Amanpour

The Significance of Trump Bypassing Israel 

May 13, 2025
Former US Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer discusses Trump's strategic bypass of Israel during a significant diplomatic trip to Saudi Arabia, examining its impact on U.S.-Middle East relations. Author Jordan Thomas shares gripping insights from his experiences battling wildfires, shedding light on the urgent challenges posed by climate change. Award-winning actor Kelsey Grammer candidly reflects on his memoir, exploring personal loss and the healing power of storytelling amidst fame, revealing a deeper side to his celebrated career.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

US Altered Middle East Strategy

  • The Trump administration’s Middle East approach sidesteps Israel to directly engage Iran, Hamas, and others.
  • The president's Gulf trip emphasizes business deals and strategic alliances over immediate conflict resolution.
INSIGHT

Netanyahu's Gaza Dilemma

  • Netanyahu faces coalition pressure to continue Gaza offensives despite US caution.
  • Killing Hamas leader Sinwar may offer Netanyahu a short-term win yet increases coalition demands for prolonged conflict.
INSIGHT

Saudi-Israeli Normalization Delay

  • Saudi normalization with Israel is delayed due to increased Palestinian state demands post-October 7.
  • Trump uses the issue to temper expectations but keeps it on the diplomatic table for the future.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app