According to Israeli officials, Washington is now the chief decision-maker at the newly established Civil-Military Coordination Center, essentially replacing Israel’s role in managing aid and security in Gaza. Reports suggest Israel’s role has been reduced to a “contractor,” while Trump’s ambitious “Riviera of the Middle East” plan, once dismissed as fantasy, resurfaces amid growing U.S. influence. A Channel 12 poll found 67% of Israelis believe the U.S. is calling the shots on IDF operations, fueling speculation that Israel has become a “client state.” Despite firm denials from both governments, the optics of America’s assertive presence and parade of top U.S. officials visiting Israel since the ceasefire took effect tell a different story, one of shifting dominance and uneasy alliances.
