Trump Backs Down From His Hardline Stances With Panama, Canada, Mexico, and China and Begins Negotiations / Netanyahu Caught Between Trump’s Normalisation Conditions With Saudi Arabia and Smotrich’s Rejection
Campaign Against Salam by the Lebanese Forces and Change MPs… While Southerners Head to Taybeh After Aitaroun
February 04, 2025
The political editor wrote
On the eve of implementing new tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada – most notably on oil, which accounts for a quarter of the refined petroleum products in the U.S. – President Donald Trump backed away from signing the executive orders enforcing his threats. Instead, he moved to negotiate with the governments of Mexico and Canada, suspending the decision for a month, with the possibility of further extensions. U.S. economic sources attributed this retreat to the risk of rising fuel prices and its impact on American consumers, as well as Trump’s failure to fulfill his promises of lowering costs. Trump, in turn, touted the outcome as a victory, likening it to his dealings with Panama: Canada and Mexico agreed to deploy forces along their borders to assist in combating smuggling. Critics argue that such cooperation could have been secured through diplomatic means rather than Trump’s aggressive war rhetoric.
Similarly, Trump postponed the imposition of tariffs on China, announcing the start of negotiations just hours before the tariffs were set to take effect. Given that U.S. consumer supply chains rely heavily on Chinese imports, imposing tariffs would have directly impacted American consumers.
Meanwhile, in Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with Trump today to discuss securing the Gaza ceasefire agreement and proceeding with its second phase, as reported by the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation. Despite complaints about the first phase’s implementation – and the strength Hamas demonstrated during the prisoner exchange, alongside the mass return of displaced Palestinians – there is no alternative to moving forward with the agreement. The same applies to the planned withdrawal from southern Lebanon, despite internal Israeli anxieties over the absence of a decisive victory. The large-scale return marches to Lebanese border villages, bolstered by the Lebanese army’s support, have created a new reality, rendering any Israeli military foothold inside Lebanon meaningless. The collapse of the so-called “buffer zone” concept along the border is evident, as returning residents remain undeterred by the destruction of their homes.
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation cited an unnamed source close to Netanyahu who stated that the prime minister “is preparing to receive a proposal from Trump to advance normalisation with Saudi Arabia”. The broadcaster added that Netanyahu’s inner circle acknowledges Washington’s determination to see the ceasefire agreement and prisoner exchange with Hamas through to completion. In return, Netanyahu is expected to gain U.S. backing for normalisation efforts with Saudi Arabia. Before leaving for the U.S., Netanyahu reportedly discussed the possibility of significant progress in normalisation talks with leaders of his ruling coalition, expressing hope that he could persuade his partners to make the necessary concessions.
However, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, speaking at his Religious Zionism party’s parliamentary faction meeting, took a hardline stance stating: “We support peace agreements with Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia, but only if they do not recognise Arab rights in the Land of Israel or compromise Israeli security”. He further stated, “Normalisation with Saudi Arabia cannot come at a time when we are giving false hope to the Palestinian Authority, which supports terrorism, or to West Bank Arabs regarding the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state in the heart of Israel”.
In Lebanon, the formation of a new government remains shrouded in uncertainty. Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam insisted that matters were progressing as expected, noting that his discussions with all parties continued positively. However, parliamentary sources reported growing frustration within the Lebanese Forces bloc and Change MPs over the government’s trajectory, with both groups now considering withholding confidence from the upcoming cabinet. Supporters and activists affiliated with both factions have begun openly expressing opposition to Salam’s approach.
