Trump more interested in the Syrian and Iranian files than implementation of ‘Deal of the Century’
Ramallah – North-Press Agency
Ahmed Ismail
The Washington based political analyst Dr. Nabil Mikhael said that the purpose of the "Deal of the Century" announced by the U.S. President Donald Trump is to revive peace in a limited way, but he would make no efforts to bring peace and solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Dr. Mikhael told North-Press that Trump's strategy focuses on Iran and the Syrian file, which makes the issue of holding conferences for the Palestinian-Israeli peace is unlikely.
"Trump is interested in the Syrian crisis and its international intersections, he just wants to put peace on the international diplomatic agenda; however, without making any great efforts to effectively announce the Palestinian state or give it any generous amount," he said. Mikhael described Trump's political deal regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as merely "early signs of a U.S. intention to work with a plan that is far from political realism.”
He believes that Trump wants to contain Iran and keep the American forces in Iraq, and these matters have more strategic significance for Trump than the issue of reaching a political settlement between the Palestinians and the Israelis.
After all, Israel controls everything indeed and does not need Trump's deal to control on the ground. Tel Aviv considers Trump's deal as moral support, nothing more.
Regarding whether Trump will impose additional sanctions on the Palestinian Authority because of the rejection of the deal, Dr. Mikhael expects that Trump will impose limited sanctions on the Palestinian Authority, but not to the extent that leads to its collapse, which Israel and the international community fear since it’s important is to keep the status quo as it is.
Dr. George Jaqman, a professor of international relations at Birzeit University told North-Press that the limits of the Palestinian ability to change the authority's function in Ramallah from being mere security seem limited, because they are under the Israeli occupation.