No to Bibi, Yes to Abbas: Trump’s Middle East Visit Shocks Israel

Israel and USA small flags on burning dark background background — Photo: Shutterstock / zef art

While Israel was surprised by President Trump's decision to skip the Jewish state during his Middle East visit this week, it has now emerged that the U.S. president plans to meet with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in the coming days. This news comes amid cooling relations between Jerusalem and Washington.

The visit, set to begin tomorrow, will include Arab nations such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, while Israel, currently engaged in a war on multiple fronts, will be bypassed.

However, a troubling report published today on Egyptian television channel Al-Ghad reveals that President Trump plans to meet with Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority Chairman, during his visit to the region. Trump is also expected to meet with Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who had previously been sought by the U.S. for his involvement in terrorist activities. The meeting with Abbas is reportedly set to take place in Saudi Arabia.

Additionally, reports indicate that the upcoming U.S.-Arab summit is likely to be held under the auspices of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has so far refused normalization with Israel without a clear vision for a future Palestinian state.

Lebanese President-elect Michel Aoun is also on the guest list, and discussions with Arab countries are expected to focus heavily on relations with Israel.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Trump's decision to exclude Israel from his visit comes alongside a worrying decision to halt attacks on the Houthi rebels in Yemen, leaving Israel isolated in its struggle against the Iranian-backed group.

In Israel, there are also concerns that Trump might make a hasty move in nuclear talks with Iran, particularly if he permits Tehran to continue enriching uranium on its soil.

Last night (Saturday), Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, clarified that the Trump administration does not intend to allow Iran to enrich uranium on its territory, an issue that had been unclear in the rhetoric of the new U.S. administration toward Tehran.