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During his visit to the Middle East, in negotiations with Iran and in the deal with the Houthis, Israel found itself left out of US President Donald Trump’s foreign policy. This is stated in an article published on 7 May 2025 on the website of the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
In a desperate attempt to demonstrate his foreign policy achievements, Trump announced a halt to attacks on the Houthis in exchange for their promise not to attack naval vessels. This statement came as a surprise to Jerusalem, which had not expected such a move from the American leader. However, as the newspaper notes, this is only a prelude to next week, when Trump plans to visit the Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, but, according to preliminary data, will bypass Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received another surprise from Trump’s “America First” policy. This approach seems to exclude Israel from key regional decisions. In particular, Trump’s direct negotiations with Iran are causing concern in Israel, as Jerusalem was probably not involved in their preparation. In addition, the agreement with the Houthis, who have previously attacked Israeli interests, is perceived as a step that contradicts Israel’s security priorities.
Haaretz analysts point out that the exclusion of Israel from Trump’s “circle of trust” could have far-reaching consequences for Israeli-American relations. While Trump seeks to strengthen the US position in the Middle East through agreements with Arab countries and dialogue with Iran, Israel risks being isolated and losing influence on regional processes.
This situation is yet another blow to Netanyahu, who had previously placed high hopes on close cooperation with the Trump administration. The absence of Israel from the US president’s visit plans and his independent actions in the region indicate a change in US priorities, which may force the Israeli leadership to reconsider its foreign policy.
Source: Haaretz, 7 May 2025
