Daniel Gordis, Columnist

The Worst-Case Scenario for Trump in Israel

The U.S. president wants a peace deal, but his bumbling toward one could actually cause harm.

May 19, 2017 at 6:24 PM UTC

Daniel Gordis is senior vice president and Koret distinguished fellow at Shalem College in Jerusalem. His latest book is “We Stand Divided: The Rift Between American Jews and Israel.”

The stage is set.
Photographer: Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images

Provide news feedback or report an error

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

This article is for subscribers only.

As U.S. President Donald Trump sees it, the issue is very clear: “There is no reason there’s not peace between Israel and the Palestinians -- none whatsoever,” he said in an interview last month. The situation on the ground, however, is quite a bit messier ahead of his visit Monday.

Despite the widespread presumption of a lovefest between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the opening days of the Trump administration, the relationship has grown not only complex but also fraught. Despite promises to move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Trump has backed off. Some say that Netanyahu is the one who suggested he hold off, because many Israelis think the move could precipitate a new round of deadly Palestinian violence. Netanyahu insists that he has said no such thing and that he wants the embassy moved. On Thursday, however, Trump ruled out the move.