The Ferengi path to peace in the Middle East
Rule of Acquisition #35: “Peace is good for business.”
See updates through May 12, 2025, at end of post.
I was surprised[1] when Donald Trump announced a ceasefire with the Houthis, in large part because he left Israel out of the peace.[2] But it turns out that this is far from the only way that Trump seems to have abandoned not just Binyamin Netanyahu specifically but Israel generally.[3]
An analysis in the Times of Israel points to U.S. direct talks with Hamas, Trump’s refusal to drop tariffs on Israel, direct negotiations with Iran on nuclear development possibly heading toward an agreement similar to the one Netanyahu rejected[4] (and which Trump withdrew from, calling it “defective at its core,” in his first term[5]), Trump’s planned summit with Arab countries but not with Israel, renewed U.S. pressure on Israel to let aid into Gaza, Trump’s dropping of a demand that Saudi Arabia “recognize Israel as part of a broader pact with the United States,” and Pete Hegseth’s cancellation of a visit to Israel (he will instead join Trump on the summit with Arab countries).[6]
At first blush, that may sound like the Zionist ‘Masada syndrome,’ which attributes to many Jews a “feeling of a constant, looming risk of persecution,” citing “a ceremonial text used during the Jewish holiday of Passover [which] says, ‘Each and every generation they rise up against us to destroy us.’”[7] But first there is the substance of that Times of Israel analysis.[8]
And second, in the Guardian, Simon Tisdall points to the leverage Arab countries have over Trump, even attributing the ceasefire with the Houthis to that leverage. He marvels that “a bunch of entitled, unelected autocrats is showing a US president how to do the right thing” on a wide range of issues including “intense pressure [on Trump] to end Israel’s blockade [on Gaza] and reinstate the ceasefire [with Hamas],” “to curb Israel’s military operations in Lebanon and especially in Syria,” and to possibly revive that “2015 US-Europe nuclear pact with Iran (which he witlessly reneged on in 2018).”[9]
Trump, it seems, “is desperate to keep oil prices low. And he covets multibillion dollar Middle East investment deals and arms sales.” Naturally—we are talking about our grifter-in-chief after all—“there will be plenty of openings for Trump family businesses, too, if a recent Qatar luxury golf resort deal is any guide.”[10]
One of the species in the Star Trek universe is the Ferengi, who are greedy and often short-sighted (to put it generously) capitalists. Where we speak of grift, they would look at us askance—we speak of it like it’s a bad thing. Like Trump, like Arab leaders, they are misogynistic and authoritarian. It’s very much looking like they may also be our guide to understanding what comes next in the Middle East.
Update, May 11, 2025: I don’t have a lot of detail on this but, according to Drop Site News, “Hamas and the United States announced an agreement today that will lead to the freeing of Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, a dual American citizen, ahead of President Donald Trump’s trip to the region. Israel was reportedly not involved in the discussions, but informed about the deal afterward. Israeli airstrikes have intensified throughout the day. ‘I think we'll have to detox from US security assistance,’ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concluded today.”[11]
Update, May 12, 2025: The Guardian offers a bit more clarity on the expected release of Edan Alexander: “The office of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said in a statement: ‘The US has informed Israel of Hamas’s intention to release soldier Edan Alexander as a gesture to the Americans, without conditions or anything in exchange. The US has conveyed to Israel that this is expected to lead to negotiations for the release of hostages according to the original Witkoff framework, which Israel has already accepted. Israel is preparing for the possibility that this effort will be implemented.’
“In a later statement, his office added: ‘Israel has not committed to a ceasefire of any kind or the release of terrorists but only to a safe corridor that will allow for the release of Edan.’”[12]
[1] David Benfell, “The Houthis capitulated?” Not Housebroken, May 8, 2025, https://www.disunitedstates.org/p/the-houthis-capitulated
[2] Murtaza Hussain, Shuaib Almosawa, and Ryan Grim, “Trump Marveled at Houthi ‘Bravery.’ Here’s Why,” Drop Site News, May 8, 2025, https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/houthis-ansar-allah-israel-tel-aviv-ben-gurion-airport-trump-us
[3] Ben Sales, “‘Honey, he’s had enough of you’: Trump’s Mideast moves increasingly seem to sideline Israel,” Times of Israel, May 10, 2025, https://www.timesofisrael.com/honey-hes-had-enough-of-you-trumps-mideast-moves-increasingly-seem-to-sideline-israel/
[4] Ben Sales, “‘Honey, he’s had enough of you’: Trump’s Mideast moves increasingly seem to sideline Israel,” Times of Israel, May 10, 2025, https://www.timesofisrael.com/honey-hes-had-enough-of-you-trumps-mideast-moves-increasingly-seem-to-sideline-israel/
[5] Catherine Lucey and Josh Lederman, “Trump declares US leaving ‘horrible’ Iran nuclear accord,” Associated Press, May 8, 2018, https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-politics-iran-cead755353a1455bbef08ef289448994
[6] Ben Sales, “‘Honey, he’s had enough of you’: Trump’s Mideast moves increasingly seem to sideline Israel,” Times of Israel, May 10, 2025, https://www.timesofisrael.com/honey-hes-had-enough-of-you-trumps-mideast-moves-increasingly-seem-to-sideline-israel/
[7] Arie Perliger, “Most Israelis dislike Netanyahu, but support the war in Gaza – an Israeli scholar explains what’s driving public opinion,” Conversation, May 23, 2024, https://theconversation.com/most-israelis-dislike-netanyahu-but-support-the-war-in-gaza-an-israeli-scholar-explains-whats-driving-public-opinion-230046
[8] Ben Sales, “‘Honey, he’s had enough of you’: Trump’s Mideast moves increasingly seem to sideline Israel,” Times of Israel, May 10, 2025, https://www.timesofisrael.com/honey-hes-had-enough-of-you-trumps-mideast-moves-increasingly-seem-to-sideline-israel/
[9] Simon Tisdall, “Trump thinks he is shaping the Middle East. Instead, it’s Gulf states that will dictate US foreign policy,” Guardian, May 11, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2025/may/11/donald-trump-middle-east-gulf-states-us-foreign-policy
[10] Simon Tisdall, “Trump thinks he is shaping the Middle East. Instead, it’s Gulf states that will dictate US foreign policy,” Guardian, May 11, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2025/may/11/donald-trump-middle-east-gulf-states-us-foreign-policy
[11] Ryan Grim, “Hamas and U.S. reach deal. “I think we'll have to detox from US security assistance,” says Netanyahu,” Drop Site News, May 11, 2025, https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/hamas-and-us-reach-deal-i-think-well
[12] Guardian, “Hamas says it will release last living American hostage in Gaza,” May 12, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/11/hamas-american-hostage-release-gaza-edan-alexander