Arab leaders congratulate Trump but wonder if he can end Mideast wars as promised

AMMAN, JORDAN — 

Arab leaders rapidly congratulated Donald Trump connected his U.S. statesmanlike predetermination victory. Some are hopeful helium could bring an extremity to conflicts raging successful the Middle East portion others are looking for a stronger stance against Iran.

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, United Arab Emirates leaders, and Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, each congratulated Donald Trump connected his win, saying strengthening strategical partnerships is important.

Dania Koleilat Khatib, president of the Research Center for Cooperation and Peace Building successful Beirut, told VOA that during the election, Trump emphasized idiosyncratic ties with specified leaders compared to what she called Biden’s much transactional approach.

Khatib said Arab leaders privation Trump to extremity warfare successful Gaza and Lebanon.

“One of his main run promises was to extremity the warfare successful Gaza. But extremity it how? Would it extremity with a Palestinian state? We don’t know,” she said. “The happening that is worrying is [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu attacking Iran. This volition beryllium major. Handling Iran volition not beryllium casual for Trump.”

Bin Salman has reiterated that his state would not see improving ties with Israel unless the Gaza warfare ended and a Palestinian authorities is established.

Wealthy Gulf states person bolstered ties with Iran and fixed the Islamic Republic assurances that they won't let Israel to usage their airspace to facilitate attacks connected Iran.

In its effect to the elections, Iran played down the results, saying it was acceptable for confrontation with Israel.

Jordan’s King Abdullah, Egypt’s Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Makati, who are progressive successful trying to negociate an extremity to the raging conflicts, besides congratulated Trump.

Analyst Osama Al Sharif successful Amman said helium believes Trump volition unit Netanyahu to extremity the conflicts earlier the statesmanlike inauguration adjacent year.

“He volition boldly archer Netanyahu ... to wrapper things up earlier the 20th of January due to the fact that those 2 wars, particularly Gaza, person go truthful toxic and they person go portion of the [President Joe] Biden stigma, which was besides yet inflicted connected [Vice President Kamala] Harris,” helium said.

“Trump doesn’t request to commencement his archetypal time astatine the bureau with much quality of children getting killed and hospitals being blown up.”

Al Sharif told VOA that Iran volition beryllium a large situation for Trump, who helium says is an “isolationist who wants to extract America from immoderate conflict.” He predicted Trump whitethorn tighten sanctions connected Iran.

“More sanctions,” helium said. “He whitethorn beryllium capable to pass with Tehran done [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, who is present a precise adjacent state of the Iranians. That remains to beryllium seen.”

Al Sharif, however, expressed interest that Trump mightiness admit Israel’s annexation of astir of the West Bank nether Israel’s existent hard close government, which helium said “would complicate things dramatically” for the Palestinians and Jordan.