It's just business - unusual

Trump Shrugs off Netanyahu on Gulf tour (The New York Times), Netanyahu is the Odd man out in Trump’s Middle East trip (NBC News), Trump’s Middle East trip leaves Netanyahu watching (CNN), Bypassed by Trump, Israel dismayed but silent(Reuters) are some of the headlines in the western media on US President’s four day tour in the oil rich Gulf countries. One may wonder: is US shifting away from Israel? Will Trump ditch Netanyahu in the ongoing war in Gaza?

There are ample reasons to believe what the media presents. The surprise announcement of lifting Syrian sanctions, the hand-shaking with Syrian leader Ahmed Al Sharaa, once an Al Qaeda militant, negotiations with Iran on nuclear deal, stopping the military campaign against Houthis, easing the sanctions against Turkish defence sector are all matters that indeed do not go well with Israel. Particularly, the deal with Iran.

On sidelining Netanayahu, yes, he was left behind by Trump on his state visit to the Middle East. It’s said that Israel’s ambassador to Washington tried to include Israel in the President’s tour itinerary but White House declined.

The impression is right. But in a way that’s cooked up. Its impossible for US to sever ties with Israel or to stop arms supply to the Zionist nation. At least upto 2028. That’s how the agreement goes. One may feel Netanyahu is cornered by Trump. True, because, Trump has found Netanyahu is in his final phase. Two thirds of the Israeli population is against the war, the latest survey indicates. He retains the power with the help of two ultra-nationalist parties. Netanyahu will lose the ground once the war is over.

For Trump, he is wooing wealthier investors in the Gulf region than the Jewish financiers. To him, business is paramount. Ideology comes next. To the head of a business conglomerate, even politics is a deal. The writing is clear. US eyes more its wealthy friends than a bellicose country. But that cannot be read as US walking away from Israel or going to hold its military assistance.

The western media try to create an impression that US is not in favour of war with Iran or Houthis or with Hamas but it bats for a deal or agreement.

However, Israel has much to worry in the surprise policy shifts of Trump administration in the Middle East affairs. The negotiations with Iran on nuclear arms, the abrupt withdrawal from the war against Houthis, removal of US sanctions against Syria are indeed an embarrassment for Israel.

As regards Houthi operation, US has not consulted Israel before halting the military campaign against the Yemeni group. Even after US decided to stop bombing Yemen, Houthis sent missiles directing Tel Aviv. One of them fell near Ben Gurion airport, Tel Aviv causing much damage.

Iran is yet another melting pot. Its true that Tump withdrew from Iran nuclear deal in 2018 hammered out by Obama in 2015. But that’s Trump one. Now the US is on its way to negotiating with Iran to bring out a new nuclear deal, which is unacceptable to Israel. The Zionist regime wants the US to initiate military action against the nuclear facilities of Iran. They want Iran to be destroyed like Libya, something the Trump 2.0 administration does not want to do now.

The lifting of sanctions against Syria is also understandably a deal. The new leader of Syria, Ahmed Al Sharaa, invited Trump to build a Trump power base in Damascus. May be he is thinking more pragmatically in rebuilding Syria, devastated by the decade long war. But to Israel, a better relation with Syria is like biting the bullet. Israel terms Sharaa a jihadist and is in no mood to recognize its new administration. Israel’s army still occupies the buffer zone of Syrian border and continues aerial attacks frequently. Trump instead praised Sharaa as ‘young and attractive guy, tough guy, strong past, very strong past, fighter’. He even said that he didn’t consult Israel before handshaking with Syrian leader.

So is the case of Erdogan of Turkey. Erdogan is a staunch critic of Israel and Netanyahu. He once said Netanyahu is worse than Hitler. But for Trump, Erdogan is a friend and he even eased the sanctions on Turkish defence sector.

Trump has his own way. Its more about business and deal than anything ideological. But again that does not mean that the US is has softened its stand on Gaza or is distancing from Israel. It’s a ploy to make the picture look so. And most probably, the media is part of this bigger game.