The Trump–Netanyahu Rift: Today’s Tensions Shouldn’t Erase the Lessons of the Past

Even before returning to the White House, Donald Trump made it clear that his support for Israel remained unwavering. In fact, during a televised debate with President Joe Biden in June 2024, Trump accused his opponent of “acting like a Palestinian,” using it as a political slur.

Ironically, Biden—the leader of the world’s most powerful nation—had done little to stop Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. His boldest move was to pause the delivery of U.S. 2,000-pound bombs over concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza’s densely populated areas.

But once Trump resumed office in early 2025, it took only five days for him to lift the ban. Within weeks, Israel received 1,800 MK-84 bombs, each weighing a metric ton.

Yet Trump’s backing for Israel wasn’t limited to weapons. He went further—openly promoting the idea of relocating Palestinians from Gaza, claiming it was the best option for a region devastated by years of Israeli destruction.

Initially, Trump floated the idea of relocating Gazans to Egypt or Jordan. Despite repeated rejections from both countries, he continued insisting—mentioning it three times within five days.

Trump’s “Real Estate” Vision for Gaza

On February 4, 2025, in a joint press conference with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump stunned the world by proposing the permanent expulsion of Gaza’s population and turning the Strip into “the Riviera of the Middle East” through long-term U.S. control and real estate development.

The proposal was met with Israeli enthusiasm, with Tel Aviv admitting that it helped shape the plan.

But backlash erupted swiftly—from Palestinians, Arabs, European allies, and even within the U.S. media. For 40 days, the world debated the ethics of forced demographic engineering. Trump’s aides backtracked on some elements, but ultimately it was Trump himself who walked it back in a press conference with Irish PM Michael Martin, saying: “No one is being expelled from Gaza.”

This reversal reignited hopes among observers that Trump’s unpredictability could lead to surprising outcomes.

Shock Talks with Hamas

In early March, the White House confirmed reports of direct negotiations with Hamas—marking the first official U.S.–Hamas contact since the group was labelled a terrorist organisation in 1997.

Israel Hayom quoted insiders who said Israel was “deeply alarmed” by the talks. Trump’s pivot to diplomacy with Hamas sent shockwaves through the Zionist establishment.

The Houthi Dilemma

Since late 2023, Yemen’s Houthis expanded their military campaign from Gaza solidarity strikes to include U.S. and Israeli-linked vessels. While Biden responded with military strikes, Trump—upon his return—launched the largest U.S. campaign against the Houthis in March 2025, targeting over 1,000 sites, killing civilians and destroying infrastructure.

Trump also reinstated the “terrorist” designation for the Houthis, which Biden had reversed in 2021. Yet despite the offensive, the Houthis launched a hypersonic ballistic missile on May 4, striking Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv—successfully evading Israel’s defences.

Israel retaliated by bombing Sana’a International Airport, but in a twist, Trump struck a ceasefire deal with the Houthis on May 6, agreeing to halt U.S. strikes if they stopped targeting American ships.

Even more astonishing, Trump praised the Houthis, calling them “brave and resilient”. Netanyahu, enraged, vowed unilateral retaliation, stating Israel would continue its campaign even if “our American friends” stood aside.

Secret Iran Talks

On April 7, Trump announced direct U.S.–Iran negotiations—a bombshell that caught Israel off guard. Talks began in Muscat, moved to Rome, then back to Oman in successive rounds. Israeli media reported panic in Netanyahu’s cabinet, accusing Trump of sidelining Israel.

Military analyst Ron Ben-Yishai lamented that Israel missed a golden opportunity to strike Iran, blaming Trump for choosing diplomacy over force.

Haaretz remarked that Israel—once a central player in the Iran nuclear file—is now completely out of the loop.

Trump Skips Israel in Mideast Tour

Trump begins his first regional tour from May 13–16, visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE—but not Israel. This deliberate snub breaks with decades of U.S. tradition.

Israel Hayom speculated Trump might reconsider if a Gaza ceasefire agreement is reached. But CNN later reported that Israeli officials inquired about a visit and were told Trump won’t come without diplomatic results.

No More “Normalisation Prerequisite”

On May 8, Reuters revealed that Washington no longer requires Saudi-Israeli normalisation to proceed with a U.S.–Saudi nuclear deal—a dramatic departure from previous U.S. policy.

Saudi Arabia has consistently held that it will not recognise Israel until a Palestinian state is established, undermining efforts to revive the Abraham Accords.

Breakthrough with Hamas

While Israel wages its genocidal campaign in Gaza, Trump again surprised the region by negotiating directly with Hamas, securing the release of Israeli-American captive Aidan Alexander.

Times of Israel reported that Hamas was assured by mediators that this release would gain favour with Trump, potentially pressuring Netanyahu into a deal.

Public Fallout

According to NBC, U.S. officials revealed that Trump is frustrated with Netanyahu, particularly over Gaza and Iran. He sees Netanyahu’s actions as obstacles to postwar reconstruction and regional stability.

Israeli outlets reported that Trump is “disappointed” and now willing to “act in the Middle East without waiting for Netanyahu.”

Journalist Yaniv Kozin wrote that Trump’s advisers believe Netanyahu has been manipulating him, triggering Trump’s decision to cut contact.

Strategic Divergence

Former Israeli diplomats told CNN that Netanyahu no longer holds influence in Washington, while Arab allies like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE are gaining favour.

Columnist Thomas Friedman summed it up in The New York Times: “Netanyahu’s government is not our ally.” He praised Trump for excluding Netanyahu from his itinerary, calling the Israeli PM a liability to U.S. interests.

Friedman added that Netanyahu considers Trump “naïve,” but Trump’s independent diplomacy with Hamas, Iran, and the Houthis shows he won’t be used.

Friedman also condemned Netanyahu’s far-right cabinet, whose priorities include annexing the West Bank, expelling Gazans, and rebuilding settlements.

Israeli Media Confirms the Rift

Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Trump is “fed up” with Netanyahu, especially for hindering his Nobel Peace Prize ambitions. The U.S. is moving forward with Saudi partnerships, regardless of Israel’s stance.

Haaretz confirmed U.S. pressure on Israel to strike a Gaza deal with Hamas before Trump’s regional tour. Maariv went further, accusing Trump of “selling out Israel” for economic gain.

Analyst Uriel Daskal warned that Israel’s strategic position is weakening, as Trump sees it as a bargaining chip, not a priority.

But Is It a Real Break?

While some view the rift as real, others like Seth Binder of the Middle East Democracy Center argue that U.S. support for Israel remains essentially unconditional. Even Trump, despite his volatility, has been consistently pro-Israel.

Former U.S. diplomat David Mack suggested the feud is personal, not political. Both men dislike each other but can’t show it publicly, fearing backlash from their hardline constituencies.

Meanwhile, Middle East expert Gregory Aftandilian noted that Trump and Netanyahu remain close, but their main difference lies in Trump’s eagerness to strike a deal with Iran, which infuriates Netanyahu.

What History Tells Us

Even if conspiracy theories suggest the fallout is staged, history shows U.S.–Israeli ties are resilient. Disputes occurred after the 1956 Suez War, the Dimona reactor, and even in 1967 when Israel attacked the USS Liberty, killing or wounding nearly 200 U.S. sailors—yet Washington remained a staunch backer.

Even under Biden, after an apparent rift over Gaza, military and political support for Israel never ceased.

The truth? Israel often asks for more than it deserves, and even when it compromises, it emerges with greater long-term benefits.

“Don’t Worry, My Dear”

As a fitting conclusion, recall the infamous words of Ariel Sharon in 2001, during a cabinet meeting where Shimon Peres warned about provoking Washington. Sharon bluntly replied:

“Don’t worry, my dear. We control America, and the Americans know it.”