Josh Hammer
Newsweek Senior Editor-at-Large And Host,
"The Josh Hammer Show"

During President Donald Trump's first term in office, there was arguably no more successful part of his tenure than American foreign policy. And while Trump spearheaded numerous bold initiatives across the globe, including meeting face-to-face with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un and becoming the first president since Richard Nixon's fateful trip to Beijing to begin to unwind the American economy from the preying talons of Communist China, it was the ever-volatile Middle East where Trump had the biggest impact and left perhaps the deepest impression.

In brokering the Abraham Accords peace deals between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, Trump did more to secure a broader Arab-Israeli regional rapprochement than any other statesman had done in an entire generation. The Accords constituted a remarkable achievement, but arguably even more remarkable was how straightforward the process was that eventually yielded them. Simply put, the Accords directly resulted from an American diplomacy and statecraft predicated upon rewarding and emboldening America's regional friends (Israel and the non-Islamist Arab nations, such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt) and isolating America's regional enemies (the Muslim Brotherhood and above all, the terrorist Iranian regime).

Now, with President Trump returning to the Gulf this week for the first official foreign visit of his second term, the relevant question is: Will the Abraham Accords continue to pave the way for Trump's Middle East policy, or will he be dragged in a different direction?

Saudi Arabia, the world's most important Sunni Muslim state, has long been the missing crown jewel of the Abraham Accords. But in order to properly induce Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords circle of peace with Israel, as Trump practically begged Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to do yesterday only after the signing of a $600 billion-plus investment deal, it is imperative that Iran first be thoroughly isolated. After all, the entire raison d'être, as I just explained in a new op-ed, is to foster Israeli-Arab rapprochement in the service of containing the menacing Iranian regime. Throw in some additional troubling data points, such as the new Boeing 747-8 "gift" from the duplicitous Qatari government and the premature end to the American-led anti-Houthi campaign in Yemen, and the picture starts to look even more complicated.

Suffice it to say that the signals being sent by the Trump administration right now are decidedly mixed.

In order to maximize the chances of success, peace, and stability in the Middle East, it is crucial that President Trump reject the loud pro-Tehran and pro-Doha voices both within his administration and among the outside commentariat. The president must double down on that which made his first-term Middle East foreign policy so successful: Rewarding and emboldening America's friends, and punishing and isolating America's enemies. That means isolating the fanatical regime in Iran and rejecting Qatar's brazen attempts at bribery or influence-peddling at the highest levels of American government. And it means supporting Israel to the hilt in its multifront war against genocidal jihadist evil.

Mr. President, there is no need to overthink this. The recipe to the Middle East isn't exactly a mystery. Just copy what you did the first time! But start making the necessary changes now, before it's too late.

To keep up with everything I'm doing, make sure to follow me on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Facebook. You can listen to all episodes of "The Josh Hammer Show" at the Newsweek website or on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts—as well as on select radio stations across the country. And last but certainly not least: If you have not already done so, make sure to order my debut book, which just came out in March, Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West! (Signed copies are also available for purchase!)

Our additional highlighted recent Newsweek op-eds include selections from Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.), Asaf Romirowsky, and Qanta Ahmed.

Have a great rest of your week! We'll be back next week.

LM Otero/AP
Mutually Assured Law Enforcement Destruction

Earlier this week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided at least nine restaurants in the nation's capital, requesting proof that the establishments are not flouting the law by employing illegal aliens. Washington, D.C., presents itself as a so-called sanctuary city for illegal aliens, so the mere fact ICE agents targeted a few businesses there is hardly surprising.

What is perhaps more newsworthy is the specific names associated with those raided restaurants. One of those restaurants, Chef Geoff's, is owned by Geoff Tracy, the husband of CBS News anchor and former vice presidential debate co-moderator Norah O'Donnell. Another of the raided restaurants is owned by former Biden White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, and a third is owned by the left-wing activist Spanish restaurateur, José Andrés.

Following the raids, a predictable debate has unfolded: Did the Trump administration "politicize" law enforcement by siccing ICE agents on White House critics and foes?

Listen to the latest episode of
The Josh Hammer Show Here

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