Mon May 12 14:53:29 UTC 2025: **Trump’s Middle East Trip Focuses on Mega-Deals, Sidelines Israel Amid Tensions**
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump embarks on a Middle Eastern tour this week, prioritizing lucrative business deals with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, potentially worth trillions of dollars. The trip includes substantial investment pledges from the Gulf states and a proposed $100 billion arms package for Saudi Arabia. However, Israel’s absence from the itinerary is notable, highlighting growing tensions between Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Reports indicate friction over Trump’s halting of the US military campaign in Yemen, his refusal to endorse military strikes on Iran, and his dropping of the demand for Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel. While Israeli officials claim behind-the-scenes coordination continues, the omission of Israel from this economically focused trip signals a shift in the traditionally close US-Israel relationship.
The strained relationship comes amidst Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza, which Trump has previously supported. The article alleges that Trump’s focus on lucrative business deals in the Gulf outweighs concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, even amidst accusations of genocide. Despite the apparent rift, the article highlights the continued alignment between the Trump administration and extreme Israeli officials, citing a recent meeting between Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Republican officials at Mar-a-Lago, where Ben-Gvir reportedly received support for his hardline stance on Gaza. The article concludes that despite Israel’s exclusion from this particular trip, the Trump administration’s support for Israeli actions remains unwavering.
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