An old Middle Eastern adage reads: “If you don’t visit the Middle East, the Middle East will visit you.” Such has been the disheartening belief amongst the peoples there on the volatility of their region. Home to one of the longest lingering conflicts on the planet, Middle East remains laden with historical, ideological and political baggage that readily lend themselves to violence. The Israeli Palestinian conflict, the Shi’a-Sunni divide championed by Iran and Saudi Arabia respectively, the failed yet still potentially aggressive and destabilizing Islamist radicalism, as well as some of the most corrupt regimes in the world, all make for a sense of insecurity blended with political intrigue and uncertainty.

President Trump’s gallant attempt to formalize an end to the Palestinian issue is as admirable as it is incomplete. The expansion of the Abraham Accords to include Uzbekistan, and others on their way, will go a long way in breaking the taboo in establishing diplomatic relations with Israel. Yet more is required. Hamas, politically bankrupt amongst Arabs and militarily disabled, should be pressured to leave the political arena. The rich Arab nations should be asked to use all their financial and cultural prowess to nudge the radical Palestinians into a more amenable and constructive frame of mind. Israel should also be encouraged to go back to the negotiations of the Palestinian issue.