Peace will also bring a reckoning: What were the failures, military and political, that allowed the worst attack on the country to occur on Netanyahu’s watch?
Remember that these questions only relate to the first phase of the deal. Negotiations over the arguably more prickly second and third phases, which include further exchanges of hostages and prisoners, as well as a permanent end to fighting, are scheduled to start 16 days after the first stage goes into effect.
JOE BIDEN AND DONALD TRUMP BOTH CLAIM CREDIT
That said, an optimist ought to turn his attention to the 800-pound gorilla in the room: The United States. Predictably, both outgoing President Joe Biden and president-elect Donald Trump have claimed credit for the deal. Both have political reasons for doing so.
It allows Mr Biden to leave office on a high note. For Mr Trump, it is vindication of his strongman rhetoric – his threat that “all hell would break out” worked. More practically, it removes a major distraction as he takes office.
An indication of which factor held bigger sway is that, by all accounts, the current agreement is almost identical to the one Mr Biden proposed in May 2024. Nothing came of that.
Whether it was his limited sway or willingness, Mr Biden did little to strong-arm Israel into halting its destructive and divisive campaign, apart from some polite noises about withholding arms, and some creative name-calling behind the scenes.
Within months of Mr Trump’s election victory, however, we have arrived at this moment.
Source: CNA
