DUBAI, UAE (CP) – President Donald Trump will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates during his first major overseas trip this week, skipping Israel entirely, the latest in a series of moves that have left Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu increasingly sidelined and sparked growing anxiety among Israeli officials who had previously celebrated Trump as the “most pro-Israel president in history.”
The planned Middle East tour without a Jerusalem stop follows several instances where Trump has excluded Netanyahu from critical decisions affecting Israel’s security. Last week, Trump announced a truce with Yemen’s Houthi rebels that protected American ships but not Israeli vessels, while reports emerged that the administration is considering offering Saudi Arabia access to civil nuclear technology without requiring normalization with Israel. On Sunday, senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya revealed that direct U.S.-Hamas talks had led to an agreement to release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander without Israeli involvement.
“It’s disconcerting,” said Michael Oren, former Israeli ambassador to Washington, while Shalom Lipner, a former Netanyahu aide now with the Atlantic Council, described the mood in Jerusalem as “total panic.” Dennis Ross, who served as Middle East envoy under multiple administrations, noted that Israeli concerns about negotiations with Iran “are not being taken into account, or if they are, they’re dismissed.” The shift marks a dramatic reversal from November, when Netanyahu hailed Trump’s election as “history’s greatest comeback” and far-right cabinet members anticipated unrestricted West Bank annexation and expanded Gaza settlements.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee defended the administration, stating that “the United States isn’t required to get permission from Israel” to reach agreements with regional actors. One Trump adviser, speaking anonymously, said influential MAGA voices have actively worked to prevent Iran hawks from securing key national security positions, noting that “in MAGA, we are not Bibi fans.” The situation is especially problematic for Netanyahu, who has built his political brand on his ability to navigate American politics, frequently showcasing his relationship with Trump during election campaigns. Opposition leader Yair Lapid has seized on the moment, calling the direct U.S.-Hamas hostage negotiations a “disgraceful diplomatic failure” by Netanyahu, while left-leaning party leader Yair Golan criticized the prime minister for being ignored as “the Americans are moving forward” on regional deals.