Earlier this month, the president said he favored taking control of Gaza and displacing the Palestinian population of the devastated seaside enclave. But Egypt and Jordan flatly rejected cooperating.

For decades, American officials described the rulers of Egypt and Jordan as linchpins of regional stability. They made peace with Israel (in 1979 and 1994, respectively). They mostly avoided wars, coups and revolutions.

US President Donald Trump appears to step back from his controversial Gaza plan after Egypt and Jordan voiced strong opposition. In a Fox News interview, Trump admitted he was “a little bit surprised” by their rejection.