Trump’s Middle East Peace Plan Discussed at Council on Foreign Relations Briefing
On January 29, 2020, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) held a special media briefing called “Trump and the Middle East.” The event brought together three important experts to talk about President Donald J. Trump’s new Middle East peace plan, also known as the “Deal of the Century.” The panel included:
- Martin S. Indyk, distinguished fellow at CFR and former U.S. special envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations
- Steven A. Cook, Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies at CFR
- Ray Takeyh, Hasib J. Sabbagh senior fellow for Middle East studies at CFR
The discussion was led by Lisa Shields, vice president of global communications and media relations at CFR.
Main Points of Trump’s Plan
The speakers focused on the details and possible effects of President Donald J. Trump’s new peace plan for the Middle East. Martin S. Indyk explained the main parts of the plan. He pointed out that the plan gives Israel major benefits, such as:
- Sovereignty over the Jordan Valley
- Recognition of Israeli settlements in the West Bank
The plan also offers a possible path for the Palestinians to create their own state. However, this path comes with strict rules and conditions. Many Palestinians would likely find these requirements too hard to accept. Indyk said, “The plan essentially gives Israel everything it wants and asks the Palestinians to meet a series of conditions before they can even begin to negotiate for a state.”
How Arab States Responded
Steven A. Cook talked about how countries in the region reacted to the plan. He said that most Arab states responded cautiously. Some Gulf countries, like the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, sent representatives to the White House for the announcement. However, they did not fully support or endorse the plan. Cook explained, “The Arab states are balancing their desire to maintain good relations with the Trump administration against their traditional support for the Palestinian cause.”
Changes in U.S. Policy
Ray Takeyh looked at what the plan means for U.S. policy in the Middle East. He said that the Trump administration’s approach is very different from what the U.S. has done before. In the past, the U.S. tried to act as a fair and honest broker in the conflict. Takeyh stated, “This plan is less about achieving peace and more about consolidating the U.S.-Israel relationship.”
Concerns About the Future
During the question-and-answer part of the briefing, journalists asked if the plan could lead to new peace talks or if it might cause more violence. Martin S. Indyk said he doubted the plan would lead to real negotiations, since the Palestinian leaders had already rejected it. Steven A. Cook added that the plan could make divisions among Palestinians even worse, and could also create more distance between Palestinian groups and Arab states. Ray Takeyh warned that the plan might raise tensions in the region, especially if people see it as trying to force a solution without agreement from the Palestinians.
- The plan might increase tensions in the region, particularly if it is perceived as an attempt to impose a solution without Palestinian consent.
- The Trump plan represented a dramatic departure from previous peace initiatives and would likely have long-term consequences for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and U.S. standing in the Middle East.
Key Takeaways from the Briefing
- The Trump plan gives Israel major concessions, including sovereignty over the Jordan Valley and recognition of Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
- It offers Palestinians a possible state, but only if they meet strict conditions that many find unacceptable.
- Most Arab states responded with caution and did not fully endorse the plan, even if they sent representatives to the White House.
- The Trump administration’s approach marks a big change from past U.S. efforts to be a neutral peacemaker.
- Experts believe the plan could increase tensions and have long-lasting effects on the region and America’s role there.
The full transcript of the event is available on the Council on Foreign Relations website.