Former US President Donald Trump recently posted on his X account (formerly Twitter), claiming that his administration brought peace to the Middle East. But how accurate is this claim?
Despite Donald Trump’s assertion of fostering “peace” in the Middle East, his policies widely destabilized the region while emboldening Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s aggressive stance on Palestinian rights and territory. Many Palestinians consider Trump’s tenure one of the worst periods in US-Middle Eastern relations since the United States formally recognized Israel in 1948, citing a series of unprecedented measures aimed at sidelining their political agency and diminishing support for their cause.
Trump’s “Circle of Peace” and Middle East Transformation Narrative
Trump’s Middle East vision was touted by his administration as ‘transformative’, with then-Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, claiming that Trump’s policies had the potential to “change things in the Middle East for the next 100 years.”
Friedman’s remarks captured the administration’s starkly partisan approach: incentivizing alliances with “friends” who supported Israel’s position while exerting maximum pressure on “hostile” actors, especially Iran and Palestinian authorities. This heavy-handed alignment neglected the longstanding US claims of attempting to balance the needs of both Israelis and Palestinians, leaving Palestinians and wary of further marginalization under Trump’s policies.
Jerusalem and the End of Palestinian Mediation
In a monumental shift on December 6, 2017, Trump announced the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, later moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to the occupied Palestinian city. This decision effectively removed Jerusalem from any future negotiation table for peace, sparking international criticism and protests.
Trump’s move shattered any notion of American neutrality in mediating peace efforts.
Economic Stranglehold: Cuts to Palestinian Aid
By August 2018, the Trump administration had ended all US financial aid to the Palestinians, cutting direct budgetary assistance and crucial funds for services like healthcare and education. Funding to the UN agency UNRWA, which supports Palestinian refugees, was also eliminated, creating a severe financial crisis for the organization.
The administration justified these moves as part of a broader campaign to force Palestinians to negotiate on terms favorable to Israel—a strategy.
Closing Diplomatic Doors and Limiting Palestinian Political Reach
Trump’s administration shuttered the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s (PLO) office in Washington, DC, effectively silencing a formal Palestinian diplomatic voice in the US and hindering its international representation. Shortly after, the US expelled Palestinian Ambassador Husam Zomlot and his family, alongside the closure of PLO bank accounts, signaling a hardline stance that all but dismissed Palestinian autonomy.
Recognizing Israeli Sovereignty Over Syria’s Golan Heights
In a departure from international consensus, Trump acknowledged Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights in March 2019. Widely condemned, this decision emboldened Netanyahu, who praised Trump’s presidency as an unprecedented boon for Israel. Shortly after, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the US would no longer consider Israeli settlements in the West Bank a violation of international law, reinforcing Israel’s expansionist policies.
The “Deal of the Century” and a One-Sided Vision for Peace
Trump unveiled his “Deal of the Century” in January 2020, which many Palestinians viewed as an attempt to sideline their demands for a sovereign state.
The plan offered a limited and fragmented Palestinian presence within a non-contiguous territory riddled with Israeli settlements—a setup that effectively severed any path to a viable Palestinian state. Palestinians rejected the plan outright, seeing it as a move toward annexation rather than an offer for peace.
The Reality Behind Trump and Netanyahu’s Relationship
Contrary to Trump’s image of himself as a “peace broker,” his actions aligned unreservedly with Netanyahu’s hardline agenda, as observed by Michael H. Fuchs, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. Netanyahu leveraged Trump’s unequivocal support for electoral gains among right-wing constituents, openly advocating for policies like the annexation of parts of the West Bank. This “blank check” approach from Trump fueled more extreme Israeli policies, fundamentally diminishing any remaining hope for a two-state solution.
Was Trump Really Feared by Netanyahu?
Claims that Netanyahu feared Trump are unfounded. Netanyahu publicly lauded Trump, calling him “the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House” and viewing his presidency as an unparalleled opportunity for Israel.
In fact, Trump’s unbridled support emboldened Netanyahu’s push for policies that even past US administrations had discouraged, such as extensive settlement expansion and overt moves toward annexation.
Far from fearing Trump, Netanyahu capitalized on the administration’s alignment with his objectives to further his vision of a Greater Israel.
Source: qudsnen
