Just hours after the elected President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced his intention to appoint former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee as the U.S. ambassador to the Israeli occupation, a person known for his unparalleled support for settlement activities, particularly in the West Bank—which he considers part of the "Promised Land," referring to it as "Judea and Samaria."
Extreme Zionist Reactions and Smotrich's Statement
Following Trump's announcement, the extreme Zionist minister Bezalel Smotrich tweeted on "X" stating that 2025 would be the year of "Israeli" sovereignty over "Judea and Samaria," the name used by the occupation for the West Bank. He indicated that he had instructed the settlement administration and the civil administration (which fall under the Ministry of Defense) to begin preparing the necessary infrastructure to implement sovereignty over the West Bank.
Questions About Trump's New Foreign Policy
This situation prompted us to raise questions about the features of the new foreign policy of the upcoming Trump administration, especially regarding the Middle East, which is the focus of global conflict today. While Trump boasts about his unique leadership style, his choices for the ministerial team reveal policies that are likely to be more severe and aggressive towards hot issues, particularly regarding the Palestinian cause and relations with Iran.
Key Figures in Trump's Anticipated Administration
In this article, we will attempt to highlight the key figures chosen by Trump to lead the United States, focusing on their prominent positions regarding regional issues in an effort to understand the shape of the forthcoming foreign policy based on this.
Marco Rubio: Secretary of State
Through Trump's announcements and his team's disclosures, names like Marco Rubio and Mike Huckabee emerge to outline the features of this anticipated administration. Rubio, who is expected to take the position of Secretary of State, is known for his hardline stances against Iran and his unwavering support for the Zionist entity; he is not merely a supporter of the occupation but is considered one of the most prominent voices defending Israel's aggressive policies. He has previously described the Iranian regime as a "terrorist regime" and declared his absolute support for a stringent "Israeli" response to Iran. Such statements provide a clear indication of a U.S. policy that will push for further escalation in the region while maintaining pressure on Iran.
Delay in Iranian Responses
In our estimation, the delay in Iranian responses to the Zionist aggression comes amid Iran's attempts to understand the composition of the upcoming U.S. administration. Additionally, Rubio sees Gaza only as a potential security threat, and his recent statements confirm his rejection of any truce in the Strip, along with his full support for supplying the occupying state with military aid without restrictions, which implies a near-total disregard for the tragedies faced by Palestinians under occupation. Moreover, Trump’s ideas show his desire for the continuation of war in Gaza more than for its cessation and resolution.
Mike Huckabee: U.S. Ambassador to Israel
As for Mike Huckabee, the nominee for the position of U.S. ambassador to the Zionist entity, he elevates the American Israeli alliance to a new level of bias. The man who once stated that there is no such thing as a Palestinian is expected to push for unprecedented support for settlement activities, alongside bolstering the legitimacy of Israeli annexation of the occupied territories. Huckabee does not regard the West Bank as occupied land, but rather as part of "Judea and Samaria," aligning with the extremist right-wing Zionist rhetoric. His positions against the two-state solution and his absolute partisanship for Netanyahu reflect the Trump administration's intention to close the door on any fair political process. This also raises the question of whether sovereignty over the West Bank Trump’s anticipated gift to Netanyahu within any political movement in the region could be, similar to his declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of the Zionist entity following his win in the 2017 elections.
John Ratcliffe: Director of the CIA
In the midst of these troubling choices, the name of John Ratcliffe emerges as a candidate for the position of Director of the CIA, known for his anti-Iran stance, adding another dimension to American security policies. He is expected to push for an increase in intelligence operations against Tehran and its allies in the region, while enhancing intelligence support for the occupation and emphasizing the notion of Jerusalem as the eternal capital of the Jewish people, which highlights an absolute bias that serves the Zionist project at the expense of international law.
Kristi Noem: Secretary of Homeland Security
Domestically, the administration's intentions are reflected in the choice of Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security, lacking security experience, representing more of an ideological approach than a professional one, especially with her support for laws that criminalize criticism of "Israel" under the pretext of anti-Semitism. This trend enhances a global climate that suppresses critical voices against Zionist crimes, and it is not unlikely that Noem will not only tighten laws regarding anti-Semitism but also target previous movements that fall within this framework, particularly student activism in American universities.
Mike Waltz: National Security Advisor
Regarding the broader strategy, the appointment of Mike Waltz as National Security Advisor reflects Trump's intention to adopt a more aggressive policy towards supposed enemies, particularly China, which he strongly opposes. Waltz advocates for empowering Zionists to complete their mission in Gaza, which increases the likelihood of Trump’s administration supporting the continuation of the war in the sector and imposing Zionist plans on the population there. Additionally, the hardline positions towards Iran are reinforced with choices such as Peter Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, who sees targeting Iranian energy production sites as key to crippling Iran’s ability to confront American pressures.
Middle East Focus and Policy Implications
Trump's selections leave no doubt that the Middle East will remain a focal point of interest, with a policy aimed at resolving the conflict through the entrenchment of Zionist dominance and the isolation of Iran, something Netanyahu refers to as the "new Middle East." However, the most concerning aspect is the absence of any political vision for achieving peace or resolving conflicts based on rights.
View on the Palestinian Issue
The Trump administration views the Palestinians merely as an obstacle to the alliance of Arab and Islamic states with the Zionist entity, treating the Palestinian issue as a file to be buried rather than solved.
Anticipated Policies and Regional Repercussions
With these transformations, it appears that the upcoming Trump administration will place additional pressure on the Palestinians and Arab states still seeking fair solutions. The return to a maximum pressure policy on Iran indicates further tensions that could erupt at any moment and undermining any chances for a two-state solution while continuing to support the settlement movement may lead to new waves of Palestinian resistance, especially in the West Bank, at a time when international support for the Palestinian cause is dwindling due to American pressures.
Regional and Global Repercussions
As his assumption of power approaches, Trump realizes that the Middle East is not only a battleground for traditional conflicts but also a test of his administration’s ability to achieve domestic gains through deals aimed at polishing his image before his electoral base. However, these policies could complicate regional situations further, bringing the world back to the tense atmosphere prevalent during his first term, with potentially more severe repercussions for global security and stability.
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