Trump Ends Gulf Tour in UAE Without Visiting Israel; Reiterates Gaza 'Freedom Zone' Plan, Floats 20-Year Iran Nuclear Suspension

President Donald Trump concluded his three-country Gulf tour (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE) on May 15, 2026 without visiting Israel — the first US presidential Middle East trip to exclude Israel since Trump's own 2017 tour included the historic visit to Jerusalem. The omission was widely interpreted as Trump distancing himself from Netanyahu's government during politically sensitive Gulf diplomatic and business dealings. Throughout the tour Trump signed arms deals worth hundreds of billions and investment frameworks, but Israel — which typically features on Middle East presidential itineraries — was conspicuously absent from the stops. Trump reiterated his 'Freedom Zone' proposal for Gaza — a US-managed reconstruction and governance zone — at the GCC Summit in Riyadh, describing it as 'the only viable path to peace and prosperity for Palestinians.' At a business roundtable in Doha, Trump floated the idea of accepting a 20-year suspension of Iran's nuclear program rather than full dismantlement, saying 'Twenty years is enough — a lot can happen in twenty years.' The absence of an Israel leg also underscored the diplomatic strain caused by Netanyahu's ICC arrest warrants, which complicate the Israeli prime minister's own travel, and the impasse over Gaza peace talks. Middle East Eye reported that Trump 'doesn't want Netanyahu to spoil his Gulf visit.' The tour is expected to generate $3.8 trillion in total US-Gulf economic agreements over 10 years, dwarfing any previous Middle East diplomatic package.