Trump’s Islamist Concessions: Israel’s Quandry in a Misaligned World

President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign promises to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program and support Israel’s destruction of Hamas are faltering, selling out Israel and alienating his pro-Israel voter base. 

By conceding on military pressure against Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Trump places the onus on Israel to defy his stated policy through unilateral strikes or sabotage, risking global condemnation in a world where U.S. policy misaligns with actors like Qatar and Iran. 

President Donald Trump's incoming Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff at a Trump campaign rally at Madison Square Garden, New York, October 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci); Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a government meeting in Nahariya on December 3, 2024. (Maayan Toaf/GPO); Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani attends a meeting in Egypt's new administrative capital on November 27, 2024. (Khaled Desouki/AFP/ Times of Israel)

A $5.5 billion Trump-branded golf resort deal in Qatar, tied to envoy Steve Witkoff’s $623 million Qatari connections, fuels ethical concerns amid a collapsed Gaza ceasefire. 

A U.S. ceasefire with Iran-backed Houthis, wielding suspected hypersonic missiles, fails to halt their attacks on Israel, emboldening proxies like Hamas, which intensifies Israel’s ground war in Gaza as a by-product. 

As Chinese President Xi Jinping aligns with Vladimir Putin, bolstering Iran through CCP-backed conflicts, Trump’s potential restraint of Israel against Iran and Hamas undermines Israel’s security in increasing U.S. policy alignment with Qatar and Iran.

Gaza Ceasefire Collapses, Ground War as By-Product

Trump pledged to eliminate Hamas, responsible for the October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 and took 251 hostages. A January 15, 2025, ceasefire, brokered by Qatar and Egypt with Witkoff, forced the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to withdraw from Gaza strongholds, exchanging 33 hostages (eight believed dead) for 1,900 Palestinian prisoners, many terrorism-linked (Israel National News). It collapsed on March 18, 2025, with Operation Might and Sword targeting Hamas’s regrouping (Times of Israel).

On May 4, Israel launched Operation Gideon’s Chariots to seize Gaza, displace 2.3 million residents to a southern “secure zone,” and free 59 hostages. The IDF mobilized approximately 60,000 reservists to bolster three divisions and secure fronts like Lebanon (The Jerusalem Post, May 5). Far-right leaders like Bezalel Smotrich demand permanent occupation (Israel Hayom). A nine-week aid blockade and ground operations, a by-product of Iran’s emboldened proxies like Hamas, have led to 87 IDF casualties since March (Israel National News). Hostage families fear for captives’ safety (Times of Israel).

Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization and the US president's son, looks over the proposed plan ahead of the signing ceremony with Qatar's Diar and Dar Global in Doha on April 30, 2025. (Karim Jaafar/AFP/Times of Israel)

Qatar’s Influence and Ethical Concerns

The $5.5 billion Simaisma golf resort deal, announced April 30, 2025, with Qatar’s Qatari Diar and Saudi-backed Dar Global, features an 18-hole golf course, 3,600 villas, 3,000 apartments, a 400-room hotel, and a waterfront promenade (Trump Organization press release).

Eric Trump praised it, but Witkoff’s $623 million Qatari ties from a 2016 hotel sale raise conflict-of-interest concerns, given Qatar’s Hamas mediation role (Israel Hayom). X posts criticize: “Trump profits from Qatar while Israel fights” (

@TimesofIsrael

, May 2). This deal highlights U.S. policy misalignment, favoring Gulf interests over Israel’s security (America First Policy Institute, April 28).

Iran Concession: Forcing Israel’s Nuclear Defiance

Trump’s pledge to “defang” Iran’s nuclear program, a cornerstone of his pro-Israel stance, has been abandoned. After exiting the 2015 nuclear deal, he now tolerates 3.67% uranium enrichment, per Witkoff’s Oman talks (Washington Times, April). This concession, forsaking military threats, forces Israel to defy Trump’s stated policy by planning unilateral strikes or sabotage against Iran’s nuclear facilities, risking global demonization (Israel National News, May 7). Israel’s potential operations—precision airstrikes or covert sabotage—face Iran’s fortified defenses, including underground sites like Natanz, per Israel Hayom. The America First Policy Institute (April 28) warns such action could isolate Israel, with U.S. policy misaligned toward actors like Iran and Qatar, undermining Israel’s security (Newsweek, January 12). This sell-out emboldens Iran’s proxies, fueling Hamas’s Gaza resilience as a by-product.

The concession’s drivers include:

• Practical Strategy: Trump prioritizes Gulf deals like Simaisma to avoid Middle East conflicts, per X posts noting his Qatar focus.
• Deep-State Influence: State Department diplomats push Iran engagement to counter China, aligning with Witkoff’s diplomacy (Israel Hayom; Modern Diplomacy, February 15).
• Isolationist Voices: Tucker Carlson’s “America First” rhetoric, critiquing Israel aid on Fox, influences Trump’s base, urging U.S. disengagement (Washington Times).

Houthi Ceasefire and Hypersonic Missiles

On May 6, 2025, Trump halted U.S. bombings of Iran-backed Houthis, claiming they “capitulated,” but failed to require them to stop attacking Israel (Washington Times). The Houthis, targeting Red Sea shipping and Israel, likely use hypersonic missiles supplied by Iran, with speculation of Chinese technology transfers given Beijing’s ties to Tehran (Israel National News, May 7). This ceasefire exposes Israel, with X posts decrying: “Trump’s Houthi deal empowers Iran’s proxies” (@Juliana_Ahavah, May 7). It strengthens Hamas in Gaza, a by-product of Iran’s unchecked influence (Newsweek, January 12).

Global Tensions: China, Russia, and CCP Allies

As Chinese President Xi Jinping aligns with Vladimir Putin, bolstering Iran through CCP-backed conflicts, Trump’s potential restraint of Israel against Iran and Hamas aligns U.S. policy with actors like Qatar and Iran, undermining Israel’s security. Xi’s May 6, 2025, meeting with Putin coincides with Pakistan’s clashes with India and North Korea’s missile launches into the Sea of Japan on May 5, 2025 (Wall Street Journal). China’s potential role in Houthi missile supplies underscores its support for Iran (Israel National News). Trump’s Gulf focus ignores these threats, leaving Israel to counter Iran’s nuclear ambitions and proxies alone.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, speaks alongside US President Donald Trump during a meeting in the
Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 7, 2025. (Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images via Times of Israel)

Restraining Israel: A Double Challenge

China's influence peddling across the world - Mr. Jan Jekielek, host Epoch-TV's "American Thought Leaders"

 

DemoCast conducted a fascinating interview with Mr. Jan Jekielek, the host of Epoch-TV's "American Thought Leaders" interview series. Epoch Times were producing video programs at the libertarian FreedomFest before last November's election. 

Our discussion delves into CCP China's extensive influence operations, particularly through its United Front strategy aimed at shaping public opinion and cultural narratives in the U.S. The Epoch Times highlighted China's annual investment of around $16 billion in lobbying efforts and targeting Chinese communities.

The conversation addressed China's Belt and Road Initiative, portraying it as a tool for establishing global dominance through trade relationships and economic dependencies, particularly in developing nations, where unsustainable debt traps often emerge.

Mr. Jekielek stresses a skeptical approach toward China's intentions, advocating for a "distrust and verify" mentality reminiscent of Cold War strategies, evidenced by cases of forced technology transfers that disadvantage foreign companies. Additionally, the speaker encourages viewers to explore the Epoch Times' content for a deeper understanding of these issues, inviting subscriptions for those interested.

• 00:00:00  Our interview with Jan Jekielek focuses on China’s influence operations, particularly through a strategy known as the United Front, which is aimed at shaping cultural narratives and public opinion in the U.S. The Epoch Times claims to be among the first media outlets to cover these operations, highlighting how China invests approximately $16 billion annually to exert its influence, including lobbying in Washington and targeting Chinese communities. The conversation also touches on the Belt and Road Initiative as part of China's broader imperialist ambitions, which seek to establish dominance globally, particularly through trade and strategic relationships rather than outright ownership of other nations. Additionally, the Epoch Times emphasizes its unique position to report on these issues due to insider-sources who risk their safety to share information about the Chinese regime's actions.
  
  
• 00:05:00 In this section, the discussion highlights the exploitative practices of the Chinese regime in forming economic dependencies, particularly in poorer countries where development aid often leads to unsustainable debt traps. Such debts can entangle nations in obligations to China, while the regime also employs tactics like blackmail against politicians and programs such as the Thousand Talents Program, which recruits leading researchers to advance China's technological and military capabilities.
  
  The interview emphasizes the necessity of skepticism toward China's intentions, advocating for a "distrust and verify" approach, reminiscent of Cold War strategies. This perspective is supported by examples of forced technology transfers that allow Chinese companies to thrive at the expense of their foreign counterparts, such as in the case of Segway, which lost its competitive edge after being compelled to share its intellectual property. In summary, this segment underscores the strategic maneuvering of China in leveraging technology and financial resources to expand its influence.
  
  
• 00:10:00 In this final part, Mr. Jekielek encourages viewers to visit the Epoch Times website and emphasizes the importance of exploring the content for themselves before making a judgment. He invites the audience to subscribe if they find the information appealing, highlighting an open and inviting approach to engaging with the publication.