Netanyahu confidante Ron Dermer meets Trump before Middle East trip next week
Ambassador Mike Huckabee’s Participation in Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day 2025 Ceremony, April 24, 2025 (Photo by U.S. Embassy Jerusalem – Flickr, CC BY 2.0)
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Saturday strongly denied a report suggesting U.S. President Donald Trump could announce his intention to recognize a “State of Palestine” during his Middle East trip next week.
The Jerusalem Post published a story by The Media Line, citing an anonymous “Gulf diplomatic source,” who said Trump “will issue a declaration regarding the State of Palestine and American recognition of it, and that there will be the establishment of a Palestinian state without the presence of Hamas.”
Responding to the JPost’s tweet on ?, Huckabee wrote: “Hmm. Jerusalem Post needs better sources than this unidentified ‘source.’ My 4 yr old grandson Teddy is more reliable. And take it from Teddy. This report is nonsense. Israel doesn’t have a better friend than POTUS!”
The source added: “If an announcement of American recognition of the State of Palestine is made, it will be the most important declaration that will change the balance of power in the Middle East, and more countries will join the Abraham Accords.”
The purported announcement is said to come amid Trump’s participation in a regional summit, which will be hosted in the Saudi capital of Riyadh and include the leaders of all Gulf countries.
Last week, Trump promised to make a “very important announcement” during his upcoming trip, which will not include a stop in Israel. He later clarified that the announcement would not be about trade, “but something else but it’s going to be a truly earth-shattering and a positive development for this country.”
On Friday, Huckabee had already emphasized the strength of the U.S.-Israeli relationship amid a recent flurry of reports that the Trump administration was getting frustrated with the Israeli government.
This is believed to explain decisions such as skipping Israel during his trip, reaching a separate ceasefire with the Houthis, and announcing an independent Gaza aid mechanism that will proceed regardless of Israeli military operations.
In addition, Israel is anxious about the administration’s pursuit of a diplomatic deal with Iran. Unconfirmed reports have also suggested that the U.S. may drop its demand for normalization with Israel in exchange for nuclear cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
In another sign that some interpreted as a snub to Israel, the Axios news outlet reported that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth canceled his planned trip to Israel, instead joining Trump on his Middle East trip.
However, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell wrote on ? that Hegseth “did not cancel his trip,” but was “asked to join President Trump’s Middle East trip next week & is honored to do so. SECDEF very much looks forward to visiting our ally Israel soon.”
The invitation could instead be intended as a signal of support for the embattled secretary and not be connected to Israel, according to Axios.
Another Axios report also appeared to support Huckabee’s assertions regarding the continuing strength of relations between the governments.
In an unusual, “private” meeting, Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer reportedly visited Trump at the White House on Thursday to discuss the talks with Iran and the progress of the Gaza War.
Presidents usually only meet with heads of state or government. However, despite his low nominal rank, Dermer is seen as Netanyahu’s closest confidante and has often served as his personal emissary.
The meeting with Trump reportedly also included Vice President JD Vance and White House envoy Steve Witkoff, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with whom Dermer also met in private to discuss Israel’s concerns over recent developments.
Huckabee reiterated his message in another tweet later on Saturday: “It’s reckless and irresponsible for press to allege that POTUS and [Netanyahu] are not getting along.”
“Bibi has spent more time with POTUS than I have in past three months, and I’m his ambassador! The relationship between US and Israel remains STRONG!” Huckabee added.
PDALE-
At least 50% of the “news” disseminated from the various outlets is not news but chancy hope that they’ve made a hit.
Even assuming that the 400 mill plane is accurate, is is not Trumps- it is being given to the USA.. And there are a lot more unknowns concerning the other “news” that you mention.
I believe maybe 25% of it on it’s face value. But many years of experience by EVERYONE, not only me, has taught that “all that glitters is not gold”
This is international politics at work, about which the normal person, presumably you, would know little or noting.
The real details are ALWAYS in the “small print”.
I see nothing ominous in the release of the last LIVING US citizen.
What about the US citizens who were either slaughtered or starved and beaten to death..??? before this last “token” gesture of hope that Trump might prevent the Israelis from attacking and finally destroying Hamas root and branch.
He has NO intention of stopping them from their just war and in fact has made dozens of statements encouraging and backing it.
Don’t we have enough horror stories from rescued hostages to make clear what they underwent, Israeli, US and other nationalities , all of which was really horrible beyond human understanding.
Scroll down a few posts and READ and UNDERSTAND Peloni’s highlight of what Netanyahu has announced. It covers much or all of your doom and gloom, with sunshine.
It begins…JUST IN…
Edgar G:
Mr Trump is shortly off to the Gulf to strike a deal about Arab investment in the US, using Gaza, without any Israeli presence, as a bargaining chip. While there he will pick up a $ 400 million plane to be used as Air Force One: a gift from Qatar. Meanwhile, one hears that the Trump Organisation is negotiating the development of a $ 5 billion dollar golf course-resort development in Qatar.
And also, there was an announcement on Britain’s Sky News that Hamas has agreed to release the last living American hostage. (Nothing about the Israeli hostages– living or dead). I seem to recall Trump’s statement that, unless ALL the hostages were released by Saturday at noon several months ago, he would rain hell down upon Hamas. That Saturday passed, all the hostages weren’t released and the only hell that happened was that experienced by the unreleased Israeli hostages.
Nor can we forget the deal made with the Houthis to refrain from striking ships in the Red Sea. There is one exception: Israeli shipping. I don’t recall Trump or any other American official refusing to accept this deal.
Unfortunately, I do reason from facts–very unpleasant ones. I also do not mind being a naysayer whenever my review of facts leads me to conclusions others do not like.
Fake news.
Everything to create daylight!
Probably Iran manipulation!
PDale=
You are the most fervent Naysayer on this site. Casting gloom and doom everywhere you can reach.
It’s about time you say daylight and began to reason from facts not from misgivings however strong.
In other words …”wake up and smell the coffee”…I think this might be the right phrase to use. If not, apologies as I am not used to modern throw-offs, being an old fashioned guy who depends on logical thinking.
Raylan Givens
We would all do well if we remembered the definition of an ambassador devised by the sixteen-century English ambassador, Sir Henry Wotton. Sir Henry said that an ambassador is ‘an honest man sent abroad to lie for the good of his country’.
By the way, this ambassador is not Trump’s ambassador; he is the ambassador of the United States.