Live updates: Follow the latest on Trump's Gulf trip
US President Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East has left Israel in a position of uncertainty, highlighting differences over Iran and Syria while it presses on with its war in Gaza, experts have told The National.
Mr Trump on Friday concluded a Gulf tour on which he met Syria’s President Ahmad Al Shara, signed major economic deals worth trillions of dollars with the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and attempted to tackle several crises and conflicts across the Middle East.
He also set out a carrot-and-stick approach to Iran and raised the prospect of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords and establishing ties with Israel, though that is yet to happen.
"Mr Trump has not only left out Israel from his tour, which certainly conveys certain signals, but also shed light on policy differences between Washington and Tel Aviv over Syria and Iran," said Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East North Africa Programme at London's Chatham House.
Mr Trump's visit "shows the close relationship between Gulf states and Washington and his willingness to listen to them on key regional issues", Ms Vakil told The National.
President Trump in Abu Dhabi - in pictures
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President Sheikh Mohamed bids farewell to US President Donald Trump. Abdulla Al Neyadi / UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohamed waves as Mr Trump's aircraft leaves the Presidential Airport. Abdulla Al Neyadi / UAE Presidential -
Mr Trump aboard Air Force One. Ismaeel Al Zaher / UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Trump. Abdulla Al Neyadi / UAE Presidential Court -
Mr Trump and senior officials visit the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office -
Mr Trump at the Abrahamic Family House. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office -
Mr Trump at the Abrahamic Family House. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office -
Mr Trump attends the UAE-US Business Dialogue alongside Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, at Qasr Al Watan. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Mr Trump receives a small bottle of the UAE's Murban crude oil at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Mr Trump and Sheikh Khaled at the UAE-US Business Dialogue. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
The UAE-US Business Dialogue. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Mr Trump at the UAE-US Business Dialogue. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Mr Trump and Sheikh Khaled at Qasr Al Watan. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
President of the United States of America Donald Trump attends the UAE-US Business Dialogue at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi during his tour of the Middle East. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed watches as US President Donald Trump signs the guest book at Qasr Al Watan, in Abu Dhabi. UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Trump are given a tour by Sultan Al Neyadi, UAE astronaut and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, of an exhibition titled Guided by the Stars at the presidential palace. UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Khaled and Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and UAE National Security Adviser, attend the reception for Mr Trump at Qasr Al Watan. UAE Presidential Court -
Mr Trump greets Jensen Huang, president and chief executive of Nvidia, at Qasr Al Watan as Sheikh Mohamed watches. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Trump view a model of the UAE-US AI Cluster, during the launch ceremony at Qasr Al Watan. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohamed presents the Order of Zayed to Mr Trump during the state reception at Qasr Al Watan. Hamad Al Kaabi / UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohamed speaks with Mr Trump at Qasr Al Watan. Hamad Al Kaabi / UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Trump stand for the national anthems at Qasr Al Watan. Abdulla Al Neyadi / UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Trump stand for the national anthems. Hamad Al Kaabi / UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Trump view an exhibition titled ‘Guided By the Stars’ at Qasr Al Watan, and speak with UAE astronaut and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Dr Sultan Al Neyadi. Ryan Carter / UAE Presidential Court -
The ceremony at Qasr Al Watan is attended by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court; Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence; and Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. Abdulla Al Neyadi / UAE Presidential Court -
Also standing for the national anthems at Qasr Al Watan are Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Defence Affairs; Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade; Mohamed Al Suwaidi, Minister of Investment; Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education; Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and managing director and group chief executive of Adnoc; Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; Mohamed Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs; Ali Al Shamsi, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for National Security; and Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority and managing director and group chief executive of Mubadala Investment Company. Abdulla Al Neyadi / UAE Presidential Court -
Heritage band musicians perform as Mr Trump arrives at Qasr Al Watan. Ryan Carter / UAE Presidential Court -
Children wave UAE and US flags at Qasr Al Watan. Ryan Carter / UAE Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Trump arrive at Qasr Al Watan. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Sheikh Mohamed meets Mr Trump after his arrival at the Presidential Airport in Abu Dhabi. Abdulla Al Neyadi / UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Trump in discussion at the Presidential Airport. Ryan Carter / UAE Presidential Court -
Mr Trump arrives in Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Mr Trump arrives in Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Traditional drummers greet the US President on his arrival. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
A participant in the ceremony welcoming Mr Trump to Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Participants in the welcoming ceremony for Mr Trump. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Participants help to welcome Mr Trump to Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Sheikh Mohamed with Mr Trump. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
UAE Air Force fighter jets accompany Air Force One, carrying Mr Trump, as it approaches Abu Dhabi. Reuters
Diplomatic differences
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday he spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Syria and Iran while Mr Trump was touring the Gulf, and assured him of the solid ties between the two states.
Mr Rubio "stressed the deep US commitment to its historic relationship with Israel and the ironclad US support for Israeli security", State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said. She said the two men expressed a "mutual commitment to make sure Iran never possesses a nuclear weapon".
However, Mr Trump's trip leaves a confused picture behind in Israel, said Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at the country's Institute for National Security Studies.
“There is a sort of confusion because on the one hand, politicians in Israel feel that they were thrown aside, but on the other hand, there is no doubt that some things that have been said or done by Mr Trump are deeply and well co-ordinated with Israel,” he said.
The co-ordinated issues included the push to include Saudi Arabia and other Arab states in the Abraham Accords, Mr Michael told The National. But Mr Trump's move to lift US sanctions on Syria was a move that Israel has opposed.
The visit also comes at a time where the US has been engaged in talks with Iran – mediated by Oman – with four rounds being held since April 12. Both sides have described the negotiations positively and a further round is expected soon.
Reports have emerged of ties between Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu becoming strained as the two leaders are at odds over a possible Iranian nuclear deal. Israel has previously opposed making concessions to Tehran on the nuclear issue.
Gaza war
Mr Trump said on Friday “good things” would happen in the Gaza Strip over the next month. That was a change from his previous rhetoric, having threatened that "all hell is going to break out" if Hamas did not release Israeli hostages.
“We have to help the Palestinians, a lot of people are starving in Gaza,” said Mr Trump after boarding Air Force One in the UAE, without elaborating on what would happen.
Earlier in the day, speaking at a business forum in Abu Dhabi, Mr Trump said he was looking to resolve a range of global crises, including Gaza. “We’re looking at Gaza,” he said. “And we’ve got to get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving. A lot of people are – there’s a lot of bad things going on.”
Israel has been pressing ahead with its brutal war on the besieged strip. No aid has entered since early March and the entire population of Gaza is at critical risk of famine, with half a million people facing starvation, a global hunger monitor warned this week. On Friday, it was reported that at least 250 people have been killed by the latest round Israeli strikes in Gaza.
Houthi surprise
Israel was also taken by surprise when the US announced a ceasefire with Yemen’s Houthi rebels early this month.
The agreement mediated by Oman stipulates neither the US nor the Houthis would target the other, including US vessels in the Red Sea and Bab Al Mandeb. The deal did not feature Israel.
Dina Esfindiary, Middle East geoeconomics lead at Bloomberg Economics, told The National the move shows “the relationship between Mr Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu isn't as comfortable as many may think”.
That the deal does not cover Israel is “interesting in itself, they were not even told about it and were taken by surprise when they heard”, she said.
