TEL AVIV — The reports that emerged this week of secret direct talks between a top Trump administration official and representatives of Hamas, which the United States has designated a terror organization, surprised the Israeli leadership. 

"It was a bit reminiscent of the revelation that the United States was conducting direct negotiations with Iran in Oman in 2013, ahead of the nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers," a veteran Israeli diplomat told Al-Monitor, speaking on condition of anonymity. 

The veteran diplomat was referring to the secret negotiation channel between the United States and Iran that began in March 2013 and was mediated by Oman. Only a handful of senior Obama administration officials were privy to the initiative, which eventually led to the 2015 nuclear deal. Israel was kept in the dark about the talks. The administration only admitted to them after the Israeli intelligence services got wind of them.

"We were shocked. There was a sense of betrayal. We didn't believe that the Americans would negotiate directly with the Iranians without us knowing about it, without being able to influence it. This caused a severe crisis between Israel and the Obama administration, a scar that never healed."