"The absence of an Israel visit before or after President Trump's Gulf trip erodes the carefully maintained facade of "unshakeable" U.S.-Israel ties. This isn't merely about a diplomatic snub - media reports suggesting Trump's unwillingness to engage with Netanyahu indicate deeper underlying tensions.
Israel's genocidal operation in Gaza has sparked unprecedented debate in American public discourse. Both pro-Israel lobby groups and Netanyahu have exhausted their political capital, creating a serious crisis of legitimacy in American politics. Seeing the high political cost Biden paid for unconditional support, Trump appears to have sidelined Israel after failing to get what he wanted from Netanyahu.
"AMERICA FIRST," THEN ISRAEL
Trump's recent moves to bypass Netanyahu's government demonstrate how the "America First" policy comes at Israel's expense. The most striking example is America negotiating directly with Hamas for a hostage release without Israel's involvement. Other actions that disturbed Netanyahu include successful unilateral ceasefire talks with Yemen's Houthis and conducting nuclear negotiations with Iran independently.
Trump won't miss opportunities for domestic political gains, dealing with any actor who can deliver results. Unlike presidents who shaped Middle East policy through an Israel-first lens, Trump operates differently. While taking strongly pro-Israel steps like recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, he believed he could resolve the Israel-Palestine issue through the Abraham Accords and "Deal of the Century."
From Trump's perspective: He's given Israel and Evangelical supporters everything they wanted - now he expects political returns. For presidents like Biden, supporting Israel is both strategic necessity and ideological imperative. For Trump? No tangible benefit means no justification for support.
Netanyahu recently proposed occupying Gaza while offering American companies reconstruction contracts, attempting to make Trump complicit while profiting. But compared to trillions in potential Gulf investments, this carrot seems insignificant. Netanyahu's refusal to let Trump claim credit as peacemaker has bred frustration.
Gaza's complete destruction would yield minimal benefits at high cost. Meanwhile, Israel's policies increasingly constrain U.S. freedom of action - opposing Iran deals, escalating Yemen attacks, and pushing permanent Gaza occupation. Through an "America First" lens, Netanyahu creates only liabilities without delivering political wins.
GAZA'S COST TO ISRAEL
Distancing from Israel now carries little domestic cost for Trump due to:" ....
[Continues at the link]:
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/columns/kadir-ustun/why-is-trump-bypassing-israel-3702165
