While Trump Courts the Gulf, Israel Stands Still

In recent weeks, it has become increasingly difficult to discern what is truly happening behind the scenes in U.S.-Israel relations. While public statements remain diplomatic, the subtext tells a more complex story.

Israel has faced a wave of criticism, accused of stalling and strategic indecisiveness. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump toured the Middle East, making warm overtures to Gulf states while notably refraining from any significant mention of Israel. This silence occurred amid rumors of a developing deal between the U.S. and Iran - further sidelining Israel from key regional dynamics.

The situation has only grown murkier with the renewal of military operations in Gaza. The objectives remain vague, and the broader strategic picture is far from clear.

In this context, a pressing question arises: what comes next? Or perhaps more accurately: what will Israel do, if anything, to shape what comes next?

Trump has expressed a desire to continue his "Gaza Plan," and reports- some speculative - have emerged of possible large-scale resettlement of Gazans in Libya, and more recently, in Jordan. Against this backdrop, will Israel take initiative or continue its current path of political inertia?

The present moment feels suspended in time. In an age of hyper-accelerated news cycles and global maneuvering, Israel’s political leadership seems paralyzed - responding slowly, if at all, to rapidly evolving regional developments.

For the past year and a half, both the Biden administration and the Trump one have stressed that time is a factor. Israel, they warned, would need to act swiftly to safeguard its interests. Yet nothing of substance has happened other than in Lebanon and Syria.

It’s hard to avoid the conclusion that we are living through an era of paralysis - a politics of stasis. From the Israeli perspective, this has become our new normal. And when you're standing still while the world moves, you don’t get to set the direction - you’re simply swept along.

In this fog, where tomorrow’s sunlight doesn’t break through, there is no telling which U-turn Israel might take - or which policy pivot might emerge from the White House.