The relationship between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been under scrutiny, with speculation mounting about a potential rift between the two leaders. Despite Netanyahu’s efforts to portray himself as a close friend of Trump, their alliance has rarely been straightforward.
Recently, Trump’s Middle East trip, which excluded Israel, and US negotiations with Iran and the Houthi rebels in Yemen without Israeli input, have highlighted the growing gap between the two nations. Israeli commentator Dana Fahn Luzon succinctly captured the sentiment, saying, “Trump is signalling to Netanyahu, ‘Honey, I’ve had enough of you.”
Concerns Within Israel
Mitchell Barak, an Israeli pollster and former political aide to Netanyahu, expressed concerns about the impact of this rift on Israel, stating, “We’re seeing a total breakdown of everything that might be of benefit to Israel… America was once our closest ally; now we don’t seem to have a seat at the table.” Barak attributed the situation to Netanyahu’s actions, saying, “Many Israelis blame Netanyahu for this… He always presented Trump as somehow being in his pocket, and it’s pretty clear Trump didn’t like that. Netanyahu crossed a line.”
US Commitment to Israel
Despite these concerns, prominent voices in the US administration have reaffirmed their commitment to Israel. President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, emphasized that there is “no daylight between President Trump’s position and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s position” regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. White House National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt also praised Trump’s support for Israel, saying, “Israel has had no better friend in its history than President Trump.”
Implications of a Rift
Analysts have speculated about the potential consequences of a break in relations between Netanyahu and Trump. Yossi Mekelberg, an Associate Fellow at Chatham House, noted that Netanyahu’s government may hope to take advantage of US policy shifts, saying, “Ben-Gvir, Smotrich and their backers could take advantage of American disinterest, depending upon what shape it takes.” Political analyst Nimrod Flaschenberg added that those opposed to Netanyahu’s government are hoping for a lasting ceasefire, not due to faith in Trump, but because of their dismay with the current government.
Uncertain Future
The future of Netanyahu’s leadership remains uncertain, with accusations that he has become reliant on the war to sustain his political coalition and avoid accountability. Barak questioned whether Netanyahu can recover, saying, “I don’t know if Netanyahu can come back from this… There’s a lot of talk about Netanyahu being at the end of his line.” Only time will tell how this complex situation unfolds.