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Trump’s Middle East gamble: What does it mean for Israel?

WATCH: “Israel Undiplomatic” with Mark Regev and Ruthie Blum, Ep. 53

Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates—this week’s episode of “Israel Undiplomatic” explores U.S. President Donald Trump’s high-stakes visit to the Middle East and what it means for the Jewish state, American foreign policy and the wider region.

With a sharp eye and decades of insider experience, former Israeli Ambassador to the United Kingdom Mark Regev and veteran journalist and political commentator Ruthie Blum—both former advisers in the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office—unpack the diplomatic theater that is unfolding across Riyadh, Doha and Abu Dhabi.

From massive Saudi investment deals to the controversial easing of sanctions on Syria, the hosts question whether American economic priorities are being placed above regional security, especially Israel’s. Is Trump’s “America First” agenda leaving Israel out in the cold, or is this all part of the long game?

The conversation explores:

  • Trump’s economic diplomacy in Saudi Arabia

  • The risks of nuclear cooperation with Arab states

  • Qatar’s influence campaign and role in Hamas funding

  • The Iran deal redux: What’s at stake now

  • The ethics and effectiveness of hostage negotiations

  • Why Israel’s perceived strength matters for peace and regional alliances

See more at: @JNS_TV. And don’t forget to hit the subscribe button!

Ruthie Blum, a former adviser at the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is an award-winning columnist and a senior contributing editor at JNS. Co-host with Ambassador Mark Regev of the JNS-TV podcast “Israel Undiplomatic,” she writes on Israeli politics and U.S.-Israel relations. Originally from New York City, she moved to Israel in 1977. She is a regular guest on national and international media outlets, including Fox, Sky News, i24News, Scripps, ILTV, WION and Newsmax.
Mark Regev is an Australian-Israeli diplomat, government advisor, and former ambassador. He served as Israel’s Ambassador to the UK (2016–2020) and as Senior Advisor for Foreign Affairs and International Communications to Prime Minister Netanyahu (2020–2021). Currently, he is the Chairman of the Abba Eban Institute for Diplomacy and Foreign Relations at Reichman University. Regev co-hosts Undiplomatic on JNS TV’s YouTube channel alongside Ruthie Blum.
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