Feb 26, 2017

What stood out in US President Donald Trump’s statement at the joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Feb. 15 was the regional approach to Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking. An adviser to the US National Security Council with good ties to the Arab world told Al-Monitor that prior to the Trump-Netanyahu meeting, the administration discussed with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan a regional umbrella to Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

The ambitions of the new administration on the Middle East regional level are much more modest compared with the regional initiatives promoted by the Obama administration. Most specifically, they are less ambitious than the regional attempt by former Secretary of State John Kerry to initiate a Jordanian-Egyptian-Israeli regional process. According to the adviser, Trump is interested in cooperation with pragmatic Arab countries in the battle against the Islamic State.

In the press conference, Trump said, “I’m looking at two-state and one-state, and I like the one that both parties like. I’m very happy with the one that both parties like. I can live with either one.” This reference to a two- or one-state solution came in response to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request. Trump excels in confused messages, and in this case, the message was rectified 48 hours later by the new US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who specifically spoke about a two-state solution policy of the new administration.

Netanyahu, according to a senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs official who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, walked out elated from the Oval Office meeting. He received all the go-aheads he wished for in order to continue his de facto (and not de jure) annexation policies through the expansion of settlements within the settlement blocs and economic expansion in Area C (under Israeli control). The reported request by Trump to curb some of the settlement activities actually serves Netanyahu. It allows him to deflect the extreme right-wing pressures of Education Minister Naftali Bennet. He can now claim that he is obliged to concede, at least at some degree, to Trump’s request.

The Palestinian leadership is currently holding intense deliberations, both internally and also with its Arab allies, primarily Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. According to a senior Fatah security official, Ramallah, in conjunction with its Arab partners, decided to take Trump at his word about the regional approach. Together with Egypt it will suggest to Washington an outline of a new regional approach.