A wave of concern has swept across Israeli political circles following the sudden removal of several staunchly pro-Israel officials from their positions within the White House and the National Security Council (NSC). According to Hebrew media reports, the move may reflect growing rifts between Washington and Tel Aviv, particularly regarding the Iran nuclear issue and the ongoing war on Gaza.
Yedioth Ahronoth, one of Israel’s leading newspapers, reported that “Israel is deeply concerned by recent changes within the American administration.” The paper revealed that, in recent days, several individuals known for their strong support for Israel were removed unexpectedly from their posts in the White House and NSC.
The report linked these dismissals to growing disagreements between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, particularly over the possibility of an Israeli strike on Iran and the protracted military campaign in Gaza.
Israel has repeatedly rejected diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran, openly threatening unilateral military action against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Who Was Removed from the U.S. National Security Council?
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, two dismissed figures were Merav Sereen, an Israeli-American citizen recently appointed as head of the Iran-Israel division at the NSC, and Eric Trager, who led the Middle East and North Africa section.
Both were appointed under former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, another vocal supporter of Israel, who was also recently dismissed by Trump.
The newspaper indicated that the current U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, who succeeded Waltz, was the one behind their dismissal.
Who Is Eric Trager?
Eric Trager graduated from Harvard in 2005 and earned his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania. He previously served as a fellow at the pro-Israel think tank Washington Institute for Near East Policy, focusing on Egypt, political Islam, and U.S. foreign policy.
In 2016, he authored “Arab Fall: How the Muslim Brotherhood Won and Lost Egypt in 891 Days,” a book critical of the Brotherhood, labeling it an “international hate group.”
Trager is known for his strong support for Israel. He has made donations to a Washington D.C. synagogue and Harvard Hillel, and publicly defended Israel’s actions, including during the Gaza war, while attacking international charges against Netanyahu at the ICC.
His appointment to the NSC earlier this year was celebrated by pro-Israel conservatives on social media.
Who Is Merav Sereen?
An Israeli-American born in Haifa, Merav Sereen previously served as deputy policy director for Republican Senator Ted Cruz. She earned her Master’s degree in International Relations from Syracuse University.
Sereen also worked at Israel’s Ministry of Defense, participating in West Bank negotiations between COGAT (Israel’s military civil administration body) and Palestinian Authority officials.
In 2005, the Los Angeles Times noted her work with Israeli NGOs, while in 2017, she wrote a review for The New Atlantis praising Israel’s precision-guided weapons and claiming they made war “more just.”
She has publicly defended Israeli airstrikes on residential areas in Gaza, claiming Hamas used homes to store weapons. Sereen also criticised the Iran nuclear deal under President Obama, declaring that Israel’s Security Cabinet opposed the accord.
Are More Pro-Israel Officials Expected to Be Removed?
Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Morgan Ortagus, deputy envoy for Lebanon in the U.S. administration, is also expected to leave her post soon—not by her own initiative.
Ortagus, who converted to Judaism and wears a Star of David necklace, is considered a prominent pro-Israel voice in Washington. She was actively involved in quieting tensions between Israel and Lebanon and urging Beirut to crack down on Hezbollah and disarm Palestinian refugee camps.
The newspaper said her removal shocked officials in Israel, describing her as “among the most sympathetic and influential allies Israel has within the administration.”
Why Were These Officials Dismissed?
Citing anonymous Israeli sources close to U.S.-Israel relations, Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the dismissals may not be directly anti-Israel but are rather part of Trump’s broader “America First” agenda, aimed at curbing the influence of any foreign power on U.S. policymaking.
The sources clarified that the officials were not removed because of their pro-Israel stances per se, but rather due to Trump’s desire to weaken the National Security Council and consolidate foreign policy control within his own hands.
That’s why no replacement was appointed for Mike Waltz, with the role effectively handed over to Marco Rubio.
Why Would Marco Rubio Remove Pro-Israel Figures?
The newspaper questioned: “Why would Rubio—who is widely known for his support of Israel—dismiss two of Israel’s closest allies?”
The likely answer is pragmatism. Rubio, while pro-Israel, does not fully adopt Israel’s strategic agenda the way Waltz did. He is viewed as more politically flexible and in tune with shifting currents in Washington.
Sources told Yedioth Ahronoth that more dismissals of pro-Israel figures cannot be ruled out, especially considering the rapid, unpredictable changes typical of Trump’s leadership style.
The paper wrote: “These dismissals are not random—they reflect a growing strategic distance between Israel and the Trump administration. The Americans appear to be recalibrating based on their own interests.”
Netanyahu’s Concerns and the Rise of the “White Woke” Movement
According to senior Israeli officials, Prime Minister Netanyahu recently confided in Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, admitting he misjudged the direction of U.S. policy on Israel and the Middle East.
Netanyahu reportedly expressed deep disappointment in Dermer, who misread the shift and believed Washington would remain fully supportive. The officials said, “Dermer simply didn’t see this coming. He assumed America would never turn against us.”
They added, “Dermer failed to recognise the shift in U.S. sentiment. He still believes America will stay loyal. But the truth is—he’s lost his compass.”
The Israeli government is said to be deeply concerned by the influence of the isolationist ‘White Woke’ movement—a populist conservative trend within Trump’s base, reportedly fueled by figures like right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson.
“These people are dangerous,” said one official. “They’re whispering in Trump’s ear, telling him Israel wants to drag the U.S. into a war. This is the new America—and it’s causing Netanyahu real anxiety.”
What’s Happening Inside the U.S. National Security Council?
Reuters reported that, on Friday, May 30, Trump dismissed dozens of NSC staffers as part of a larger effort to reshape the council and scale back its role in U.S. foreign policy decision-making.
Five unnamed sources revealed that key NSC personnel involved in high-stakes geopolitical issues—from Ukraine to Kashmir—were terminated. This came just weeks after Marco Rubio took over from Mike Waltz.
Sources indicated that the restructuring will downgrade the NSC’s influence, converting it from a powerful policy-making body into a smaller executive unit focused solely on executing Trump’s agenda.
This move effectively increases the power of the State Department, Pentagon, and intelligence agencies in shaping U.S. foreign policy.
Trump is reportedly aiming to reduce the NSC to around 50 core staffers, compared to over 300 during President Joe Biden’s tenure. Even before this latest purge, the number had already been cut by more than half.
While traditionally central to shaping U.S. national security policy, the NSC’s evolving role under Trump signals a profound shift in how America navigates global crises, including its once-unquestioned support for Israel.
