Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed reports of a diplomatic split with the United States after President Donald Trump made a recent visit to major Gulf nations that excluded Israel prominently.
Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates was aimed at obtaining large business agreements, but by avoiding Israel America’s long-time most trusted ally in the region Trump set off massive speculations among the media for a possible US-Israel strain.
Speculation grew amid increasing worldwide condemnation of Israel’s Gaza war and Trump’s move to suspend US airstrikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Iran-backed Houthis have continued to fire missiles into Israel, even as Washington is hard-pressing Tehran to resume nuclear talks.
Ending weeks of silence on the matter, Netanyahu informed journalists at a press briefing that President Trump had assured him of ongoing American support. “Bibi, I want you to know, I have a complete commitment to you and to the state of Israel,” Netanyahu reported Trump as having said in a call about ten days ago.
He also reported a side conversation with US Vice President JD Vance, who scoffed at reports in the media, telling Netanyahu, “Don’t worry about all these fake news stories about this break between us.”
The assurances are made after the Biden administration puts pressure on Israel to put an end to the war in Gaza. The enclave has been under an 11-week Israeli siege, leading to a catastrophic humanitarian emergency and aggravating civilian suffering.
Despite mounting international concern, Netanyahu’s remarks signal that the Israeli leadership still views its relationship with Washington as strong and intact, even as tensions over regional policy and humanitarian issues remain unresolved.
