Hostage deal announced
The main elements of a hostage deal seem to be in place. You can read about them here, but they’re essentially what I wrote about yesterday in this post. A few details remain to be ironed out, and Netanyahu’s cabinet has to approve.
I see this deal as a sort of iceberg, with the part we can see being the least of it. I’ve read a great deal of commentary about it already, and most is either merely descriptive or strongly negative. The negative opinions can be summarized as “Trump betrayed Israel.” But if that’s the case, it would represent a 180-degree shift from his previous position.
Is that possible? Yes; we don’t need a reminder that Trump is a loose cannon. Is it likely? I don’t think so. It’s more likely that Netanyahu has always known a deal is inevitable and necessary and he trusts Trump more than he ever trusted Biden – and Hamas fears Trump more than they ever feared Biden.
What did Trump promise Netanyahu in return? Help with Iran? Gloves off with Hamas after the hostage pressure is eliminated? Unequivocal support in places like the UN? I don’t know, but I hope it was something and it makes sense that it was something. It also makes sense that it’s a something we’re not going to hear about until it bears fruit in action.
How many hostages are alive? My guess is thirty or forty.
…if the hostages are even still alive. Furthermore, if the exchange is in anyway unequal, as in an equal number of living hostages to terrorists, then it is a bad deal.
There was never any chance that it would be equal.
The government of Israel is not unaware that there will be more dead Israelis by agreeing to another fake ceasefire with Hamas. They know this, and are taking the deal anyway (apparently), either because they’re getting something better out of it than dead Israelis or avoiding something worse, and we are never going to find out, I think, what that thing is or why Israel is being subjected to the possibility of it at American hands.
I have to assume that Israel is not governed by idiots, traitors or antisemites and that they simply know something that’s not making it into the news.
Yeah, I’ve already seen more than enough of these talks. This is Israel’s choice – they screwed up when they decided to negotiate with terrorists—whenever that mistake was first made. Mine would be kill all Gazans that remain there after giving them a chance to leave for Lebanon – and reclaim Gaza as a war prize.
Israel needs to start taking buffers – like the biggest country on earth does and claims to need, i.e., Russia, so they should also claim everything south of the Awali River. Then…tell the West Bank Muslims to accept Israel before all the Nations at the UN—bend the knee or head for Lebanon.
I hope so. Anyway, I suspect Israel has more on its mind than Gaza & the West Bank…so they need to do what is best for them.
Saw something interesting at Power Line: “The Unbeatable Hamas Hydra?“:
To which John Hinderaker replies:
Great point – these animals are teaching their children to hate Israel from birth…hold them up in cheering mobs with that child holding and/or firing an AK-47. Any male child above 14-15 would’ve already been wanting to be in Hamas.
This is a direct result of not clearing out the Oslo quislings at the start of the war.
Bibi let them continue and the military has been dithering ever since.
The incredible morale demonstrated by the reservists has been squandered… many low to mid level field commanders are vocally frustrated with higher-ups who, after decades of Oslo indoctrination, cannot bring themselves to take and hold territory in Gaza.
The pressure for a hostage deal came from the same clueless, self-absorbed elitist segment of society as these Oslo losers. A coalition of fantasist flower children and hard-core, cynical Leftists using the issue to stymie the center-left government.
I’m guessing the hidden part is what Isreal is allowed to do when Hamas inevitably breaks the cease fire. It won’t be Biden handcuffing him, it will be Trump’s call instead.
Probably so
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1xfntrpkl#autoplay
That bibi was able to do as much in this time with the opposition of gallant and co, with the un the foreign office our own foggy bottom
Consider if they are happy
https://www.ynetnews.com/category/3083
Should we be
Sounds not nearly as bad as the shalit deal but we know what that led to october 7th
Niketas:
Agreed.