Trump admin’s removal of top pro-Israel officials causes concern in Israeli gov't

Removals of senior pro-Israel officials from their positions in the Trump administration is causing concern within the Israeli government.

In addition to the replacement of former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz with Marco Rubio, two other pro-Israel officials have been dismissed from their roles, and one will depart soon.

“Two senior officials recently removed from their posts are Merav Ceren, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen who was only recently appointed as head of the Iran and Israel portfolio at the National Security Council, and Eric Trager, who oversees the Middle East and North Africa,” Ynet News reported.

The report went on to note that Jewish convert “Morgan Ortagus, deputy to special envoy Steve Witkoff and the official handling the Lebanon portfolio,” will soon leave Witkoff’s team.

According to the report, several anonymous Israeli officials believe the shift is caused by several factors.

On the one hand, they argue it is the result of efforts by Vice President J.D. Vance and Donald Trump Jr. to consistently apply America First foreign policy principles, which, while affecting Israel, are not primarily directed against Israel.

One official, however, argued that the Trump administration was being influenced by voices on the right who have been openly skeptical or critical of Israel’s influence over American politics, with Tucker Carlson being the most prominent example.

“These are dangerous people influencing President Trump,” the official told Ynet News. “They are sowing suspicion toward Israel and telling Trump that Israel is trying to drag the U.S. into war. This is the new America, and it’s deeply concerning to Netanyahu.”

Recent widespread reporting has indicated an ongoing rift between Trump and Netanyahu, with Trump and senior officials in his administration concerned that the current Israeli government seeks a war with Iran that Trump hopes to avoid.

Officials within both governments have denied any such rift, with Netanyahu publicly stating that “the relationship is excellent.”

Steve Witkoff has said that while there may be some disagreements, he “[doesn’t] think there’s much daylight between how they think and how we think from a foreign policy perspective.”