From: Ynet.news.com March 12, 2025
Is Trump a partner or a landlord?

The honeymoon that could still turn on Netanyahu
While Trump supports Israeli interests, his dominance raises questions about whether he is a partner — or a remote shot caller

Analysis: As Trump pressures Israel on strategic decisions, Netanyahu finds himself:
1. increasingly subordinate to American demands,
2. including negotiations with Lebanon and Hamas;

The opening months of Trump’s administration marked a honeymoon period for Israel’s government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In the White House now sits a president who:
1. understands Israel and its interests,
2. aligns with the logic of the right-wing government,
3. and even pushes initiatives —
4. like a plan for Gaza migration — that go beyond what even the Israeli right envisioned.

But alongside this optimism lies a sobering reality:
Instead of a partner in the White House, Israel faces a landlord — or perhaps a monarch.

In the Oval Office, Netanyahu encountered a man making strategic decisions for him.

Through his envoy, Steve Witkoff, who began working even before Trump assumed office,
1. Trump imposed the first stage of a hostage deal that Netanyahu had resisted.
2. This agreement could have been made a year ago but was now forced upon him.