By : Dr. Monther Howarat
Jordan Daily – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s third visit to Washington was rich in symbolism, but beneath the ceremonial surface, it carried weighty strategic messages. From the outset, the optics were deliberately staged: President Trump wore a blue tie, Netanyahu a red one—subtle, perhaps, but unmistakably evocative. Together, the colors mirrored the fusion of the American and Israeli flags, hinting at a symbolic role reversal: America as Israel’s advocate, and Israel as America’s regional executor. The message was clear—this is not just a friendship; it’s an alliance redefining the regional order.
Behind the ceremonial gestures lies a deeper geopolitical recalibration. Netanyahu arrived in Washington emboldened by what he views as victories on the ground. His aim is not merely diplomatic theater but a transformation of the regional status quo. The post–World War I order, shaped by British and French imperialism and later reinforced by American hegemony after World War II, has become, from the Israeli perspective, a constraint. Netanyahu seeks to upend that structure and replace it with a new one, molded in Israel’s image and enforced, if necessary, through military power.
The Trump administration appears to support this ambition. When asked about the future of the peace process and the two-state solution, Trump deferred to Netanyahu, effectively giving him carte blanche. Netanyahu responded with unambiguous rejection of a Palestinian state, asserting that no Israeli leader supports such a notion. Instead, he offered limited autonomy—a blow not only to the international legal framework but also to decades of diplomatic negotiations. This stance was accompanied by Washington’s delivery of bunker-busting munitions to Israel, signaling that the U.S. views Israel’s military force as a legitimate tool for reshaping the region’s realities.
The Palestinian issue, once a cornerstone of international diplomacy, has been relegated to an Israeli domestic matter. International resolutions no longer restrain Israeli expansion, which is now dictated solely by its capacity and strategic will. This approach has triggered alarm among regional and global powers alike.
One telling indicator came from the Middle East: a high-profile meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi. The encounter carried implicit warnings. Iran signaled it will not passively watch the region being redrawn without its input, while Saudi Arabia presented itself as a central actor in any new regional equation. Riyadh’s shift from confrontation to engagement with Tehran should not be mistaken for weakness—it is a calculated strategic pivot aimed at redefining Saudi national security doctrine.
In Europe, similar unease is growing. French President Emmanuel Macron met British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London amid growing concerns over their countries’ diminished influence. Both leaders—heirs to colonial legacies—are wary of being sidelined as a U.S.-Israeli axis redraws the Middle East map. The anxiety was reflected in a strongly worded joint statement warning Israel against redrawing regional borders through force.
Turkey, sensing potential vulnerability, has moved swiftly to consolidate internal unity. Ankara revived its dialogue with Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, signaling a possible alliance aimed at sidelining Kemalist factions and shoring up internal stability. For President Erdoğan, national cohesion is essential to maintain Turkey’s regional relevance in a rapidly shifting strategic environment.
In Egypt, the sudden emergence of a military group allegedly plotting against the government, along with a barrage of hostile media campaigns, appears designed to destabilize the country internally and divert its focus from regional matters. Given Egypt’s geographic and historical weight, it remains a pivotal actor in any regional equation—hence efforts to neutralize its role.
Jordan, too, has voiced concern. King Abdullah II has stepped up diplomatic engagements in response to Israeli ambitions that could jeopardize Jordan’s borders, national identity, and internal stability. Meanwhile, in Lebanon, Washington continues to press for Hezbollah’s disarmament and is quietly exploring communication channels with Damascus. The goal appears to be to fold Syria into a security framework that would pave the way for political normalization with Israel, effectively removing another node of resistance.
All these movements suggest the region is experiencing a foundational shift—one not merely about post-war recovery but about a total restructuring of power dynamics. At the center of this transformation is Israel, operating with direct U.S. backing and pushing toward a new reality that transcends traditional notions of territorial expansion. What’s unfolding is the emergence of Israel as a functional hegemon—not in geographic terms, but as the primary executor of Western strategic interests in the Middle East.
If this trajectory continues unchecked, it risks the collapse of what remains of the already fragile regional order, paving the way for an era defined by unilateralism, enforced by power rather than governed by law. This moment calls for a collective regional vision; without it, the future promises more fragmentation, uncertainty, and violence— echoes of the very forces that shaped Israel’s tumultuous rise.
