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The Conversation
Politics
Amin Saikal, Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies, Australian National University

Donald Trump fancies himself a skilled dealmaker, but Middle East peace might be beyond him

Donald Trump Israel Middle East Hamas Hezbollah Benjamin Netanyahu Lebanon Iran United States Gaza

Donald Trump’s re-election as the US president last week comes at a time of extreme volatility in the Middle East.

The president-elect has promised to end all wars. In his usual impulsive and unpredictable manner, he has pledged to resolve the Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office and help Israel finish its Gaza and Lebanon operations quickly.

Yet the Middle East is a complex place. Trump will have much difficulty balancing his ardent support of Israel and his other ambitions in the region, especially given the changing dynamics between Iran and its rival, Saudi Arabia.

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