Ever since Donald Trump became president of the United States, the Middle East has been abuzz with speculation about what exactly he intends to do in the region. There has been much talk about his plans for attacking the self-declared Islamic State, getting tough on Iran and strengthening ties with Israel.
But there is another idea that is making the rounds. According to a number of reports, Trump is aiming to forge a new security alliance, with Arab countries at the core, along with the U.S. and, in what would constitute a groundbreaking development, Israel.
It is noteworthy that in the Arab world, the Trump presidency has been received with cautious optimism, in contrast with the sharply negative reception of Trump’s unorthodox pronouncements in other parts of the world.