Some reports have cast this disconnect as indicative of a chasm between Trump and Israel. But this is a misreading. The divide is not between the president and Israel so much as between the president and Israel’s leader. Most Israelis support what Trump is doing—and oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach to the war in Gaza.

"The nature of that bilateral relationship—with Israel still reliant upon the military, diplomatic and economic assistance of the United States—is such that the prime minister

The first sign of Trump’s irritation came during their White House press conference in April. Trump did not reverse the 17 per cent tariffs he had slapped on Israel and pointed out that Israel gets $4bn a year in aid.