Time to Start Believing

"History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives," said Abba Eban, an Israeli diplomat and politician. Years ago when I was at the Forward we hosted Eban. Then-editor Seth Lipskey used that quote in our roundtable with him. What a clever and profound insight.

And so, months later than it should have happened but at long last, the remaining hostages might actually be home before the next Bulletin arrives in your inbox. I won't get into the details of the deal because that is national news, you are likely on it, and frankly much is yet to be clarified beyond the first step. That said, Rob Eshman makes some points to help us process the latest in his Forward piece, "The answered prayers of Trump's artful ceasefire deal."

"President Donald Trump’s announcement Wednesday evening that Hamas and Israel have accepted the first phase of his peace deal — including the release of all the living hostages at once, likely this weekend, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners — is as shocking as it is wonderful. The outline of the current deal is similar to one President Joe Biden offered a year ago. What’s different: Trump understood that both parties were at the end of the road, and used that knowledge wisely. He increased American leverage over Hamas by bringing Qatar closer than ever into the United States’ embrace. Skeptics said that part of that closeness came from the economic ties between Qatar and the Trump family and its associates. If that’s what brings the hostages home, I’m frankly not sure I care," writes Eshman.

"At the same time, Trump finally stood up to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to news reports, he lost his temper with Netanyahu following Israel’s September assassination attempt against Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar. That shocking expansion of the war threatened the Abraham Accords, the singular diplomatic achievement of Trump’s first term, as well as direct U.S. interests: Qatar hosts the largest American air base in the Middle East."

As I wish all of you one more Chag Sameach I do so (for the first time in two years) thinking it actually is going to be one.

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