Stop Betting Against Israel and Donald Trump

When Donald Trump made his first international trip as our 47th President last month, much was said about why he chose to visit the Middle East. His tour included plenty of pomp and circumstance in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, and he publicly lobbied for their economic investment into the United States.

And yes, critics accused him of trying to personally enrich his Trump brand overseas. But as Trump has proven so many times before, much more is probably happening behind the scenes than anyone can predict.

Trump was working to realign key Middle Eastern countries with Israel, and almost everyone bet against him.

Recently, while all attention was onthe bombs the U.S. dropped on Iran’s nuclear facilities or the missiles flying into Qatar air space in retaliation, few noticed how, suddenly, the same countries Trump visited just weeks ago lined up to quickly condemn Iran – and by proxy through the United States, ally with Israel. As tensions calmed, Trump’s Middle East genius came into focus.

We’ll never know exactly what was discussed behind closed doors in Trump’s private talks with the Arab countries during his trip. But we do know that few people, namely his media critics, ever saw any of his moves coming. In fact, they confidently predicted the opposite.

Just two days before his historic attack on Iran, Trump said he would make a decision “within the next two weeks.” However, on her MSNBC show, The Briefing, former Biden White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki promptly mocked Trump for his apparent inability to make a decision:

So what should we actually take away from Trump’s two-week deadline on Iran? Because that’s what we’re talking about and dealing with now. Well, one likely possibility is that Trump doesn’t want to have to make a decision about this at all. He just wants to keep punting it down the road. He doesn’t mind the speculation, the attention, but he doesn’t want to actually commit to a decision, and it’s not hard to see why.

Likewise, David Frum, over at The Atlantic– just hours before the bombs dropped – declared Trump was going to chicken out:

Trump enjoys wielding power. He flinches from accountability. Days ago, Trump seemed to hunger for entry into Israel’s war. A dramatic victory seemed poised to tumble into somebody’s lap. Why not his? But as the hours passed, Trump reconsidered. Instead of acting, he postponed.

Not exactly tip-of-the-spear analysis.

Yet, incredibly, a ceasefire has been brokered by Trump between Iran and Israel, something that seemed nearly impossible just a few days ago. Is it mission accomplished? Not quite. Victory for Israel is far from being declared over Iran, but the number of countries that lined up to condemn Iran’s escalation was stunning: Egypt, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates all pointed a finger at Iran. Does anyone think that just happened by accident?

Yes, if everything pans out with Iran, Trump would be the obvious winner when it comes to legacy. But that also means Israel wins too – in a historic way!

It’s a fool’s errand to predict any foreign policy outcome in the Middle East. But Trump and Israel’s vision to expand the Abraham Accords is quietly picking up steam. Recent reports say Syria and Lebanon are being considered to join the normalization agreement. Meanwhile, Trump already told us during his crucial trip back in May what his hopes are regarding Saudi Arabia: “It’s my fervent hope, wish, and even my dream that Saudi Arabia . . . will soon be joining the Abraham Accords.”

Perhaps, it’s time to stop betting against Israel and President Trump, and remember God’s covenant with Abram in Genesis 12:2–3.

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.