Less than a week after he withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, US president Donald Trump ignited political chaos in the Middle East as Gaza erupted into violence. But the violence that was spurred on Monday by the move has exposed the political naivety and lack of strategic vision that appears to characterise Trump’s foreign policy instincts. The 37-year-old businessman, who had no political experience before his appointment as Trump’s special adviser over a year ago, was given the Middle East brief when he joined the White House. Ceremonial cheersKushner has also continued to focus on America’s Middle East policy and retains a desk in the West Wing despite losing his top-level security clearance earlier this year. There is a belief in Washington that this change in direction – and apparent thaw in relations between Tel Aviv and Riyadh – could kick-start the moribund Middle East process.

Source: The Irish Times May 14, 2018 20:51 UTC