Journal of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Vol. 43, No.1, Fall 2019 U.S. Policy and IsraeliPalestinian Relations Husam Mohamad* Introduction While marginal changes in U.S. policy towards the region may have taken place in recent years, the U.S.’s approach to Israel and the Palestinians has been, and remain, entrenched in the same conventional wisdom and frame of reference that favors Israel against its adversaries.1 Backing Israel at all costs has, at times, created discrepancies and doublestandard policies in U.S. relation with Israel vs. the Palestinians. Also, U.S. policy towards Israel and the Palestinians have often been carried out in conflict with international laws, norms and agreements. Unlike Israel, the Palestinians have been treated by U.S. policymakers with indifference and rejection of their internationally recognized claims.2 This article intends to highlight presidents George W. Bush and Barak Obama’s involvement in Israeli-Palestinian relations, with special attention paid to the peace process. It will also address Donald Trump’s policy towards the region, though the President has not yet been clear on offering plans for advancing the stalled peace process. The conventional wisdom regarding U.S. plans for Israel and the Palestinians is that they are usually revealed during a president’s second term in office, especially when key policy changes are present. Trump has promised that his administration will resolve the Israeli26 *Husam Mohamad is Professor of Political Science at the University of Central Oklahoma. He previously taught at several universities in the U.S., Cyprus, Qatar and the UAE. Husam was the recipient of the Fulbright Scholar Award in 2008, and Brandeis University Fellowship in 2009. He has published several journal articles such as Nationalism & Ethnic Politics, and Third World Quarterly and book chapters, short communications addressing Middle East politics, Israeli-Palestinian relations, U.S. policy toward the Arab and Muslim world, democratization in Arab politics, and Islamist movements across the Arab region. 1 See Kathleen Christison, Perceptions of Palestine, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1999. 2 See John Quigley, The Statehood for Palestine: International Law in the Middle East Conflict, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010. 27 Palestinian conflict. He also shifted U.S. policy towards Israel and the Palestinians on Jerusalem issue during the first term of his presidency. President Trump’s Middle East policy has been mainly focused on: (1) the backing of Israel; (2) advancing U.S. military ties with Saudi Arabia; and (3) threating Iran with sanctions and military confrontation. Trump’s first overseas trip was made to Saudi Arabia and Israel in May 2017. The trip raised more uncertainties about his approach to the peace process. His recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the transfer of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem may have ended the peace process as we know it, and erased the two-state formula from future negotiations.3 Trump’s hands-off approach towards Israel’s policies in the Palestinian territories, his support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen and abandoning of the nuclear deal with Iran unveils some of the hallmarks of his strategy for the region. His administration expressed support for the creation of a Saudi-led military structure that would resemble a NATO like alliance to confront Iran and its allies in the region. Although his relationship with the Saudi regime is solidly strong, Trump’s association with the Palestinians remains absent. Trump has promised to reveal a peace plan that would be likely negotiated with Israel and the Saudis. The plan is referred to as “the deal of the century.” Given the Palestinians’ opposition to Trump’s “deal of the century,” the PA leadership and Hamas, have been absent from the process. Trump’s son-in-law, David Kushner, who has strong ties with the Saudi Crown Prince Mohamad Bin Salman, (MBS) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is in charge of the peace efforts.4 Meanwhile, the President, Congress, and U.S. public regardless of partisan politics continue to support Israel. At the end, Palestinians are likely to reject the plan given that it will be one-sided, and most Israeli politicians are also not too interested in...