President Trump's visit to the Middle East notably excludes Israel from his itinerary, mirroring a similar decision made by President Obama in 2009. This absence has raised concerns among Israeli officials, who fear potential policy surprises.
Israeli officials attempted to arrange a visit to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv during Trump's trip, but their hopes were dashed. The article suggests that a successful visit would require tangible achievements, such as a Gaza ceasefire agreement or humanitarian aid plan, which are currently unavailable.
The article draws a parallel to Obama's 2009 trip, where the omission of Israel was perceived as a diplomatic slight and contributed to strained relations. Trump's decision is viewed through this lens, given his past actions that have already surprised Israel, including talks with Iran and Hamas.
The first stop was Riyadh. Just a few months into his new administration, the president of the US met the king of Saudi Arabia as part of an effort to push forward relations with the Arab world.
From there, it was off to another regional capital, where the leader of the free world gave a speech about a new vision for the Middle East.
Conspicuously missing from the itinerary was a stop in Israel.
The year was 2009, and the president was Barack Obama. His decision not to visit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had just returned to office, was viewed as an insult. It marked the beginning of what many to this day see as Obama’s fractured relationship with Israel, and particularly with the country’s longest-serving leader.
But as President Donald Trump begins his first visit to the region in his second term, the same elephant sits in the same corner of the Oval Office. Israel is once again not on the itinerary.
Trump had already blindsided Israel several times – announcing talks with Iran, a deal with Yemen’s Houthi rebels, and direct talks with Hamas – Israeli officials are concerned another surprise could be coming.
Israeli officials tried to inquire about the possibility of a stop in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv during Trump’s trip, according to a source. But the president doused the flicker of those hopes last week.
Trump might have been persuaded to add the visit to his itinerary if he could claim some sort of victory, whether it be a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, a humanitarian aid plan, or something else. But with Israel poised to expand its war in Gaza, there are no such deliverables.
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