Trump's Middle East Sojourn: A Focus on Deals and Normalization, But Little Hope for a Grand Bargain

As President Donald Trump concluded his Middle East tour, a much-vaunted "grand bargain" aimed at bringing peace to the region remained elusive. Instead, Trump sought to tout a series of trade and investment deals secured with the backing of his administration. The trip saw the forging of lucrative agreements for U.S. weaponry, planes, and AI chips with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. In contrast, the Israeli government was left feeling marginalized as Trump signaled a shift away from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hardline stance on Iran and Hamas.

Key Takeaways:

• Trump announced a series of trade and investment deals with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, including agreements for U.S. weaponry, planes, and AI chips.
• The trip saw Trump signal a shift away from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hardline stance on Iran and Hamas, sparking concern in Israel.
• Netanyahu vowed to "complete the mission" and fully eradicate Hamas in Gaza, despite the dire humanitarian conditions faced by the territory's residents.
• Humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain dire, with 1 in 5 people facing starvation amid a months-long Israeli blockade.
• Trump hinted at his willingness to take over and redevelop Gaza himself, with plans to make it a "freedom zone" and involve the United States in the process.
• The trip's focus on trade and investment deals has left some questioning whether Trump's vision for the Middle East prioritizes economic interests over geopolitical security.
• Senior officials, including Ilan Goldenberg and Dennis Ross, have expressed concerns that Trump's transactional approach to the region cuts against Netanyahu's own agenda.

Statistics:

• $1 billion: the amount authorized by Trump for a bombing campaign against Yemen's Houthi rebels, which has yet to d والس dent their capacity to target Israel or Red Sea shipping.
• 20 children: the number of children killed in one incident in Gaza, according to a hospital director in the territory.
• 1 in 5 people: the proportion of Gaza's residents facing starvation amid a months-long Israeli blockade.
• $4 billion a year: the amount of military assistance the United States provides to Israel, which Trump has likened to a "premium client" or "Middle Eastern real estate asset".

Sources:

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The Washington Post

• Israel Hayom (Israel Hayom)
• J Street, a liberal pro-Israel organization in Washington (via email memo)
• The Washington Post (interview with Dennis Ross)
• Israel Hayom (Op-Ed by Oded Ailam)
• Various Israeli officials and analysts