The crisis between Israel and Russia continues over the Russian reconnaissance aircraft shot down Sept. 17 by Syrian defense systems.

As of now, President Donald Trump is the last card left in the bad hand dealt to Israel with the downing of the Russian Ilyushin plane. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Sept. 26 in New York, and many think the crisis between Israel and Russia will settle right at the top of Netanyahu’s agenda.

When it comes to his policies toward Iran and the way that Israel’s negotiations with the Palestinians are in a state of “deep freeze,” Trump is Netanyahu’s dream president, a fact that was reflected in the president’s address to the UN General Assembly on Sept. 25. The problem is that in that speech, he made no mention of Russia or Russian President Vladimir Putin, or the downing of the Russian Ilyushin by Syrian anti-aircraft fire. It made no difference that Israeli centers of power in Washington, headed by the highly connected Ambassador Ron Dermer, made a point of updating the president and his staff about what was happening as well as the kind of first aid that Israel needs immediately.

Now it is the prime minister’s turn. Facing a crisis, Netanyahu was to try to recruit Trump to get Putin to end the crisis and restore the situation to what it once was, or at least something like what it once was. Despite the initial assessment that the Russians would absorb the loss of their jet and make do with a public protest, it now looks like Moscow plans to change the rules of the game along Israel's northern front and deny Israel free “access rights” and its almost complete freedom of activity. As of now and until proven otherwise, it is clear to all parties that “the party is over” as far as Israel is concerned. The expected deployment of Russian-made S-300 batteries around Damascus will make any Israeli attack on Syrian territory more complicated, challenging and dangerous. An attack could now lead to the rapid deterioration of the situation along the entire front.