The Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth has revealed rising Israeli concern over recent shifts inside the U.S. administration, particularly regarding the unexpected dismissal of officials long considered staunch supporters of Israel within the White House and National Security Council.
The report links this shift to growing tensions between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—particularly over a potential strike on Iran and the continued war in Gaza.
Among the dismissed figures are Meirav Serin, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen who had recently been appointed as head of the Iran-Israel desk at the National Security Council, and Eric Treiger, who headed the Middle East and North Africa desk. Both were appointed by former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, a well-known Israel ally who was also recently removed by Trump. Their replacements are now under the leadership of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Additionally, Morgan Ortagus, deputy to envoy Steve Witkoff and the official in charge of the Lebanon file, is expected to depart soon—not by her own choice, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.
Ortagus, who had converted to Judaism and is known to wear a Star of David necklace with pride, has been described as one of the most passionate pro-Israel voices in the administration. She was instrumental in negotiating a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon and in pushing the Lebanese government to adopt a hard stance against Hezbollah, including advocating for the disarmament of Palestinian refugee camps.
Her expected removal has sparked panic within pro-Israel circles in the Trump administration, particularly in Jerusalem, where she was considered deeply sympathetic to Israeli interests.
The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, affiliated with Hezbollah, reported on the departure of Ortagus from her U.S. diplomatic role in Lebanon. According to informed sources at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Ortagus had long been seeking a promotion and hoped to take over the Syria file, replacing Thomas Barrack, though no decision has been made yet.
Her interim role in Lebanon is expected to be handed off to senior officials soon, with names like Joel Rayburn and Thomas Barrack circulating as her possible successors. Also mentioned is Massad Boulos, a Lebanese-American businessman and father-in-law to Tiffany Trump, as a potential candidate.
Meanwhile, sources told Lebanon’s MTV News that Ortagus was indeed removed from her position, but not due to the Lebanon file. The reasons were “purely professional,” allegedly tied to interpersonal conflicts within the State Department. Her planned visit to Beirut was cancelled, and Joel Rayburn is expected to be appointed Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs—overseeing the Lebanon portfolio.
The same sources confirmed that Ortagus will no longer handle any foreign policy roles, either in the Middle East or elsewhere. She will be reassigned to internal duties within the U.S. State Department and cut off from Steve Witkoff’s operations.
Yedioth Ahronoth reports that Israeli sources familiar with U.S.-Israel relations believe these shifts are not explicitly anti-Israel, but rather part of Trump’s “America First” agenda, aimed at reducing foreign influence—even from allies like Israel.
The dismissals were not triggered by the officials’ Zionist leanings, but part of Trump’s broader effort to centralise foreign policy power and weaken the influence of the National Security Council. This also explains why he did not replace Waltz with a new appointee, instead giving the responsibility directly to Marco Rubio.
However, the paper poses a question: Why would Rubio, who has always shown deep support for Israel, be the one to remove two of its most dedicated allies? The answer lies in Rubio’s pragmatism. Unlike Waltz, he is not tied to Israel’s agenda; he’s strategic, realistic, and more aligned with shifting geopolitical tides.
According to the report, this wave of changes is likely being driven by Donald Trump Jr. and Vice President J.D. Vance, both of whom are reportedly aligned with a more isolationist U.S. approach.
There’s also speculation that more dismissals of pro-Israel officials may be on the horizon, in what some describe as an unpredictable political environment, where decisions are made “moment by moment.”
The shift is seen by many as a reflection of growing distance between Israel and Trump’s camp, as the U.S. repositions itself based on internal strategic priorities. According to the same report, Netanyahu confided in his close ally Ron Dermer that he had misread the direction the U.S. was heading, especially on Middle Eastern policy.
Senior Israeli government sources confirmed that Netanyahu expressed deep disappointment in Dermer, noting that “Dermer failed to anticipate the U.S. policy change. He was overly confident that Washington would never turn against us.”
Netanyahu is said to be particularly alarmed by the rising influence of the White Awakening movement (a right-wing, anti-interventionist current) on Trump, especially from figures like conservative commentator Tucker Carlson.
“These are dangerous individuals who whisper in Trump’s ear that Israel is dragging the U.S. into war,” one source said. “This is the new America, and it deeply worries Netanyahu.”
Although Netanyahu’s office denied these remarks and labelled them “fake news,” insiders close to the matter insist that there is indeed a serious rift between Netanyahu and Trump. One source described Dermer as “a guerrilla-style minister managing a highly sensitive portfolio with a tiny team,” suggesting that Israel is now navigating one of the most fragile phases in its relationship with the U.S. in recent history.
