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During President Trump's recent tour of the Gulf, his Middle East diplomacy demonstrated a shift in U.S. priorities, turning away from previously central Israeli alliances. This change was particularly evident when he shook hands with Syria's new leader, Ahmed al-Shara, at the Saudi royal palace, pledging to lift sanctions on the country. Trump's actions have notably sidestepped Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose government considers al-Shara a jihadist threat.

Trump's recent foreign policy moves mark a departure from the long-standing American practice of positioning Israel at the core of its Middle East strategy. For decades, Netanyahu has been a crucial figure in U.S. discussions regarding the region. However, the recent five-day tour through Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates suggested that Netanyahu is no longer central to Trump's Middle East agenda.

Despite repeated assurances from Netanyahu's spokesman about the strength of U.S.-Israel relations, Trump's actions speak to a new reality. Earlier this month, Trump announced a surprise cease-fire with Houthi militants in Yemen, without Israeli involvement, despite ongoing missile attacks from the group that even disrupted air travel by striking Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.

On multiple occasions during the Gulf tour, Trump has expressed a keen interest in negotiating peace agreements with Iran, signaling a major shift from Netanyahu's preference for military action against Iranian nuclear facilities. Trump's focus on economic and diplomatic engagements with the wealthy Gulf states, including trillion-dollar business deals, underscores the new direction of U.S. foreign policy in the region.

While Trump’s administration continues to support Israel militarily and economically, the president's recent actions reveal that Israel is no longer the indispensable nation in his Middle East strategy. By lifting sanctions on Syria and engaging in high-level talks with Iran and other Gulf countries, Trump appears to be forging a new path—one that subtly places Israel and its prime minister in the periphery.

Though Trump maintains that his Gulf engagements are ultimately beneficial for Israel, his actions have portrayed a different reality. The change has profound implications for Netanyahu, who remains unmoved in his approach to regional conflicts, even as the U.S. president focuses on relationships with other Middle Eastern leaders. This evolving dynamic suggests a period of recalibration for U.S.-Israel relations in the context of wider Middle East diplomacy.