Omar H. Rahman is a writer, analyst and journalist specializing in middle east politics and american foreign policy.

By Punishing Palestinians, Trump Could Plunge the Middle East Deeper Into Turmoil

Donald Trump’s first State of the Union address last week may have been mild by his standards. But while generally lacking in inflammatory rhetoric, the speech wasn’t devoid of it altogether. In a moment that deserves more attention than it received, Trump referred to a vast swath of countries, including many U.S. allies, as “enemies of America.”

Those three words, which did not appear in the prepared text released by the White House before Trump’s address, were directed at the 128 countries that backed a December resolution at the United Nations General Assembly condemning the Trump administration’s unilateral decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. ...

Read the full article at World Politics Review.

Saudi Arabia Hedges Its Bets Through Closer Relations With Russia