Analysts: Trump's Middle East policies worry Israel

Muhammad Mohsen Wad-Occupied Jerusalem

Strategic change in US policies in the Middle East has caused concern to Israel. Washington is accelerating its withdrawal from the region, Iran's regional influence and self-confidence are increasing, and Turkey is returning as a key player as Saudi Arabia, which is closer to Israel's stance, recedes.

The attack attributed to Iran and the Houthi group on Saudi oil facilities on September 14 and the withdrawal of US troops from northern Syria reflects the change in the administration's policies in the Middle East, as Washington refrained from responding to the bombing, which caused serious damage to its Saudi allies. Trump to withdraw his country's troops the way for a Turkish attack against the Kurds.

To send reassurances and messages of calm, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo chose to fly to Israel from Turkey immediately after the announcement of an agreement between Ankara and Washington to suspend the Turkish military operation in Syria.

US Secretary of State Benjamin Netanyahu met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday afternoon at his Jerusalem residence. US Middle East envoy Jim Jeffrey, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, and Meir chief of security Ben Shabat, the military secretary of the Prime Minister, Brigadier General Avi Ballut.

The two sides discussed the continuation of talks to strengthen the alliance between America and Israel, and the regional challenges dealt with by both sides, and ways to face the "Iranian incursion" in the Middle East, and the withdrawal of US troops from Syria.

"I thank you and President Trump for your continued support of Israel," Netanyahu said in a speech to Pompeo. "The Middle East is an arena of problems and vibrations, but if anything stands out above all, it is the stability and robustness of the alliance between Israel and the United States."

Obsessions and calm down
Military and political analysts in Tel Aviv agree that the US secretary of state's visit to Israel comes as part of a campaign to calm Washington's Middle East allies.

"What connects the two events to Saudi Arabia and Syria is the sharp decline in America's willingness to invest in troops and resources in the region," said Amos Harel, a military analyst for Haaretz. "This is what Trump believes is the time to end what he calls the endless wars of the states." United Nations in the Middle East. "

"Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Iran's closest neighbors, are worried about the US deficit. Both are already looking for ways to improve their relations with Iran in light of changes in balance," the military analyst said. Regional. "

But Israel also has cause for concern. "The US withdrawal from Syria raises questions about the extent to which Trump is committed to fulfilling the covenant and providing assistance and assistance in case of emergency and trouble," Harel said.

Anxiety and threats
With the lessons learned from the US approach and not responding to the attacks attributed to Iran in the Gulf and Saudi Arabia, the military correspondent of Maariv newspaper Tal Lev Ram said that "the fears in Tel Aviv are reinforced by America's abandonment of the Middle East. The Israeli security establishment is deeply concerned about the US administration's approach and its repercussions." And the implications of this approach for Israel. "

The spokesman pointed out that the leaders of the security establishment in Israel strongly criticized the US administration's unwillingness to use military force in response to recent attacks and events that will have long-term repercussions.

He believes that "the American hesitation contributed to the violation of the Iranians freedom of navigation in the Gulf and to strengthen its influence in Syria and Yemen, as well as strengthening Russian hegemony in the region," noting that the replacement of leaders at the head of the US administration and unclear policy led by Trump, hinder and difficult to Israeli discourse with the United States .

Despite the complex and tense situation, the military analyst said, "The Israeli security establishment continues to see that there is a margin that prevents the deterioration of the situation until the military confrontation on the northern front with the Lebanese Hezbollah, the security situation is still far from defining it as an emergency, while the chances of escalation remain. More in the south on the Gaza front. "

Changes and alertness
The military analyst at the Wala website, Amir Bokhoubout, is likely that because of the ongoing changes in the Middle East, the security establishment raises the alert to the maximum degree.

In addition, the military analyst says, "senior political and security officials are deeply concerned that the US president may surprise Israel with a statement about the withdrawal of US military forces from the al-Tanf area and other places in Syria and on the border with Iraq."

He attributed the Israeli concern to foreign media reports that Israel is using the US presence in the region to conduct air operations, gather intelligence and launch attacks on the recently reopened Albukamal crossing.