US president-elect demanded a deal – while success against Iran and Hezbollah gave Israeli PM room to make one

The willingness of Netanyahu to deal at the last moment under pressure from Trump – defying far-right members of his coalition including Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich – has not been lost on Israeli commentators.

“I ask myself where did all the obstacles go?” wrote Ben Caspit in the Hebrew daily Ma’ariv. “All the conditions? All the ridiculous spins that were thrown out by the leader and were echoed by his mouthpieces?

“And what about the Philadelphi corridor [on the border with Egypt]? All of the obstacles that emerged at decisive moments in the negotiations, all of the statements that were issued, including several that were issued during the Sabbath, about how Israel would never leave, never stop, never surrender and never give in?”

  • PhilipTheBucketAEnglish
    1·
    3 months ago

    Last update:

    https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/03/israel-palestine-ceasefire-did-it-ever-stop-palestine/

    Three days ago, Israeli airstrikes killed dozens of Palestinians, including a group of journalists. In total, between the ceasefire’s start on January 19th and yesterday, Israeli forces killed at least 170 Palestinians.

    Then, the official break: Over the past day, Israeli airstrikes killed over 404 Palestinians and wounded 560, targeting residential areas and reportedly wiping out entire families.

    Now, it is inarguable. The ceasefire is dead.

    “[T]he ceasefire itself was not, in reality, a ceasefire. It has been a time of strategic mass starvation for the Palestinian people. I don’t know what kind of ceasefire agreement includes provisions for mass starvation, but it’s not one that any reasonable person would accept.”

    💔

    Good thing Trump speaks at dictation pace, and the Israelis won’t be able to outflank him. I’m sure he’ll sort that shit right out.

    The president-elect was emphatic that he wanted a ceasefire-for-hostages deal. Trump wanted the war in Gaza finished. He had other fish to fry.

    Witkoff delivered a stern message from the incoming president of the United States, who unequivocally demanded the deal’s conclusion.

    “Netanyahu … suddenly came to recognise precisely where it is that they stand with the new American president. They came to realise that Trump speaks at dictation pace, and they will never be able to outflank him from the right. Trump, once again, wants a deal.”

    “The pressure Trump is exerting right now is not the kind that Israel expected from him,” lamented the rightwing commentator Jacob Bardugo on Channel 14 on Monday. “The pressure is the essence of the matter.”

    While Netanyahu has historically been able to use the threat of White House pressure as a public get out of jail free card, it is not clear – with all the risks inherent in the deal for him – that it is the case this time.

    There was actually a lot more transparent horseshit in the article than I remembered. I read that statement about the “get out of jail free card” several times, and I still can’t figure out what the hell it is trying to say.

    Word of advice: Next time I am criticizing an article, read what I have to say, if you ever get tired of being profoundly wrong. I am not always right, but this was such a transparent bunch of nonsense that I find it very weird that you leapt to its defense.

    I’m done with this discussion. I think the point is made and I’m not trying to hector you indefinitely. Just wanted to follow up. I care about it enough to this point because of anger at the killing in Gaza, and likewise at anyone who’s complicit in promoting self-serving lies – like this article – which will encourage and continue it.