Israeli adviser says deal is close because Trump did not allow Netanyahu room to maneuver

An Israeli adviser familiar with the talks being held in Sharm el-Sheikh said reaching an agreement has become “closer than ever because President Donald Trump has given Benjamin Netanyahu no room to maneuver.”

Politico quoted the adviser as saying that “Netanyahu no longer has any other options, and needs Trump’s support both internationally and domestically to preserve any slim chance of political survival.”

The remark comes as observers say the Trump administration is reshaping its approach to the war between Israel and Hamas, two years after it began, in an effort to give its diplomatic efforts the best chance of securing a durable ceasefire.

Trump paved the way for the move by exerting direct pressure on the Israeli prime minister and showing greater openness to Arab allies who are expected to play a key role in persuading Hamas to stop fighting.

Since last spring, Trump had given Israel wide latitude in its military operation against Hamas, but he shifted course after Israel struck leaders of the movement in Qatar last month.

Since then, he has begun reaching out to Arab and Muslim countries to gather their views and has pushed Netanyahu toward ending the war.

A source familiar with the details of the negotiations said, “Militarily Israel is at its strongest, but diplomatically it is in the weakest position it has known. The Europeans are calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state, the Arabs who signed the Abraham Accords describe Netanyahu as out of control, and Trump is forcing him to apologize to the Qataris from his office.”