The Future of Palestine in the Age of Trump: Is there Hope?
By Michaela Schrum/Contributing Writer
Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and presidential advisor, met with both Palestinian and Israeli officials on August 24 to discuss what some are hoping will produce a comprehensive peace initiative to be implemented in the future. Former U.S. presidents have had this conflict on their to-do lists for a while now. With each new president comes a new agenda with a goal to end the Palestinian/Israeli conflict and a new attempt at peace talks. So what makes this time so special? Is Trump a wild card?
When President Trump first started on the campaign trail, he was very adamant in his pro-Israel stances, which helped him to get the far-right vote and terrified the left, including many Arab Americans and Muslims. His statement about wanting to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem marked him as extremely pro-Israel and against Palestinian sovereignty.
But since his election, the president has taken somewhat a more indecisive tone. When asked for his stance on a two state solution, Trump famously remarked: “I’m looking at two-state and one-state, and I like what both parties like. I can live with either.” While this has raised the eyebrows of many, it has also created a sliver of hope that is unique to the Trump administration.
When asked about Palestinian’s views on the new American administration, Omar Baddar, the deputy Director of the Arab American Institute (AAI) in Washington D.C remarked: “I think some Palestinian officials expressed hope about the Trump administration out of desperation because they see no diplomatic avenue to pursue their goals, so they try to appeal to President Trump’s ego, hoping this might move him to apply pressure on Israel.”
Baddar elaborated saying that there is no reason, as of yet, to say that President Trump will take the rights of the Palestinian people into consideration and apply pressure on Israeli officials to end the UN recognized violations in Palestine. This is due to the advisors Trump surrounds himself with and their historically staunch stances for the Israeli Defense Force and against Palestinian human rights.
Mazin Qumsiyeh who is a Palestinian scientist, author, and the director of the Palestine Museum of Natural History detailed that “The executive branch of the US has to obey the lobbies in DC and the Israel lobby is the strongest, and so it makes no difference if Clinton or Obama or Hillary or Bush or Trump are presidents. They engage in wars to serve Israel.”
This sentiment is shared by many, including Omar Baddar. “There are no signs of immediate hope, especially with other crises in the region, as well as domestic turmoil in the US over Charlottesville and the administration’s response.” But in the long term, Baddar is hopeful that the United States and the international community will show more value for human rights.“When Israel violates international law and its international obligations towards Palestinians, there should be consequences.”
Finally, Arab America was graciously given the opportunity to speak to the Palestinian ambassador to the United States, Dr. Husam Zomlot. We asked him how he felt the negotiations in process were progressing. He replied that he feels hopeful about the situation due to Trump’s interest in continuing dialogue between Palestine and Israel.When asked if he would have to compromise anything in these talks to achieve a solution, the ambassador said: “Peace is not about compromise, it is about engagement. The Palestinian people are entitled to human rights that have been denied to them. We are ready to settle this.”
It would appear that like presidents of the past, Trump is also ready for this conflict to be settled. Despite the small advances in this conflict, it has not been solved. The ideal solution of this conflict will see justice and peace delivered to the people of Palestine and Israel. What a legacy for that presiding presidency.
