US-Israel Relations in Turmoil as Trump Pursues Arab Leaders Over Israeli Interests

Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement last week of a military escalation in Gaza was overshadowed by the revelation that Donald Trump's envoys had negotiated the release of Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old American-Israeli IDF soldier, without coordinating with the Israeli prime minister. This episode has raised concerns about the drift between the two administrations, with some in Israel questioning whether Trump really knows what he wants in the Holy Land. Meanwhile, Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia and his pursuit of Arab leaders have sparked unease, particularly given the absence of any demand for normalisation with Israel.

Key Takeaways:

• The US-Israel relationship is currently strained, with some in Israel questioning whether Trump's priorities align with Israel's interests.
• Trump's envoys negotiated the release of Edan Alexander without coordinating with Netanyahu, sparking concerns about the drift between the two administrations.
• Trump's recent actions, including the US-Houthi deal and his pursuit of Arab leaders, have led some to question his commitment to Israel's interests.
• The Israeli right is concerned about the possibility of a "soft" nuclear deal with Iran, which they believe would prevent Israel from attacking the Islamic Republic.
• Trump's commented on the plight of "starving" Gazans, sparking concern among elements of the Israeli media.
• Netanyahu has rejected suggestions of a rift between the two countries, but the Israeli media has suggested that Joe Biden may have been a more reliable partner for Israel.
• The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has shown that he has the power to bypass the Palestinian issue, staging a meeting with Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the Palestinian Authority, without Netanyahu's presence.
• Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia and his pursuit of Arab leaders have sparked unease, particularly given the absence of any demand for normalisation with Israel.

Statistics:

• 170,000 (approximate number of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip)
• 2 million (approximate number of Palestinians that the US vision for a "Middle East Riviera" would see forcibly transferred)
• $120 billion (estimated value of Saudi petrodollars in Trump's trade deals)
• 7 (average number of ballistic missiles fired by the Houthi rebels at Israel per week)
• 60 (number of days since the last international flight landed at Ben Gurion Airport due to Houthi rebel attacks)

Sources:

• An article by Benjamin Netanyahu, Jerusalem Correspondent (no date)
• A report by Prof F Gregory Gause III, The Washington-based Middle East Institute (no date)
• An announcement by Donald Trump, press conference with Mark Carney (2023-02-22)
• A video by Benjamin Netanyahu, rejecting suggestions of a rift between the US and Israel (2023-02-26)