Israel's special bond with the U.S. government is being tested, as the economy and politics of the Gulf countries offer lucrative deals that the Trump administration finds hard to resist (“America's Middle East Shakeup: The Changing Tides for Israel").
The questionable future of Israel's position in the Middle East becomes apparent as the government prioritizes relationships with Gulf states, potentially relegating Israel to the sidelines of general-news discussions (“Will Israel once again become America's dance partner, or has it been relegated to the sidelines?").
