Trump’s Middle East Tour Opens Historic Window for Israel, Experts Urge Action

TEL AVIV – President Donald Trump’s whirlwind Middle East tour, concluding last Friday, stirred headlines for skipping Israel, with some suggesting a chill in ties with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Yet, beneath the surface, experts argue Trump’s moves handed Israel a golden opportunity—if it can seize it.

A Strategic Opening
While Air Force One didn’t touch down in Jerusalem, Trump’s agenda echoed Israel’s priorities. He condemned the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, pushed for Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords, and issued stern warnings to Iran over its nuclear ambitions. In Doha, he even floated making Gaza a "freedom zone" under U.S. oversight, a bold vision that could reshape the region.

Avner Golov, a former senior official at Israel’s National Security Council, described the moment as a "massive wave of change" sweeping the Middle East. "Israel must decide: ride it or get crushed," he told WTFNewsRoom.

Policy Over Optics
Despite the snub, Trump insisted his regional relationships benefit Israel. "This is good for Israel," he said aboard Air Force One. A State Department readout of a call between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Netanyahu reinforced this, affirming "ironclad" U.S. support and a shared commitment to block Iran’s nuclear goals.

Dan Senor, a former U.S. official, dismissed media chatter of a rift. "Policy is what matters," he told WTFNewsRoom. "There’s no public criticism of Israel, even with tanks near Gaza. That’s a stark contrast to past administrations."

Missed Chances?
Still, some in Israel feel sidelined. Channel 12’s Amit Segal noted the unease of watching Air Force One fly over to nations less friendly to Israel. "If you’re not at the table, you’re on the plate," he quipped. Tamir Haiman, a former Israeli intelligence chief, warned that Israel risks being "knocked off the field" by Trump’s bold plays, like pausing airstrikes on Iran-backed Houthis or dropping demands for Israeli-Saudi normalization in a U.S.–Saudi nuclear deal.

Haiman sees squandered leverage, like Israel’s consent to U.S. arms deals with Saudi Arabia, which could’ve pushed normalization. "The missed opportunity is enormous," he said.

Iran and Hostages
Israel’s biggest fear remains a nuclear-armed Iran. Haiman called this a "historic window" to act, warning that U.S. diplomatic moves could soon limit Israel’s military options. Meanwhile, the release of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, negotiated via Qatar and Hamas with Israel in a minor role, fueled concerns of being sidelined.

Golov urged Israel to take the reins, pushing the U.S. to pressure Qatar to cut Hamas funding and align with regional powers like Saudi Arabia and Jordan. "Israel must anchor itself in a bloc terrified of extremism," he said. The question is whether Jerusalem will catch Trump’s wave or be left in its wake.