ABC News broke in about 12:20. Apparently, ratification by Israeli government will take a couple days.
Steve
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Arab officials: Trump envoy swayed Netanyahu more in one meeting than Biden did all year
https://www.timesofisrael.com/arab-official-trump-envoy-swayed-netanyahu-more-in-one-meeting-than-biden-did-all-year/
A âtenseâ weekend meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and incoming Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff led to a breakthrough in the hostage negotiations, with the top aide to US President-elect Donald Trump doing more to sway the premier in a single sit-down than outgoing President Joe Biden did all year, two Arab officials told The Times of Israel on Tuesday.
Witkoff has been in Doha for the past week to take part in the hostage negotiations, as mediators try to secure a deal before Trumpâs January 20 inauguration. On Saturday, Witkoff flew to Israel for a meeting with Netanyahu at the premierâs Jerusalem office.
During the meeting, Witkoff urged Netanyahu to accept key compromises necessary for an agreement, the two Arab officials on Monday told The Times of Israel on condition of anonymity. Neither Witkoff nor Netanyahuâs office responded to requests for comment.
DB2
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Yep. A new Sheriff in town.
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Anyone really believe that? Think there will not be a resumption of the war, the moment the Israelis get their people back? And, when the Israelis resume the bombing and shelling, the US will eagerly support them. Because, the first son-in-law said how valuable all that beachfront land would be, once all the Pals were run out of the area.
Steve
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Yes. You raised a different issue â how long will a ceasefire last.
DB2
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What I am implying is this narrative of âforced Israel to accept a plan that Netanyahu had repeatedly rejected over the past half year.â is just as likely an assurance that the US will not object, if the Israelis repudiate the agreement, the moment they have the last of their people back, and go back to ethnic cleansing.
Steve
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The Captain
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This ceasefire is dead in the water.
Netanyahu has held up vote in Israeli cabinet.
Smotrich wrote on X, âA clear condition for our remaining in the government is the absolute certainty of returning to war with great force, on a full scale and in a new configuration until complete victory over all its components, foremost among them the destruction of the Hamas terrorist organization and the return of all the hostages to their homes.â
In other words kill until peace is restored. There is nothing more peaceful than a dead Palestinian.
If Smotrich pulls his faction out that could mean new Israeli election.
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Trump may have offered something on Iran.
Many people wonât like what he offered. If he did.
Besides we have found out there is no end to anything with Trump.
Israel wants a cease-fire and the hostages back. They get that. What happens next? Because Hamas needs to honor an actual cease-fire. Ha!
People take political statements at face value while the political drama is much more complex. When I heard that Netanyahu had agreed to a deal he had always rejected I figured Netanyahu could not say âno,â and he was playing for time. My other though was that the ceasefire would last until the hostages were safely in Israel.
The Captain
Since 2006 this will be Hamasâs first ceasefire.
Netanyahu can bank on them.
That is what I am thinking too. âBibiâ received assurances that he can bomb the rest of Gaza into dust, with impunity, as the US will look the other way, while keeping up the supply of bombs. Meanwhile, a USian can claim another âwinâ.
Steve
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That will save the cost of maintaining an âOpen Air Prisonâ in Gaza.
It would not be a prison if Hamas turned peaceful.
The money would be spent on creating prosperity instead of tunnels.
The Israeli blockade of weapons would end.
But hey fight a war from 2006 till nowâŚ
It has been going on much longer than that.
I donât think so. From reports, the big prize the USian wants is an expansion of the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia. He wants/expects that Bibi wonât get in the way of that âwin,â so those are the directions that Bibi received. Which is probably the reason why his coalition members are insisting they get assurances from him that the war will restart once the hostages are back (else theyâll leave the government).
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No it has not.
Hamas came to power in 2005. They declared war in 2006. Rejecting what they were elected to do.
Remember 19% of Israelis are Palestinians who declared peace with Jews immediately.
Jordan has had peace with Israel for decades now. The country is 65% Palestinian.
Stop assuming Palestinians can not make peace. Most have and are prospering in democracies.
Better yet stop making arguments here because you read a ton of news reports. You get nothing from that.
SA can not admit it openly. They want Iran defanged of the nuclear materials.
We are getting into the witching hour.
Everyone is on the same page.
I even think Iran does not want to go where it is going.
Setting aside Gaza for now frees up Israel.
The First Son-in-lawâs plan was to shift all the Pals into a concentration camp in the Negev, so that a big pile of money can be made redeveloping all that lovely beachfront property.
Steve
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