Also unsaid -- since there is so much unresolved other than return of the hostages -- Hamas can and probably will exert force, going against the intent of the plan, going Israel to go back in and finish the job.
Seeing MSNBC interviewing Ambassador Oren instead of Mahmoud Khalil is telling unto itself. Job One is get all the hostages home whatever it takes. Job Two is make sure Palestinians, Arabs, and Persians of all stripes can never ever, ever again pose a threat to the security of Israel. The rest is commentary.
Peace Deal is a misnomer. As my mother said after having lived in British Palestine for 20 years, "There will never be peace." Arabs were killing Jews in the 20's, 30's and 40's before there was an Israel.
It's delusional to think that Gazans or 'Palestinians' will give up their Jew hatred.
Well said, explained and defended, Ambassador Oren. Bravo! The big element left unsaid is that the moment one of the Hamas fighters dares to use a weapon the IDF will respond.
You can just hear the others trying so desperately trying to find a hook to blame Netanyahu, to rehabilitate Biden, to diminish Trump. Its subtle but its there. Great job fending them off without losing your cool. I could never do that.
And within a day, Morning Joe reverted to its narrative: it’s all about reining in Netanyahu, can Netanyahu be trusted to make sure this deal doesn’t unravel … even if Hamas violates its core provision (after the hostage release) and refuses to disarm.
It’s back to the infantilisation of Palestinians and a narrative that comes close to suggesting that Hamas is not a real factor.
What is so revealing is the difficulty in giving Trump credit and ignoring that, as Ambassador Oren makes plain, it was principally Netanyahu’s courage in bucking the constant Western counsels of restraint in using military force that gave the opening to, eventually, the B-2s and the 20 point plan.
Sadly for the elites in the West, diplomacy only works if there’s at least the fear of the use of force as the alternative. And, notwithstanding the current fashion for faculty lounge theorizing, the real issue that needs to be overcome in the region is an Islamist supremacist mindset that prevents coexistence on equal terms.
Israel may be making the same mistake it made in 2005, leaving the Gaza Strip. Why is it not annexing it the same way it did with the Golan Heights? It's rinse and repeat.
Supposedly, the hostages will be released, but so will 2,000 terrorists from Israeli prisons. So Israel has lost 1200 civilians plus 900 soldiers and the collective psychological trauma is immeasurable. So who won the war?
Israel will allow others to control Gaza? Good luck with that.
I was surprised to see you compliment Reagan on letting Arafat go to Tunisia.
It seems to me it wasn’t long whether it was from Tunisia or back in Israel that he had created the seeds of PLO and perhaps Hamas. Not nearly as knowledgeable in history as you or probably many of your commentators, but that’s how I remember/interpret Reagan‘s Mideast policy and us leaving Lebanon after the barracks blow up explosion
Arafat went to Tunisia with the PLO after being expelled from Lebanon by Israel. This was in 1982. The PLO was formed in 1964. Arafat had nothing to do with creating Hamas which is an Islamist terror offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood.
I would love to see what those 20 points are. Should include destroying the tunnels, ending the concept of Right of Return and refugee status. I doubt it, as I haven't heard anything about these.
By all means, take a look at the column in the current issue of The Economist by Petrit Selimi, former foreign minister of Kosovo, who says that Trump's Gaza plan can indeed work -- much in the way that Kosovo was rebuilt after its destruction by Milosevic.
Excellent interview. But I also have to mention the new novel I just launched called, The Joshua Abomination available on Amazon or my website. markakst.com It describes a certain radical solution.
Additionally (and diplomatically left unsaid) is the idea that Palestinian self-determination can NOT include a longterm goal to erase Israel.
That’s been their dream
Also unsaid -- since there is so much unresolved other than return of the hostages -- Hamas can and probably will exert force, going against the intent of the plan, going Israel to go back in and finish the job.
Seeing MSNBC interviewing Ambassador Oren instead of Mahmoud Khalil is telling unto itself. Job One is get all the hostages home whatever it takes. Job Two is make sure Palestinians, Arabs, and Persians of all stripes can never ever, ever again pose a threat to the security of Israel. The rest is commentary.
Peace Deal is a misnomer. As my mother said after having lived in British Palestine for 20 years, "There will never be peace." Arabs were killing Jews in the 20's, 30's and 40's before there was an Israel.
It's delusional to think that Gazans or 'Palestinians' will give up their Jew hatred.
Excellent interview. The terrorists lie and will always hide weapons. Can’t wait to see hostages back with their families or properly buried. 🙏🙏🌺
Well said, explained and defended, Ambassador Oren. Bravo! The big element left unsaid is that the moment one of the Hamas fighters dares to use a weapon the IDF will respond.
You can just hear the others trying so desperately trying to find a hook to blame Netanyahu, to rehabilitate Biden, to diminish Trump. Its subtle but its there. Great job fending them off without losing your cool. I could never do that.
And within a day, Morning Joe reverted to its narrative: it’s all about reining in Netanyahu, can Netanyahu be trusted to make sure this deal doesn’t unravel … even if Hamas violates its core provision (after the hostage release) and refuses to disarm.
It’s back to the infantilisation of Palestinians and a narrative that comes close to suggesting that Hamas is not a real factor.
What is so revealing is the difficulty in giving Trump credit and ignoring that, as Ambassador Oren makes plain, it was principally Netanyahu’s courage in bucking the constant Western counsels of restraint in using military force that gave the opening to, eventually, the B-2s and the 20 point plan.
Sadly for the elites in the West, diplomacy only works if there’s at least the fear of the use of force as the alternative. And, notwithstanding the current fashion for faculty lounge theorizing, the real issue that needs to be overcome in the region is an Islamist supremacist mindset that prevents coexistence on equal terms.
Israel may be making the same mistake it made in 2005, leaving the Gaza Strip. Why is it not annexing it the same way it did with the Golan Heights? It's rinse and repeat.
Supposedly, the hostages will be released, but so will 2,000 terrorists from Israeli prisons. So Israel has lost 1200 civilians plus 900 soldiers and the collective psychological trauma is immeasurable. So who won the war?
Israel will allow others to control Gaza? Good luck with that.
Some of the terrorists being released have "blood on their hands". How long will it be before the next act of terrorism will occur?
Excellent interview
I was surprised to see you compliment Reagan on letting Arafat go to Tunisia.
It seems to me it wasn’t long whether it was from Tunisia or back in Israel that he had created the seeds of PLO and perhaps Hamas. Not nearly as knowledgeable in history as you or probably many of your commentators, but that’s how I remember/interpret Reagan‘s Mideast policy and us leaving Lebanon after the barracks blow up explosion
Arafat went to Tunisia with the PLO after being expelled from Lebanon by Israel. This was in 1982. The PLO was formed in 1964. Arafat had nothing to do with creating Hamas which is an Islamist terror offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Thank you. As I said in my comment, I knew I wasn’t as knowledgeable as many of the readers of this sub stack.
Insightful — so thankful for all your devoted service to Israel.
Ambassador: your patience with American news commentators and foreign service commentators is sage like! Please keep the Clarity coming. Gary
I would love to see what those 20 points are. Should include destroying the tunnels, ending the concept of Right of Return and refugee status. I doubt it, as I haven't heard anything about these.
By all means, take a look at the column in the current issue of The Economist by Petrit Selimi, former foreign minister of Kosovo, who says that Trump's Gaza plan can indeed work -- much in the way that Kosovo was rebuilt after its destruction by Milosevic.
Well done. You are a veritable Jared when it comes to diplomacy, considering your interlocutors here.
Excellent interview. But I also have to mention the new novel I just launched called, The Joshua Abomination available on Amazon or my website. markakst.com It describes a certain radical solution.