US can open up peace dialogue

A White House statement hints at a change in policy towards illegal Israeli settlements

Heavy machinery work at a construction site in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Ariel. Ariel Schalit / AP

One of the key questions people in this region have had about the new United States administration concerns its commitment to finding a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Despite a lot of talk, nothing of any substance transpired under Barack Obama’s presidency, and many in the Middle East now look to Donald Trump to break the decades-old stalemate. In campaigning, Mr Trump gave few clues as to his intentions, although his anti-Muslim rhetoric and appeasement of powerful lobbyists suggested that his presidency would be pro-Israel. Announcing that he would move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem appeared to extinguish any hope for Palestinians that America would play a just role in finding a lasting solution to the crisis.

In his first weeks in office, Mr Trump appears to have moderated his position and there is cautious hope that America will not always bend to the will of Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. A statement from the administration this week addresses the contentious issue of Israeli settlement-building on occupied Palestinian territory. While it said it did not see the existence of settlements as an impediment to peace, “the construction of new settlements or the expansion of existing settlements beyond their current borders may not be helpful in achieving that goal”.

Of course, making a statement and implementing a peace initiative are two different things. Critics say that Mr Trump has a history of wavering over this issue and lacks the experience to conduct the tough negotiations that would be necessary to secure a peace deal. This is certainly not something he can make happen via an executive order, but it is encouraging that America still sees that it has a role to play in bringing about peace in the Middle East.

The US has unique leverage over Israel, in no small part due to the billions of dollars in funding it provides, and any hope that there is room for negotiations on the issue of settlements may open up wider dialogue. At least it must be hoped that Mr Netanyahu does not get his own way entirely when he meets Mr Trump next week.