After four years of a tense partnership with the Biden administration, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sat down with President Donald Trump. At the top of the agenda was level setting the relationship to where both countries are on the same page regarding the future of Gaza and Israel’s place in a perilous region. Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, became the centerpiece negotiator for the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release and had a pre-summit meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister to discuss the fragile pause in the conflict with Hamas.
President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu Cement Ties
The US and Israel departed the Biden era with a fractured partnership. US strong words of support for Israel did not match its actions, and trust between the nations was strained. During the substantive meeting between President Trump and PM Netanyahu, the two leaders first and foremost established expectations going forward. “President Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu are set to meet Tuesday [Feb. 4] as the Israeli prime minister faces competing pressure from his right-wing coalition to end a temporary truce against Hamas militants in Gaza and from war-weary Israelis who want the remaining hostages home and the 15-month conflict to end,” the Associated Press reported. President Trump has expectations from the home front as well. The US foreign policy for the Middle East depends on getting closure on the Hamas problem. Moving forward on the Abraham Accords, part two is stymied by the ongoing fighting in Gaza. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is going to be reluctant to sign on to the Accords without a way ahead on the Palestinians and where to settle those who want to leave Gaza.
Netanyahu’s visit was the first foreign leader to carry out face-to-face discussions with Trump following his inauguration. Trump and Netanyahu covered the future for phase two of the Gaza ceasefire and how US foreign policy for the Middle East will support that future. Maintaining the ceasefire is critical to continuing with phase two, which is precarious at best. Phase two of the ceasefire agreement would continue, “If Israel and Hamas reach a further agreement, all remaining hostages are supposed to be freed, and in return, Israel will completely withdraw from Gaza during this phase,” according to the New York Post analysis. The problem is that Israel has said it won’t pull out of Gaza until Hamas’s military and political power is eliminated. Hamas leadership remains deluded with the notion that, in some form, the terrorist organization will have a place in the Gazan government.
Before their meeting, President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu held a press availability in the Oval Office. Among the comments the Israeli Prime Minister made was his reiterating Israel’s position that Hamas will not have any part in governing Gaza. Interestingly, when Peter Doocy from Fox News put Netanyahu on the spot asking who he thought was most influential in getting the ceasefire and starting the hostage return, he answered, “President Trump added great force and leadership to this effort. I appreciate it. He sent a very good emissary… I’m happy that they’re here.” When asked if the Prime Minister supported “going forward with this deal and getting all the hostages out?” He explained, “I support getting all the hostages out and meeting all our war goals…That includes destroying Hamas’s military and governing capabilities and making sure that Gaza never poses a threat to Israel again.” President Trump was very positive in his views on the situation with Hamas. “We’re going to get it wrapped up. We’re going to get it done,” he declared. “We solve problems.”
Other subjects covered included Iran, and President Trump’s position could not have been clearer. “We are not going to allow them to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump told one reporter. When the subject of what to do with the Palestinian residents of Gaza came up, Trump maintained that the best solution was getting them resettled in neighboring countries. He was asked what other countries besides Jordan and Egypt might accept the Palestinian refugees. “Well, I think Jordan and Egypt will. I know they’ve spoken about it with you [the press], they say they’re not going to accept, but I say they will. But I think other countries will accept also.” The US chief executive described Gaza as a “demolition site, right now… There’s hardly a building standing…You can’t live in Gaza right now…I think that if we can resettle and I believe we can do it.” The only reason the Palestinians want to return is because they have no alternative. He acknowledged that the leaders of Jordan and Egypt had said no. He also explained that other countries, like Mexico, initially said no to a US request but were persuaded to come to an accommodation with President Trump.
The US and Israel departed the Biden era with a fractured partnership. US strong words of support for Israel did not match its actions, and trust between the nations was strained. During the substantive meeting between President Trump and PM Netanyahu, the two leaders first and foremost established expectations going forward. “President Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu are set to meet Tuesday [Feb. 4] as the Israeli prime minister faces competing pressure from his right-wing coalition to end a temporary truce against Hamas militants in Gaza and from war-weary Israelis who want the remaining hostages home and the 15-month conflict to end,” the Associated Press reported. President Trump has expectations from the home front as well. The US foreign policy for the Middle East depends on getting closure on the Hamas problem. Moving forward on the Abraham Accords, part two is stymied by the ongoing fighting in Gaza. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is going to be reluctant to sign on to the Accords without a way ahead on the Palestinians and where to settle those who want to leave Gaza.
Netanyahu’s visit was the first foreign leader to carry out face-to-face discussions with Trump following his inauguration. Trump and Netanyahu covered the future for phase two of the Gaza ceasefire and how US foreign policy for the Middle East will support that future. Maintaining the ceasefire is critical to continuing with phase two, which is precarious at best. Phase two of the ceasefire agreement would continue, “If Israel and Hamas reach a further agreement, all remaining hostages are supposed to be freed, and in return, Israel will completely withdraw from Gaza during this phase,” according to the New York Post analysis. The problem is that Israel has said it won’t pull out of Gaza until Hamas’s military and political power is eliminated. Hamas leadership remains deluded with the notion that, in some form, the terrorist organization will have a place in the Gazan government.
Before their meeting, President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu held a press availability in the Oval Office. Among the comments the Israeli Prime Minister made was his reiterating Israel’s position that Hamas will not have any part in governing Gaza. Interestingly, when Peter Doocy from Fox News put Netanyahu on the spot asking who he thought was most influential in getting the ceasefire and starting the hostage return, he answered, “President Trump added great force and leadership to this effort. I appreciate it. He sent a very good emissary… I’m happy that they’re here.” When asked if the Prime Minister supported “going forward with this deal and getting all the hostages out?” He explained, “I support getting all the hostages out and meeting all our war goals…That includes destroying Hamas’s military and governing capabilities and making sure that Gaza never poses a threat to Israel again.” President Trump was very positive in his views on the situation with Hamas. “We’re going to get it wrapped up. We’re going to get it done,” he declared. “We solve problems.”
Other subjects covered included Iran, and President Trump’s position could not have been clearer. “We are not going to allow them to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump told one reporter. When the subject of what to do with the Palestinian residents of Gaza came up, Trump maintained that the best solution was getting them resettled in neighboring countries. He was asked what other countries besides Jordan and Egypt might accept the Palestinian refugees. “Well, I think Jordan and Egypt will. I know they’ve spoken about it with you [the press], they say they’re not going to accept, but I say they will. But I think other countries will accept also.” The US chief executive described Gaza as a “demolition site, right now… There’s hardly a building standing…You can’t live in Gaza right now…I think that if we can resettle and I believe we can do it.” The only reason the Palestinians want to return is because they have no alternative. He acknowledged that the leaders of Jordan and Egypt had said no. He also explained that other countries, like Mexico, initially said no to a US request but were persuaded to come to an accommodation with President Trump.
Press Conference Following Discussions Wrapped Up The Visit
Following the meetings, President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu held the first joint press conference of the Trump administration. The US Chief Executive recounted the accomplishments achieved with Israel. He pointed out the Gaza Strip has been a horrible place, and the Palestinians should be resettled in neighboring countries. The US will take over the Gaza Strip, get rid of the unexploded ordinance, and create a livable area. Trump explained the US wants peace and tranquility in the region. The discussion included working together to ensure Hamas is eliminated and peace can be restored.
“You are the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House,” is how Prime Minister Netanyahu opened his remarks. He emphasized that the Trump administration lifted the ban on munitions to Israel. Netanyahu enumerated the initiatives Trump had taken to support Israel in only two weeks. He talked about the Israel Defense Force taking out terrorists wanted for killing American Marines after decades of effort. “Israel will end the war by winning the war.” Israel’s leader closed his remarks speaking to President Trump with “Your willingness to puncture conventional thinking. Thinking that has failed time and time and time again…You cut to the chase. You see things others refuse to see. You say things others refuse to say…This is the kind of thinking that will reshape the Middle East and bring peace.”
In characterizing the meeting between the two Allies and partners, it is clear that though there may be differences of opinion on the details of bringing peace to the region, there is no daylight between the two in what that peace looks like. The objective is getting the hostages back, all of them, ensuring that Hamas is never a threat again and ensuring that Iran does not get a nuclear weapon and is no longer a regional threat. Prime Minister Netanyahu made the key takeaway during the pre-meeting press availability. The US and Israel are stronger, and the “bonds are unbreakable.”
Dave is a retired U.S. Air Force Pilot with over 180 combat missions in Vietnam. He is the former Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, Comptroller and has served in executive positions in the private sector aerospace and defense industry. This article was first published HERE
13 comments:
"...the two Allies and partners..."
"The US and Israel are stronger, and the “bonds are unbreakable.”
I can't think of any rational reason why the US and Israel have such a close relationship, beyond obvious political fact of the power and influence the Israel Lobby exerts in America. Jews are only about 2% of the US population, yet sometimes you'd think America was a Jewish country (although in some ways, it is) the way American politicians fawn over Netanyahu and Israel.
You'd be forgiven for thinking that Israel comes first, and America a very distant second. Israel's border, and the expansion thereof, seems to be far more important than America's porous southern border.
What exactly do the two countries have in common? Practically zero. In fact, far from benefitting America, America's relationship with Israel has always weakened America, both in the massive resources Israel sucks out of America every year in its goal to establish a Greater Israel, and in the related hatred of America this stokes in much of the Arab world. In other words, Israel is a liability for America every way you look at it.
The notion of a "partnership" implies reciprocity. Again, I cannot think of any way in which Israel reciprocates here. It's clearly all take and no give, which again is a sure sign of the dynamic where Israel is the tail wagging the dog.
Mme Blavatsky, I think you are overlooking the religious factor here. About 1 in 4 Yanks is an 'evangelical' and a lot of them believe in biblical pseudohistory. So they think the universal almighty being was actually a Bronze Age tribal desert spook the tribe in question being Jews. Later the spook changed its mind about a few things but Jews, while reviled, remained 'special'. Many Yanks also believe in biblical crystal ball-gazing and are quite convinced that the long-awaited return of their messiah will be triggered by multitudinous malefactors swooping on Israel intent on wiping it out. So it is not hard to see why Israel has a 'special place' in many Amurricans' hearts.
So c'mon Madam B. I know you are just dying to tell us about your current conspiracy theory. Now let's see. Perhaps it's about that international Jewish Cabal that's really running the world. I bet George Soros is in there somewhere too. Can't wait for you to break the inside story. In the meantime, it might help if you remember this Patterson guy is an unreconstructed Trump fan and like several other contributors to this platform, not to be taken seriously.
Barend
That is true about evangelicals, and the main reason why so many "conservatives" are diehard Zionists is because conservative media (and therefore where people get their opinions) is dominated by Zionists, for a prominent example, Ben Shapiro. When they aren't cheerleading Israel, at best they are not critcising, because if they do, they'll be penalised (see Candace Owens).
Quite apart from mass opinion, what really matters is the decisions and attitudes in Washington, and that is where the Israel Lobby does its work and spends its money.
Interesting that people too gutless to use their real name are stupid enough to criticise those that do when all that is happening is a World finally “ taking Trump seriously.”
Time to admit that you and “other contributors to this platform “ have been wrong about Trump all along.
Dave Patterson’s record of service entitles him to a well earned opportunity judging events and people based on his own experience of life.
In comparison you guys prove your own insignificance every time you open your mouth.
Thanks Dave for simply reporting the truth.
It's not a "conspiracy theory" that the Israel Lobby is one of, if not the, most influential lobby groups in Washington. All of the relevant facts are at hand to any one interested.
A great place to start with with Professor John Mearsheimer's excellent overview " The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy" wherein he argues that argues that the Israel lobby wields disproportionate influence over American foreign policy.
Quite aside from the easily observable ways in which American politicians dutifully work over time to benefit a foreign nation, Israel, just visit the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) website.
AIPAC is just the largest of many Israeli (i.e. foreign government) "influence" organisations interring in the United States. This is literally how Israeli funds are pumped into the pockets of American politicians, and this is quite besides the influence that takes place behind closed doors.
https://www.aipac.org/
"WE ENCOURAGE the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel."
"WE STAND with those who stand with Israel. The AIPAC PAC is a bipartisan, pro-Israel political action committee. It is the largest pro-Israel PAC in America and contributed more resources directly to candidates than any other PAC. 98% of AIPAC-backed candidates won their general election races in 2022."
"AIPAC — America’s pro-Israel lobby — closely monitors a broad range of issues that affect the U.S.-Israel relationship. Over the past 60 years, AIPAC has built a reputation for providing reliable, credible and timely research and information for decision makers in Washington and across the country."
I agree that on some counts we have to take Trump seriously. He said he wanted to be a dictator on day 1 - tick. He said he was going to be vindictive - tick. But then he didn't mention Greenland, or Panama, or Canada. And now we have this fantasy about Gaza. Explain to me Mr Bibby why any rational observer should take stuff like that seriously?
Rational observers don’t need an explanation.
They already know that this is just Trump’s way of doing business.
He drops a few morsels of seemingly unrelated ideas into the mix just to get his audience thinking about possibilities rather than being fixated with problems that have been unsolvable for decades.
What might be at first glance an outrageous comment, turns out to be his way of achieving his objective of changing the conversation away from intractable disputes that have remained the cause of conflict rather than the solution.
It is no surprise that Netanyahu and Zelensky both welcome Trump’s involvement in the pursuit of a peaceful solution.
But people like you Jonesy along with your fellow travellers, just can’t bring yourself to admit we are witnessing arguably the most transformational Presidency in modern history.
You are the looser. With one or two exceptions, the rest of the world is enjoying the ride and looks forward to another chapter in the breakneck speed of “ life in our times”.
Totally agree with you Clive. Isn’t it always those that hide behind anonymity that deliver empty bravado.
Clive Bibby says "Rational observers don’t need an explanation".
In other words Mr Bibby wants us to just accept Trump's behaviour as an act of faith. Trump has a Plan and we must all trust the Plan. Unfortunately, rational folk don't do faith. They demand empirical evidence that a plan is credible.
But Mr Bibby says that's just the way Trump does business. All that does is ask us to trust the Dear Leader's judgement. I wonder if the Plan has identified the business opportunities arising from the rebuilding of Gaza. His son-in-law Jared Kushner certainly has. How much of a stretch would it be to imagine a Trump family involvement in the reconstruction of Gaza. And people just get in the way of the bulldozers don't they? Which is where the ethnic cleansing comes in.
But on a more pragmatic level, I take issue with Mr Bibby's suggestion that Trump's plan for Gaza is a "peaceful solution". Trump has no credibility if he thinks the Muslim world would just stand by and let ethnic cleansing happen. At the very least it will result in a resurgence of HAMAS beyond their wildest dreams by allowing them to recruit from the vast pool of the dispossessed. But at worst it could cause the whole Middle East peace process, painfully stitched together after the 6 Day War, to unravel. That is not a good prognosis for world peace, let alone the regional peace Mr Bibby thinks is about to break out. And always remember, Iran is always only a few weeks away from building a nuclear weapon, entirely as a result of Trump sabotaging the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a treaty designed to avoid exactly that outcome. So much for Trump’s existing involvement in the pursuit of a peaceful solution. Seems he's learned nothing since 2018.
Anyone who believes that Iran would abide by the JCPOA needs to spend time at the funny farm. Evidence since Obama’s appeasement crusade suggests it had no affect on delaying their move to gain a nuclear weapon which would allow them to blackmail the whole world.
I rest my case.
I think people don’t worry about Minto and the rent a mob enough. With possible peace between Israel and Palestine, what will he and his friends do for a living? Having Trump closing down protest possibilities and the extra expenses of funding a new cause, will Minto now retire? He must be thinking of the new costs arising from having to buy flags, signs, leaflets, websites and even clothing and also who can he find to do the funding, who is the question. I am certain that the cause doesn’t matter so-long as the who has deep pockets. If any readers know of a suitable deep pocketed person tell them to contact Minto…..urgently.
Just trust the Plan Mr Bibby. Avoids the need to think.
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