“I flew back from the US this morning and came away with the impression that the president is determined to jumpstart an active diplomatic process in the Middle East for peace between Israelis and Palestinians," Zionist camp member and opposition leader Isaac Herzog told his faction’s meeting in the Knesset on the morning of May 8.

Herzog said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "will be forced to decide between the historic national exigency and his own narrow interests.” His remarks joined the growing indications in recent weeks that President Donald Trump is preparing a major “surprise” ahead of his May 22 visit to Israel. Herzog, who flew to New York to attend the annual Jerusalem Post conference, got the distinct impression from conversations with administration officials that not only is Trump determined and enthusiastic about sponsoring renewed negotiations on an Israeli-Palestinian agreement, but a concrete move is taking shape behind the scenes.

Trump’s impending visit to the region is naturally sending the Israeli political system into a tailspin. Unlike the vague and contradictory hints at the start of his term, there’s no mistaking the messages being conveyed by Trump and those around him regarding his intentions. Trump is interested in achieving a “deal” between Israelis and Palestinians, but the nature of what he has in mind is still unclear, and no one knows whether the American president will present any details during his upcoming visit.

What is clear is that less than six months after taking office, Trump is not the messiah of Israeli settlers, and the Israeli right is following his moves with grave concern and suspicion. Contrary to Trump’s campaign promises and declarations at the start of his presidency, the ambassador he appointed, David Friedman, will be working out of the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, which will not be moving to Jerusalem. Since entering the White House, Trump has also spoken out several times against construction in the Israeli settlements.