The incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden will be forced to deal with the implications of outgoing President Donald Trump’s foreign policy. In more than a few cases, Biden may wish to reverse decisions made by his predecessor, but he will be hard-pressed to do so.
When it comes to Israel, the decisions that stick out most include Trump’s decisions to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem and to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the settlements in the West Bank and the Golan Heights, on Israel’s northern border with Syria. Trump’s decision to recognize Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights sparked renewed Israeli interest in the region. As a symbolic reward for his decision, the government decided to establish a new settlement, Ramat Trump (Trump Heights), named after the outgoing president. The first settlers will be moving in next month. They will be housed in recreational vehicles and other temporary structures until their permanent homes are completed.