Donald Trump should take Benjamin Netanyahu with him to Sharm el-Sheikh. The future of the Middle East may well depend on it.
The arrival of the US President in Israel and Egypt tomorrow marks a defining moment for the region. His visit is not merely ceremonial. It is the visible expression of a vision first articulated in his inaugural address: to be a peacemaker and a unifier. Against all odds, Trump’s efforts are beginning to reshape the Middle East. His twenty-point plan, endorsed by a remarkable coalition of Arab, Muslim, and Western nations, outlines a clear pathway from ceasefire and hostage return to the building of durable institutions that can sustain peace.
The central phase of that plan begins tomorrow afternoon in Sharm el-Sheikh. The summit convening there brings together key regional and global actors in what may become the most significant diplomatic gathering of the decade. At its core lies the recognition that the future of the Middle East does not depend on endless negotiations with Israelis and Palestinians or on reviving failed authorities, but on state-building supported by a regional, multilateral architecture.
A transitional international body, provisionally referred to in the 20-point declaration as the Board of Peace, could serve as an initial mechanism for coordination. Yet such a body must be embedded in a wider framework that mobilizes Arab, European, and American commitments. Two twin priorities should guide this architecture: first, the development of effective and accountable institutions on the Palestinian side; and second, the gradual multilateral integration of Israel and Arab states within a cooperative regional order.
If these priorities are pursued with determination and mutual recognition, the Middle East may finally move beyond the exhausting cycle of war and pointless negotiation. The promise of normalisation, investment, and cross-border infrastructure could transform what has long been a theatre of conflict into a hub of shared prosperity.
For this moment to succeed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must stand alongside President Trump—not as a spectator but as a partner in shaping the post-war regional order. The best signal of unity would be for Netanyahu to accompany Trump on Air Force One to Sharm el-Sheikh, symbolizing a joint commitment to peace through institutions rather than temporary deals.
Dr. Ronit Levine-Schnur is a Senior Lecturer at the Tel-Aviv University Faculty of Law a scholar at the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Governance and Markets
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