WASHINGTON, May 20 (Reuters) – Three former U.S. foreign policy officials from Donald Trump’s administration recently met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other notable Israeli figures, according to a source with direct knowledge of the meeting.
Delegation Members and Mission
The delegation included Robert O’Brien, who served as Trump’s last national security adviser, John Rakolta, former Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, and Ed McMullen, former Ambassador to Switzerland. The source, requesting anonymity due to the private nature of the trip, shared these details.
Aside from Netanyahu, the delegation was scheduled to meet Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid and other officials. The visit aimed to gain insights into Israel’s internal political dynamics, especially given the challenges within Netanyahu’s coalition. Many Israelis blame his government for failing to prevent the Hamas attack on October 7.
Timing and Context
This visit stands out as a rare example of Trump’s allies traveling abroad to meet foreign officials as an organized delegation. It comes amidst strained relations between Israel and the Biden administration over Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
On the same day, the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor in The Hague announced that he had requested arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his defense chief, and three Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes. Both Israeli and Palestinian leaders have rejected these allegations. It remains uncertain whether the meeting with Netanyahu occurred before or after this announcement.
Conflict and Casualties
The ongoing conflict in Gaza, initiated by a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, has resulted in over 35,000 Palestinian deaths, according to health officials in Gaza. The initial attack led to the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of 253 people, with more than 100 still believed to be held captive in Gaza.
Discussions and Intent
Details of the discussions between the delegation and Israeli officials remain unclear. The source mentioned that the group was not acting under Trump’s direct instructions and had no specific messages to deliver. However, all three members serve as informal advisers to Trump and are expected to brief him on their meetings.
Trump’s Stance and Response
Trump has occasionally expressed disapproval of Israel’s actions in Gaza and has held Netanyahu accountable for the attack on October 7. Nevertheless, Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, often presents himself as a more steadfast ally of Israel compared to President Joe Biden, his Democratic rival in the upcoming November election.
Both the White House and the Israeli prime minister’s office declined to comment on the meeting.
During Trump’s presidency from 2017 to 2021, the U.S. embassy was moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move that pleased many Israelis but angered Palestinians. Rakolta played a significant role in the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel, Bahrain, and the UAE.
O’Brien is a key foreign policy adviser to Trump and is expected to hold significant influence if Trump returns to office, according to sources familiar with their relationship.
International Engagements and the Logan Act
Foreign officials have been engaging with Trump or his advisers to understand his potential policies should he return to the White House. For example, British Foreign Minister David Cameron met with Trump in April at Mar-a-Lago to discuss the Ukraine conflict and NATO’s future.
Jeremi Suri, a presidential historian at the University of Texas, noted that such meetings by former senior officials during times of geopolitical turmoil are rare and sensitive. The Logan Act allows Americans outside the government to meet with foreign officials but limits their ability to negotiate U.S. disputes with foreign governments.
The source emphasized that the delegation’s visit was focused solely on fact-finding and relationship-building, with no intention of influencing policy.
While the Biden administration initially supported Israel’s actions, it has recently expressed concerns over aspects of its war strategy. This month, Biden paused the shipment of thousands of bombs to Israel following Israel’s decision to expand its assault on Rafah in southern Gaza, leading Trump to accuse Biden of abandoning an ally.
