Trump distances from Netanyahu as Middle East strategy shifts toward Iran, Syria and Gulf ties

Trump distances from Netanyahu as Middle East strategy shifts toward Iran, Syria and Gulf ties

US President Donald Trump’s Middle East tour has revealed a widening rift between the US and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the release of an American-Israeli hostage, a thaw with Syria, and new talks with Iran all occurring with little or no coordination with the Israeli leader, the Financial Times reported.

On Monday, Hamas released dual national Edan Alexander following US-led negotiations that pointedly excluded Netanyahu. The Israeli leader was only informed after the deal had been secured. The released hostage wrote, “Thank you, President Trump,” on a whiteboard as he was flown to hospital, a moment that underlined Trump’s central role—and Netanyahu’s absence—in the diplomacy.

Breaking with Israel on Syria and Houthis

Trump's decision on Tuesday to lift US sanctions on Syria, followed by a meeting with its new president Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh, further signalled a break from traditional Israeli positions. Israel has denounced al-Sharaa as a jihadist threat, but Trump praised him as “young, attractive. A fighter.” Trump’s truce with Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who continue to fire missiles at Israel, also left Jerusalem to manage the threat on its own.

Though Trump has long echoed Netanyahu’s hardline rhetoric on Hamas and initially supported Israel’s blockade of Gaza, his growing emphasis on regional diplomacy—particularly deals involving Saudi Arabia and Qatar—is reshaping American priorities. As one Israeli official bluntly noted: “Israel doesn’t have a trillion dollars to invest in the US The Saudis and the Qataris do.”

The Abraham Accords stalled by Gaza war

The broader fallout is visible in the stalled Abraham Accords. While Trump spearheaded the normalisation of ties between Israel and several Arab nations in 2020, his dream of bringing Saudi Arabia into the fold remains elusive. Saudi officials have tied such recognition to progress toward a Palestinian state and an end to the Gaza conflict—conditions Netanyahu continues to resist.

In Riyadh, Trump’s mention of the Abraham Accords reportedly met silence. “They don’t love it and they’re not happy,” said one person close to Netanyahu’s circle.

Unpredictability and isolation

Israeli officials have been rattled by Trump’s improvisational approach. Dudi Amsalem, a minister from Netanyahu’s Likud party, criticised the US for not coordinating the Alexander release with Israel, saying “Trump wakes up every morning on a different side.”

Trump, meanwhile, took credit for the hostage’s survival and offered only muted praise for Israel’s role. On Syria, he said he acted on the advice of Turkey’s Erdoğan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, simply informing Israel after the fact.

Iran talks the ultimate test

Perhaps most worrying to Netanyahu is Trump’s quiet pivot on Iran. The administration is now entertaining a deal that could allow Iran to retain limited nuclear enrichment capacity—a red line for Israel. While US negotiators have reportedly toughened their stance in Muscat talks, it remains unclear whether Trump will hold that position.

“It was made clear to the Iranians that this is a red line,” said one official. “But will the US hold to this? I’m not sure. But it likely makes Bibi feel better.”

For now, Trump’s focus on Gulf alliances, hostage diplomacy, and de-escalation with long-time US adversaries is reshaping the regional order—with or without Netanyahu’s blessing.