Dr. Sabri Saidam: We look forward to different positions from Trump that are capable of responding to the changes in the Palestinian and regional realities

Dr. Hassan Ayoub: There is no positive change in Washington’s dealings with the Palestinian issue, and the leadership must take proactive steps

Dr. Dalal Erekat: The Authority must adopt a pragmatic approach with the Trump administration and deal with any new political decisions with caution and awareness

Sari Samour: Trump's new era may be different from the previous one, and what is required is not to give Netanyahu the opportunity to monopolize it

Dr. Saad Nimr: The authority has one choice: to adhere to the path of resistance, strengthen unity, and not return to its policies before October 7

Muhannad Abdul Hamid: Trump's policies revealed the harsh face of American standards, and it is not in our interest to sever relations with any administration

Donald Trump's return to the White House raises many questions about the impact of this return on the Palestinian issue and the future of relations with the United States, after his previous presidency witnessed major shifts in American policy towards the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which raises concerns about Trump's future policies.

Leaders, writers, political analysts, university professors and specialists, in separate interviews with “I”, hope that Trump’s promises to stop the war on Palestine, especially in the Gaza Strip, will turn into actual steps, and that Trump will move towards ending policies that deepen the Palestinian crisis, such as annexing the West Bank.

They stress that President Mahmoud Abbas's congratulations to Trump are a diplomatic, protocol step, but could be an opportunity to strengthen relations if the future US administration's policies towards the Palestinian issue change, amidst emphasis on the importance of opening channels of communication with the US administration to ensure the protection of Palestinian interests and enhance the status of the Palestinians as an active party in the region, while being cautious of any new policy that the Trump administration might present, especially if it tries to revive the "Deal of the Century."

Talk of pledges to annex Palestinian lands deepens the crisis

Dr. Sabri Saidam, Deputy Secretary of the Central Committee of the Fatah Movement, explains the vision of the Palestinian people and leadership regarding the return of President Donald Trump to the White House, and said: We hope that we will see together a different version of the Trump we have experienced, capable of responding to the changes in the Palestinian and regional reality.

Saedam expressed his desire that this time Trump would be interested in addressing the roots of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and its ongoing dimensions, and its effects on the stability of the entire region, and not return to previous policies that were based on normalization with Arab countries and ignoring the rights of the Palestinians.

Saidam points out that Trump's current promises to some Arab and Palestinian voters, which include the need to stop the war on Palestine, must be transformed into actual steps.

Saedam stresses the importance of Trump moving towards a radical and comprehensive solution to the conflict, instead of returning to futile plans, or implementing the idea of annexing the West Bank to Israel.

In this context, Saidam believes that talk of pledges to annex Palestinian lands deepens the crisis and leads to more destruction and devastation, which makes it urgent to have a different approach that focuses on Palestinian rights in accordance with international legitimacy.

Speaking about what is required of the Trump administration, Saidam stresses the need to take tangible political and sovereign steps to support the Palestinian people and the Palestinian National Authority, and to break away from the traditional way of dealing with the conflict, which has entrenched the injustice of the Palestinians.

Saidam believes that among the important pivotal steps is stopping Israel’s attempts to assassinate the Palestinian identity through the weapons of displacement and oppression, stopping Israel’s steps towards the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), putting an end to withholding funds from the Authority, opening the Palestine Liberation Organization office in the American capital, Washington, which was closed during Trump’s first term, as well as reopening the American consulate in East Jerusalem. These demands restore the balance of relations and confirm America’s respect for its international commitments.

Regarding President Mahmoud Abbas’s contact with President-elect Donald Trump, Saidam explains that these contacts fall within diplomatic and protocol norms, stressing that the Palestinian leadership has always affirmed its commitment to respecting democracy and the results of the American elections, and looks forward to dealing with any new administration that is elected.

However, Saidam sees in these contacts an opportunity to consolidate new relations based on changes in the elected US administration's policies towards Palestine.

Saidam stresses that the Palestinian leadership wants to see a new American position based on a deeper understanding of Palestinian rights.

Abu Mazen's congratulations to Trump are a traditional diplomatic move

Dr. Hassan Ayoub, Professor of Political Science at An-Najah National University and a specialist in American affairs, confirms that the features of the policy of US President-elect Donald Trump are characterized by a deep desire for personal revenge and achieving political victories for Israel at the expense of Palestinian rights.

Ayoub points out that President Mahmoud Abbas’s congratulations to Trump after his election were a traditional diplomatic move that did not result in any tangible improvement in the tense relationship with Republican American administrations, a relationship that has historically been described as bad, especially with the Trump administration’s commitment to its election promises that deepened unlimited support for Israel.

Ayoub explains that President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority often waited for American policies rather than formulating proactive plans, relying on a methodology of comparing the bad with the worst in American administrations.

However, according to Ayoub, this approach only weakens the Palestinian position, stressing the need for a clear and specific plan on how to deal with any American administration.

Ayoub points out that the Trump administration in his first term was full of influential Zionist figures, which directly affected the adoption of decisions that strengthened Israel’s position in the region and gave it the freedom to implement expansionist plans in Gaza and the West Bank, and their return means proceeding to deepen those policies.

"We should not expect any positive change in Washington's dealings with the Palestinian issue," Ayoub says. "But we must prepare for a phase that may be more bloody and more brutal."

Ayoub asserts that American policy towards the Palestinians is unlikely to witness any improvement, but may rather head towards further deterioration and excessive support for Israel.

Ayoub believes that the Palestine Liberation Organization must take proactive steps instead of waiting for the new US administration to implement its policies, calling for unifying the Palestinian ranks, strengthening the position in international forums, and continuing to strive to implement UN resolutions that support Palestinian rights.

Ayoub issued a stern warning about the next stage, saying: “We as Palestinians are facing a real challenge to our existence on our land,” stressing that the factions and the PLO face a historical responsibility that requires them to unify efforts and put their internal affairs in order to confront the challenges.

Ayoub stresses that the Palestinians have no choice but to strengthen their unity and work collectively to confront the US-backed Israeli policies, stressing that this stage requires effective strategies to adhere to Palestinian rights and continue political resistance on the international scene.

Ayoub stresses the importance of adhering to international resolutions that support the Palestinian cause, calling for not hesitating to deepen cooperation with international institutions, and to take advantage of any opportunity to strengthen the Palestinian position against the unlimited support provided by the United States of America to Israel, with the aim of thwarting any attempts to undermine Palestinian rights to land and homeland.

Palestinian work to build international alliances

Dr. Dalal Erekat, Professor of Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at the Arab American University, believes that the Palestinian Authority must adopt a pragmatic approach in dealing with the Donald Trump administration after his election victory, in a way that ensures the protection of Palestinian interests and enhances the status of the Palestinians as an active and influential party in the region. Instead of creating opposites, the Palestinians must work to build international alliances.

Erekat confirms that among the options available to the Authority after Trump’s return: President Mahmoud Abbas should form a Palestinian team specializing in diplomacy and foreign policy to deal thoughtfully, nationally, and pragmatically with the new administration, as well as strengthening national unity by ending the internal division and unifying the Palestinian ranks by forming a national consensus government to confront common challenges.

Among the available options, also, is activating international diplomacy by working with the international community to reaffirm Palestinian rights in accordance with international resolutions, and also adopting pragmatism in dealing with Washington by maintaining communication with the US administration and Trump’s team in a way that serves Palestinian interests, enhances the chances of ending the war, and ensures preserving Gaza as part of the Palestinian state.

Regarding President Abbas's congratulations to Trump, Erekat stressed that it is an important and mandatory diplomatic step that confirms the desire to open constructive channels of communication.

Erekat stresses that it is not in the interest of the Palestinians to create opposites; rather, it is necessary to adopt pragmatism and build alliances to achieve Palestinian goals, as well as open bridges of communication with the US administration because this contributes to enhancing the chances of ending the war and enhances the chances of stability in the region.

Erekat believes that there is always an opportunity to change policies, and it is necessary to prepare a specialized Palestinian team to deal pragmatically with the new Republican administration, especially if international pressure is activated and work is done with allies.

Erekat stresses that lessons must be learned from the previous experience with the Trump administration, which adopted the Abraham Accords policy that excluded the Palestinian side, and that lessons must be learned by strengthening the importance of involving the Palestinians as a primary party.

Erekat stresses that the presence of the Palestinians ensures respect for international law and international legitimacy, and enhances the parties’ commitment to solutions that are consistent with the resolutions of the United Nations and international courts, which contributes to achieving a real peace that takes into account the interests of all parties on a win-win basis.

On the other hand, Erekat confirms that the Palestinian Authority previously rejected the "Deal of the Century" because it did not include the Palestinians as a major player, in addition to its departure from international legitimacy. However, pragmatism requires dealing with any new political decisions with caution and awareness.

Erekat believes that if the new US administration led by Trump tries to revive the “Deal of the Century,” it must include the Palestinian side to ensure sustainable and realistic solutions, with a focus on ending the war and ensuring that Gaza is part of the Palestinian state.

Erekat stresses that recognition of the state is not the goal in itself; rather, the goal is achieved through a fully sovereign Palestinian state that guarantees the end of the occupation and clearly defines the borders of the State of Israel in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions.

Erekat stresses that the most important lesson to be learned from the Trump administration’s experience and the Abraham Accords is that excluding the Palestinians will not contribute to achieving real peace.

Erekat believes that, based on this, it is necessary to adopt pragmatism in politics, and to remain an influential party and a key partner to ensure a future that preserves the rights of the Palestinians and achieves stability in the region, in accordance with the principles of international law and solutions that guarantee the interests of all parties, as the Palestinians have no choice but to transform realistic challenges into opportunities.

It is too early to talk about a strategic change in the American position.

Writer and political analyst Sari Samour asserts that it is too early to determine the options of the Palestinian Authority or any other party regarding Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidency, as matters are still unclear.

Despite the state of anticipation, Samour points out that previous experiences confirm that any American administration, whether Democratic or Republican, places Israel's interests above all else.

Samour stresses that there has not been an American administration, so far, that has seriously stood by the rights of the Palestinian people, even if it has issued satisfactory statements at times. On the ground, no real support for the Palestinian cause has been translated, which calls for caution in anticipating expectations and talking about the possibilities of change.

On the other hand, Samour explains that President Mahmoud Abbas's call to Trump to congratulate him on the victory is a routine protocol procedure that does not carry major political dimensions.

In the context of his discussion of the criticism directed at such contact, Samour points out that these contacts do not shape general policies, but are rather part of the diplomatic norms to which the Palestinian Authority adheres.

However, he points to some advice the authority is receiving from Arab activists in the United States, who stress the need not to allow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to single out Trump.

According to Samour, these activists believe that maintaining relations with the US administration and not completely severing them may give the Palestinians opportunities to adjust the balance, especially if Washington shows signs of discontent with Israel’s actions.

Samour points to the reality of the volatile American policy, explaining that the United States changes its directions based on its interests and the balance of power.

Samour asserts that the Al-Aqsa Flood event on October 7 of last year created a new reality that the Palestinian Authority can build on, especially with the Trump administration known for its financial scarcity.

Samour touches on Trump's position on the large financial aid that Israel receives, indicating that he was not impressed with the provision of aid amounting to $30 billion, and expressed reservations about the continuation of this generous support, which may open the way to reconsidering the military and economic support provided to Israel.

Despite these signs, Samour explains that it is too early to talk about a strategic change in the American position towards the Palestinian issue.

However, Samour believes that the new Trump era may be different from the previous one, with the possibility that he will take a new approach to the Middle East.

Samour points out that Trump, in light of the bloodshed in Gaza, may avoid seeking to conclude the “Abraham 2” agreements or pushing Arab states towards new normalization with Israel, without offering anything tangible to the Palestinians, but the American commitment to Israel’s security remains within a fixed strategy that does not change with the change of administrations.

Samour talks about the tense relations between Trump and Netanyahu, highlighting that Trump may not give Netanyahu the same political gifts he received during his first term.

October 7th has become the basis for changes that cannot be ignored.

Dr. Saad Nimr, Professor of Political Science at Birzeit University, believes that October 7 was a turning point that changed many facts on the Palestinian scene, as well as on the regional and international levels, as this date is considered a global turning point in the course of events, and has become the basis for many changes that cannot be ignored.

Nimr explains that the Palestinian Authority has one strategic choice: to commit to the path of resistance, strengthen national unity, and not return to the patterns of thinking and policies that prevailed before October 7.

Nimr points out that thinking with a mentality that preceded this historic milestone is not in anyone’s interest, stressing that the new data forces the Palestinian Authority to re-evaluate its policies and plans.

According to Nimr, the current situation requires the Palestinian leadership to work immediately to unify the national ranks and invest in the results of October 7.

These results, according to Nimr, revealed the fragility of the Israeli narrative before the world and pushed the Palestinian issue to the forefront once again, which calls for building on these political and diplomatic gains instead of looking back to the past.

Regarding the Palestinian Authority’s relationship with the United States of America after Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, Nimr confirms that President Mahmoud Abbas’ congratulations to Trump will not actually affect the nature of bilateral relations, because they are essentially diplomatic and protocol-based.

Nimr comments that what really matters is how the Palestinian Authority deals with the Trump administration’s policies, explaining that the Authority needs to prepare to face the challenges that the new US administration may impose based on its policies in the region.

The key question, Nimr explains, is whether the Trump administration will support a just solution to the Palestinian issue, or continue to support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies that aim to eliminate any possibility of an independent Palestinian state.

Nimr stresses that dealing with the United States must be based on the nature of actual American decisions and actions, especially if they relate to reviving the “Deal of the Century,” which he describes as originally rejected by the Palestinians.

Even if Trump comes back and presents a modified version of the Deal of the Century, Nimr believes that it may be harsher than what was previously proposed, given Netanyahu’s absolute rejection of any form of Palestinian state in the West Bank.

Nimr asserts that the chances of changing US policy towards Palestine are very slim, because the relationship between the United States and Israel is strategic and governed by the interests of the deep state in Washington, not by a change in administrations or governments.

This relationship, as Nimr explains, continues regardless of political figures, whether they are Republican or Democratic American presidents, or even Israeli prime ministers from the left, right, or the most extreme right. Disagreements may arise between a particular American administration and a particular Israeli government, but that does not affect the solid foundation of the strategic relationship.

As for the Palestinian Authority’s position, Nimr describes it as having become marginal in light of the accelerating events. Therefore, Nimr reiterates his call for the Authority to adhere more closely to its people and focus on strengthening national unity as a basic condition for confronting any future plans that may be proposed by the Trump administration or others.

Finding a political solution to the Palestinian issue has become necessary.

Journalist Muhannad Abdul Hamid explains that the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization have suffered a bitter experience with successive American administrations, especially during the rule of the previous administration of President Donald Trump.

According to Abdel Hamid, Trump's policies have revealed the harsh face of American standards followed by both party institutions, Democratic and Republican, which are based primarily on promoting American interests only, with little regard for Palestinian rights.

Abdul Hamid points out that Palestine, in the eyes of American policy, was not and will not be an area for achieving strategic gains, unless these interests are directly threatened.

Abdul Hamid points out that the policies of the axis of resistance and defiance in the region, and what the United States, Israel and other Western countries considered a threat to their security, caused major negative repercussions on the Palestinian cause. These policies were included in the category of “terrorism” that must be eradicated, which gave international cover to the practices of the Israeli occupation and its agendas.

Abdul Hamid asserts that the Palestinian Authority has no choice but to focus on the hypothesis that finding a political solution to the Palestinian issue has become necessary to ensure regional and international stability. This solution strategically serves important countries, such as Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf States, which see the solution to the Palestinian issue as a means to avoid chaos and successive explosions. It may also prevent Iran from exploiting the Palestinian issue as a tool to enhance its influence in the region.

In light of the ongoing Israeli aggression and war of extermination against the Palestinian people, Abdul Hamid believes that an international solution to the conflict has become more urgent and necessary. The International Court of Justice has issued a recommendation to end the occupation within a year, and there is an increasing number of European countries that recognize the Palestinian state as part of their efforts to activate this solution on the ground, in addition to the great support provided by countries such as Russia and China, and the support of the majority of the United Nations General Assembly for the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

But this international support, according to Abdel Hamid, is in sharp contrast to the positions of Netanyahu's far-right nationalist government, and also clashes with the Biden administration's policy, which further complicates the situation.

Abdul Hamid stresses that the challenge is now doubled with the victory of Trump, the author of the “Deal of the Century” plan, which blatantly contradicts any fair international solution to the Palestinian issue. This new situation will make the task of the Authority and the PLO more difficult, and presents them with a single option: intensive work to stop any further deterioration, fortify the foundations of steadfastness, and build strong alliances that prevent the implementation of policies to annex the Jordan Valley and other parts of the West Bank.

Abdul Hamid stresses that at this critical stage, it is not in the Palestinians’ interest to sever relations with any US administration, although it is unrealistic to expect major changes in the new Trump administration’s policies without significant international pressure.

The impact on American and international policy lies primarily, according to Abdul Hamid, in rebuilding the internal Palestinian situation and developing its administrative and political structure to enhance the people’s steadfastness and energies, while opening effective channels of communication with global allies, especially within the United States. American youth circles, especially in universities and influential social movements, have shown a tangible change in their positions supporting Palestinian rights, and even some progressive Jewish organizations and members of Congress are showing serious support for the cause.

Abdul Hamid stresses that the Palestinians must benefit from every positive position and the accumulation of elements of international support that can be transformed into policies that serve their rights.

Abdul Hamid points out that what is primarily important to the Trump administration is achieving diplomatic accomplishments in the region, such as signing normalization agreements between Saudi Arabia and Israel, while activating the Abraham Accords, which are now suffering from a state of stagnation. However, it is certain that any disregard for the Palestinian cause, or the use of these agreements as a cover to liquidate the rights of the Palestinians, will be met with a solid wall of popular Arab and Islamic support for the cause, which will reproduce the equation of false peace with the regimes and hostility with the people.

Abdul Hamid believes that Saudi Arabia seems to have learned this lesson, as it has linked the signing of any normalization agreement to a just solution to the Palestinian issue and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Today, Saudi Arabia, along with the European Union and prominent Arab and Islamic countries, is leading an initiative calling for the implementation of the two-state solution, based on the recognition of the State of Palestine by 149 countries.

Abdul Hamid wonders whether the Trump administration will be able to ignore this initiative and empty it of its content. If it succeeds in doing so, it will reproduce the “Deal of the Century” and the Abraham Accords in the face of the Arab peoples, which will further fuel the conflict.