Donald Trump surprised the world on 4 February by issuing a statement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In the statement, he had said that the US would convert Gaza Strip into ‘Riviera of the Middle East (a resort to spend holidays)’ and for this, after settling the Palestinians elsewhere, it would capture Gaza and become its owner.
Trump’s statement around the world was condemned, many people described it as strange, ridiculous, incredible. Even America’s most staunch associate British Prime Minister Karir Starmer refused to support it.
He said, ‘They [फिलिस्तीनियों] Should be allowed to go home, should be allowed to rebuild the Gaza, and we should support them in reconstruction in the direction of two-state solution.
Hamas, a fighter organization of Palestine, condemned Trump’s statement, saying, “This scheme is a recipe for chaos and stress in the field, the people of Gaza will not allow such schemes to be passed.”
However, this is not the first time that President Trump has indicated to “clean” Gaza in his current term. Trump’s first term was also similar on the issue of Palestine-
Trump 1.0 and Palestine
Soon after assuming the post of US President in January 2017, Trump gave priority to the Israeli-Pilistine issue. In early May 2017, he hosted Palestine Authority Chairman Mahmud Abbas and during the meeting emphasized that “he is committed to helping Israeli and Palestinians to help achieve peace and any peace agreement Only from direct interaction between Israelis and Palestinians is possible ”.
But the confusion of finding a solution to the Israeli-Pilistine issue led by Trump broke when he formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on 6 December 2017 and his doubles to transfer the American Embassy from Tel Aviv there. Decision announced. The whole world was shocked by Trump’s decision.
Shortly thereafter, “Trump Shanti Yojana” was introduced in February 2018 after a meeting of Arabs and European Foreign Ministers in Brussels. This indicated that the US and the international community would recognize a Palestinian country and accept East Jerusalem as its capital. The scheme also called upon the old city of Jerusalem to be kept under international protection and it was also said that Israel would keep Jerusalem its capital.
The Trump administration called this proposed plan ‘Deal of the Century’ while the Palestinian Authority strongly condemned the scheme. The authority saw it as a conspiracy to end the Palestinian issue. The scheme was officially presented by President Trump on January 20, 2020 as ‘peace in peace’.
However, the decision that caused the most damage to the interests of the Palestinians was the signing of the Abraham Agreement in September 2020. The three clear objectives of agreements were: first, to establish Israel’s acceptance and harmony with the Arab world; Second, taking the needle of discourse in the area beyond the Palestine issue; And third, to install Iran as enemy number one.
In May 2018, Trump’s unilateral cancellation of Iran nuclear deal at the behest of Israel was an important part of this strategy.
… so Netanyahu agreed to the ceasefire in Gaza
In Trump’s first term, two things of his strategy about Gaza were important- first to ensure that Israel and Netanyahu get all that he could not get from any previous US President, full support for anything in the area, And marginalizing the Palestine issue. Second, targeting Iran as enemy number one, whether through cancellation of nuclear deal or maximum pressure policy.
Therefore, what Trump is doing at the beginning of his second term, it is not surprising. This is also an indication of why and how Trump’s Middle East Envoy Steve Vitkoff forced Netanyahu to agree on the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. Perhaps Netanyahu would have been promised for a bigger reward than the price of the ceasefire, which agreed to sign the agreement.
Trump 2.0 and Gaza
Even before becoming President, Trump was on target about Gaza. During the election campaign, he criticized the Biden administration for dealing with the Gaza war and claimed that if he were President, there would not have been war. Some of the post -election surveys show that the Gaza war has also been important in playing a role in Trump’s victory.
Even before taking over as the President, he threatened that if the ceasefire did not apply before taking over, he would have to suffer a lot. Trump also got a ceasefire agreement to show his diplomacy to the world.
However, soon after assuming office, Trump’s attitude towards Gaza changed and many people have been surprised, except Israel’s silently watching how things are getting in his favor.
In his first conversation with reporters on January 20, just after the swearing -in ceremony, he expressed doubt on the Gaza ceasefire, saying that he is not confident that the Gaza ceasefire will continue. He said that the ongoing struggle “is not our war, this is his war”, and after that on 25 January, Trump made another shocking statement in which he said that Gaza is a ‘demolition site’ that should be vacated.
He asked Jordan, Egypt and other Arab countries to give more refuge to the Palestinian refugees coming from Gaza Strip. He said that 1.5 million population of Gaza should be removed from the area so that the ruined area in the war can be cleaned. However, Egypt and Jordan criticized it and dismissed it.
Trump has also called for capturing Gaza and he can say a lot further about Gaza. He has also indicated that he can make a big announcement about the West Bank. Trump may probably recognize Israel’s rights throughout the West Bank. If they do so, Gaza will be converted into the American region and the West Bank into the Israeli region, which will end any expectation of Palestine’s independent nation forever!
It is sad that no country is willing to intervene in this matter or ask difficult questions. We must remember that during his first term, he recognized the occupation of Israel on the Golan Heights and this area was taken away from Syria.
What now?
Trump’s work and statement are inflammatory to the field, at least, and their promise to work towards a two-state solution. It also does not match their plans of generalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia had announced an investment of about $ 500 billion in the US which may not be successful now, because Saudi Arabia has made it clear that until the Palestine issue is resolved, Saudi is not such a work. Will do
Trump claims that he is a President who ends him instead of starting a war. If the Israeli forces go to Gaza again to “clean” Gaza after the first phase of the ceasefire, then there may be a wider war again and the situation can be difficult even before. As a result of this, it may also be that Arab countries, who have been silent in the war till now, can flare up.
Even more important is that this can give new life to groups like Hamas, who will present themselves as the protector of Gaza and his people. This will so far to water all the efforts of Israel and America in the war.
Trump and his administration are making every effort to reward it for Israeli’s loyalty and Gaza ceasefire. Now Netanyahu has suddenly got a new beginning in his political life. Their scorching coalition is happy, and one-state solution now seems possible.
Trump has to choose an option. They have to decide what is more important as President and for the long -term interests of America. Then accordingly they have to make their strategy that they want widespread peace in the area or want to give blind support to Israel which can lead to a never -ending war.
(Author: Colonel Rajiv Aggarwal (retired). In his 30 -year career, Rajiv Aggarwal has played important roles other than Director and Director in the Ministry of External Affairs. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own.)