Even before the ceasefire in Gaza Donald Trump had begun to reshape the Middle East. He was influential in pushing Israel to a truce with Lebanon in November. The fragile deal struck between Israel and Hamas on January 15th further reduces the intensity of the fighting in the region and resets Israel’s domestic politics. It will also reinforce the president-elect’s power over the Arab states that helped broker the deal, and over Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister.