One question to the Trump administration

Many people are asking many questions about what the Trump administration, which will be taking over from the Obama administration in a few days, plans to do.

A great deal of uncertainty prevails at this point in time, both in America and in the world, with respect to many key issues, in light of what many perceive as Donald Trump’s two most unsettling character traits: brash boldness and fickleness.

Some are resigned to waiting to see what happens. Perhaps when Trump becomes president, he may have to reconsider some of his earlier positions, as talking about matters from a distance is one thing, and facing reality and having to do things within the country’s politics and machinery is quite another.

Some are seeing only bad news in the days to come. 

As far as our part of the world is concerned, many are worried.

What the Trump administration does, or does not do, in the days to come has a lot of bearing on many key issues in our region: Arab-Spring countries, Iraq, Iran and, of course, the question of Palestine.

The latter, in particular, which is seen by many as the core of the conflict and chaos in the Middle East, is of particular concern to many who advocate peace and stability in the region and beyond.

Trump’s talk about moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and his pick for US ambassador to Israel, “fervent” supporter of Israel’s illegal settlements David Friedman, already angered many people in this part of the world and convinced them that the days to come will witnesses some bad American decisions, and more violence and chaos.

We are at a crossroads. Bad decisions by the Trump administration, and more violence and chaos resulting from it, are a possibility. 

But one cannot, at the same time, rule out the possibility that the Trump administration, for its own sake and for the sake of Israel, if not for of the sake of its faithful Arab allies and the millions of people in the region, will have to take a more sober approach.

It will not be easy for any American administration, no matter how reckless or strong, to take decisions — under the circumstances – that will result in much damage, not only for the Palestinians and Arabs, but also for the Israelis.

When bad things happen, they affect all.

If steps are taken to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, to bless or support illegal Israelis settlements, and to oppose the two-state solution — which have been taboos and red lines for previous American administrations, and even the current – the Trump administration will be in more trouble than it is capable of imagining.

The best and safest approach to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, even for an American administration, is a balanced position.

This is the lesson that the outgoing Obama administration, which made this matter crystal clearly in John Kerry’s latest speech, and many administrations before it, have learned.

The best guarantee for peace in Palestine and the only possible choice for Palestinians and Israelis is the two-state solution and the withdrawal of Israel from all Palestinian territories occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem.

Any other thinking, based on pride, bias or prejudice, will not work.

On January 20, Trump will wake up to a reality different from what he has experienced all his life: not a company or series of companies to manage, but a globe full of complex, often pressing, issues to address, and address responsibly.

What does he, really, not hypothetically, plan to do about each and every one of them?

He, and his team, will have to be asking many hard questions about many difficult issues pertaining to the entire globe.

As far as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, many questions will have to be raised.

The most important, in my opinion, will be not whether to move the American embassy to Jerusalem or not, or to turn a blind eye to the illegal Israeli settlements or not, but what to do about Palestinian/Arab-Israeli peace.

The most important question many of us are and will be asking the forthcoming Trump administration is, what is its vision for peace, not chaos, in Palestine?