Relations cooled during Trump's recent tour of Gulf states, where he embraced regional players traditionally hostile to Israel. Trump's surprise announcement lifting US sanctions on Syria and his praise for Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, delivered a significant blow to Israeli interests. According to an Israeli official, this move came despite Netanyahu's explicit request during his Washington visit last month to maintain these sanctions.
Further straining the relationship are the newly announced US arms sales to Saudi Arabia and Turkey, including advanced stealth fighter jets. These deals potentially undermine decades of US policy designed to maintain Israel's qualitative military advantage in the region. Israeli officials are concerned that these developments could impact negotiations for renewing the 10-year military aid agreement with Israel, scheduled for next year.
The tensions were highlighted by the recent release of US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander by Hamas, a deal engineered by Trump's emissaries with minimal Israeli involvement. Notably, in statements following the release, Alexander's mother and President Trump thanked everyone except Netanyahu. Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff has emerged as a popular figure in Israel, particularly after his emotional hospital visit to Alexander, where he gifted the freed hostage a Star of David necklace with personal significance.
Netanyahu appears to have miscalculated his approach to the Trump administration. His team had cultivated a relationship with former national security adviser Mike Waltz, viewing him as their conduit for gaining US approval for potential action against Iran's nuclear program. However, Trump's removal of Waltz and appointment of the more conciliatory Witkoff has left Netanyahu without his expected channel of influence.
Israeli diplomatic sources indicate Netanyahu is now searching for alternative ways to influence Trump's Middle East policy, potentially through American Evangelical Christian supporters or select Jewish American figures. However, the prospects for success appear limited given Trump's current trajectory in the region, a development that should raise concerns about Netanyahu's future influence.
The relationship's deterioration represents a significant reversal from Trump's first term, which saw unprecedented pro-Israel policies including moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights, and orchestrating the Abraham Accords between Israel and three Arab states.
Political analysts suggest this shift reflects Trump's broader strategic pivot toward economic interests in the Gulf, a move that has surprised many. "Trump is driven mainly by business and money interests, and as far as he's concerned, Netanyahu's conduct interferes with this," a senior source close to Netanyahu told Al Monitor on condition of anonymity.
The Israeli government's frustration was publicly displayed when Channel 14 anchor Yinon Magal, a journalist affiliated with Netanyahu, criticized Alexander's mother on air for failing to thank the prime minister after her son's release. This outburst revealed the depth of Netanyahu's distress over being sidelined in the hostage negotiations.
Photo: Al Monitor