Trump’s intention to divide Middle East not helpful for lasting peace

BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) — U.S. President Donald Trump presented a reversed Middle East policy during his maiden overseas trip to Saudi Arabia and Israel, by calling for an anti-Iran coalition, which may fuel the tension in the region and jeopardize efforts for reconciliation.

The Obama administration sought to establish a delicate balance of power in the Middle East by pulling out troops from Iraq, pressuring Israel on settlement issues, holding up military support for Saudi Arabia and signing a nuclear deal with Iran, a series of moves distanced its traditional allies and are obviously abandoned by Trump.

However, days of a meet-and-greet trip cannot resolve decades-long conflicts between Israel and the Arab world, nor deter Iran by trying to form a coalition that is more likely in theory.

People in the region who are struggling in terrorism and wars need reconciliation much more than division and hatred.

BRIDGE GAP BETWEEN ALLIES

Trump is the only American president who makes a Muslim majority nation and Israel his first overseas trip, which indicates his policy of forming a new Middle East coalition by easing conflicts between Israel and the Arab world so as to rally against Iran’s influence in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon.

He announced a 110-billion-U.S.-dollar arms deal with Saudi Arabia upon his arrival, including precision weaponry that his predecessor Barack Obama had held up over concerns of civilian casualties in the war in Yemen.

In his final remarks in Jerusalem, Trump said there are “new opportunity” for nations in the region to end sectarian strife and find peace.

“I call upon people to draw inspiration from this ancient to set aside out sectarian difference to overcome oppression and hatred,” he said, adding that a prerequisite for a regional coalition would be to recognize Israel’s positive contribution “to the region and the world.”

He also expressed optimism about the Israeli-Palestinian peace process after meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. “They are ready for peace,” he said.

“Trump inherited a relatively stable Middle East – as opposed to the upheaval and developments during Obama’s time,” said Dr. Ronen Zeidel, an expert on the Middle East Affairs from the University of Haifa.

“Trump came to Israel to reassure Netanyahu of his support. He came to calm traditional Israeli fears…It strengthens their sense of security and that is why they welcomed him so nicely in Saudi Arabia,” he added.

“There is no way this visit will jumpstart the peace process and in no way will lead to normalization between Israel and the Arab world,” Ronen said.

“Trump manages to reinvigorate the regional coalition and rally the pragmatic Sunni world two days after the elections in Tehran,” said Ron Prosor, Israel’s former envoy to the United Nations.

“Israel’s homework is to look and see the coinciding interests with Sunnis that were not there for many years,” he added.

COALITION AGAINST IRAN

“Trump presents a reversed Obama doctrine – he says he comes to do the opposite,” said Yaki Dayan, a former Israeli consul general in Los Angeles, adding that “the only thing in common with Obama is that they view the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a major issue but they have two completely different methods of solving it.”

Trump is looking to create an Arab NATO, he added.