Say what you will about Netanyahu and Trump, but they both have a gift for bringing diverse people with differing interests together:
An Arab-Islamic emergency summit convened today in Doha to discuss Israel’s attempted assassination of the Hamas negotiators, who were in Doha at the request of the United States when they were attacked. The meeting produced some very startling optics, starting with former ISIS terrorist leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani — who is now repackaged as Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, with a nice beard trim and a $1,000 suit to boot — meeting with Iranian officials, including President Pezeshkian. Two years ago Julani’s forces were attacking and killing Iranian soldiers, and vice-versa. We also saw Jordan’s King Abdullah in attendance and interacting with folks he normally would shun… And Iran’s President Pezeshkian had a cordial meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince. This was akin to a conference of lions, lambs and jackals meeting to discuss how to stop poachers.
Although the summit did not produce a consensus to break all ties with Israel, the mere fact that such a diverse group, that in normal times are at odds with one another, assembled to engage in a diplomatic discussion about how to stop Israel’s attacks is noteworthy and also signals a dramatic decline in the ability of the US to influence events in the region.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio made a huge amateur mistake today by visiting Israel as this summit was underway. Following the summit, Israel reportedly has launched a massive attack on Gaza City. The participants at this summit will likely interpret this as Donald Trump giving Israel permission to expand its campaign of genocide. It will reinforce the view of the members of the Arab-Islamic that Trump is weak and totally under the control of Bibi Netanyahu. Regardless of his intent, Rubio will be viewed as the guy who delivered Trump’s message to launch the offensive in Gaza City.
The crows would appear to be gathering in anticipation of battlefields to come.