Reports and Administration actions suggest that the US President is punishing the Israeli PM for “insubordination” in pursuing foreign policy and military steps not in lockstep with American orders and interests. The US ceasefire, Iran talks, and not US aid to Gaza, all without Israeli coordination and knowledge. Netanyahu, for his part, is standing firm on Israeli interests in stopping Iran, winning the Gaza war, and bringing hostages home — his way.

Relations between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have deteriorated to their lowest point in years, according to multiple sources close to both leaders. What began as mutual admiration and strategic alignment during Trump’s first term has now devolved into frustration, sidelining, and what some Israeli officials describe as deliberate exclusion from key diplomatic developments.

According to a report by Israel Hayom journalist Ariel Kahana, senior members of Trump’s inner circle have confirmed that the president has “lost patience” with Netanyahu and has made a strategic decision to move forward with major Middle East initiatives—particularly those involving Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states—without Israeli input.

Trump Moves Without Israel

“President Trump has decided to stop waiting for Israel,” said one senior U.S. official familiar with recent discussions. “He is focused on advancing what he believes are core American interests, and Israel, unfortunately, is no longer a reliable partner in that process.” The official cited delays in Israeli decision-making and what Trump perceives as Netanyahu’s unwillingness to compromise on the Palestinian issue as key reasons behind the rift.

The clearest sign of the rupture came this week when Trump announced a surprise ceasefire agreement with Yemen’s Houthis—a development that caught Israeli officials off guard. Not only was Israel left out of the talks, but even after the announcement, Israeli diplomats were unable to obtain clarification from their U.S. counterparts for more than 24 hours.

This diplomatic freeze, unprecedented in the history of U.S.-Israel relations under a Republican administration, coincides with mounting tension over Iran policy. Trump is reportedly livid over what he sees as behind-the-scenes pressure from Netanyahu’s team—particularly involving former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz—to initiate military action against Iran. Waltz has since been dismissed, and while Netanyahu claimed to have spoken with him only once, sources say Trump remained unconvinced and saw it as an unacceptable attempt to manipulate U.S. policy.

Saudi Normalization Now Without Netanyahu?

A key casualty of this rupture could be the ambitious normalization process with Saudi Arabia. Trump had hoped to build on the momentum of the Abraham Accords by including Israel in a broader U.S.-Gulf alliance, possibly even brokering a historic Saudi-Israeli agreement. But according to the sources, Trump now believes Netanyahu is dragging his feet.

At the heart of the Saudi talks is Riyadh’s demand for an end to the Gaza war and a gesture toward a Palestinian state—possibly framed as a “horizon for Palestinian sovereignty.” That phrase, or any suggestion of a future Palestinian state, remains politically toxic for Netanyahu at home, especially among his right-wing base and coalition partners.

Minister Ron Dermer, Netanyahu’s trusted confidant and chief architect of Israel’s diplomacy on the matter, has reportedly spent countless hours trying to craft language that signals some form of Israeli openness to a two-state solution—without crossing political red lines. But U.S. officials say these efforts have fallen short and are contributing to the administration’s perception that Netanyahu is playing for time.

“Israel Will Stand Alone”

The breakdown in communications has forced Israeli leaders to pivot their messaging. In what many saw as thinly veiled criticism of the U.S. shift, both Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz delivered statements emphasizing self-reliance.

Responding to a question on whether Israel could handle threats from the Houthis without U.S. support, Netanyahu said, “The rule I have established is that Israel will defend itself by its own forces.” Katz echoed the sentiment the next day: “Israel must be able to defend itself by its own forces against any threat and any enemy. This was true facing many challenges in the past and will also be true in the future.”

These remarks, delivered within hours of each other, appeared to be crafted as a public declaration of independence at a moment of strategic isolation.

No Stop in Jerusalem

Perhaps most symbolically, Trump has not scheduled a stop in Israel during his upcoming regional tour. While past U.S. presidents have routinely made Israel a centerpiece of Middle East trips, this omission sends a clear message: Netanyahu is no longer central to Trump’s regional vision.

The developments mark a stunning reversal in what was once hailed as one of the warmest bilateral relationships in recent history. From moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem to recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, Trump and Netanyahu once appeared inseparable. But today, their alliance is strained by divergent calculations, political survival tactics, and a dramatically altered regional landscape.

As Ariel Kahana notes, “What was once a strategic alliance rooted in personal chemistry and shared threats has become a marriage of inconvenience—one in which Trump is now moving on without his former partner.”

Whether this schism is temporary or the beginning of a more lasting realignment in U.S.-Israel relations may depend not only on Netanyahu’s next moves, but on how the Israeli public and security establishment react to Washington’s new posture. With rising threats from Iran’s proxies, diplomatic tremors in Riyadh, and growing pressure from within, Israel may soon face the very reality Netanyahu is now warning about: standing alone.