Rubio skips – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is on a tour of three Persian Gulf states without a stop in Israel, a move framed by officials and analysts as a fresh snub of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during negotiations with Iran. The gap comes as Trump grows frust
When Marco Rubio began a tour of three Persian Gulf states, the absence was immediate: there was no stop in Israel, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was left out of what is described as a key Middle East visit.
Rubio—normally a staunch supporter of Israel—did not go to the “key US ally on his tour of the three Arab states in the Persian Gulf.” Analysts framed it as another snub of Netanyahu amid negotiations with Iran, taking place at a moment when Washington is trying to move the process forward.
US President Donald Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Netanyahu. according to the reporting. primarily over Israel’s actions in Lebanon. There, clashes between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia have threatened what is described as a nascent agreement. In that tense setting, Rubio’s trip proceeded with Gulf partners but without Netanyahu’s involvement.
One former Israeli intelligence official read the missing Israel stop as a signal. Danny Citrinowitz. former head of the Iran branch of Israel’s military intelligence. said Rubio not arriving to Israel again shows “there is a tension between the US and Israel.” He added that the move “highlighted the fact that the US does not see Israel as a part of negotiations toward an agreement. but they definitely see the Gulf states” as part of it.
The US State Department offered a different framing. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Rubio’s trip was meant to thank Persian Gulf allies for their support and to mark the resumption of operations at the US Embassy in Kuwait. Pigott also said Rubio has been to Israel as secretary multiple times and speaks with officials from Israel often. as he does with partners and allies across the region.
But the diplomatic explanation hasn’t stopped political pressure inside Israel. While Netanyahu has been largely silent on the deal, pro-Netanyahu media figures have ripped the agreement. Their criticism centers on what they say the deal could do: ease the easing of economic sanctions on Tehran while delaying talks on the issues that Israel’s declared war goals include—such as Iran’s nuclear program and its ballistic missile arsenal.
Other analysts point to the bigger question of who matters most in Washington’s Iran track. Yossi Mekelberg. an associate fellow with the Middle East and North Africa Program at the Chatham House think tank in London. said Israel is dealing with a “flip-flopping” administration that operates on what serves its interests best.
Experts have said Israel has emerged as a potential spoiler in the US-Iran agreement more than once. and that triggered sharp rebukes from both Trump and US Vice President JD Vance. Against that background. Mekelberg described the implication as clear: Netanyahu “is not a player in negotiations. ” even if he “pretends to be.”.
The argument now turns on what Rubio’s itinerary is meant to communicate—Washington’s view of Israel’s role, or Washington’s message to its Persian Gulf partners as talks with Iran continue. The trip is already underway, and for Netanyahu, the missing stop carries its own weight.
Marco Rubio Netanyahu Iran negotiations Persian Gulf Lebanon Hezbollah US Embassy in Kuwait Tommy Pigott Danny Citrinowitz Yossi Mekelberg
So Rubio just skipped Israel again? Wild.
Sounds like Trump is mad at Netanyahu over Lebanon again, but then Rubio avoids Israel and goes to the Gulf?? Idk, I feel like everybody’s playing games and Iran’s just watching. What happened to actually stopping escalation instead of snubs.
Danny Citrinowitz said tension between US and Israel, but this article already lost me on the details. Like is Israel being left out of negotiations with Iran or is it just a trip thing? Also Lebanon has Hezbollah so maybe they’re trying to separate the whole thing, but it still feels like a message. Either way, Netanyahu probably deserved it or he didn’t, who knows.
This is exactly how it starts, with “thank you tours” and missing countries. One minute it’s resumption of talks, next minute it’s snub city. If Rubio doesn’t treat Israel like part of the negotiation, then why are we even calling Netanyahu an ally in the first place? And Lebanon clashes with Hezbollah, yeah, cool, great time to be annoyed at someone. Probably all politics, no real plan.