Trump’s latest peace plan; attack on synagogue in Manchester; flotillas intercepted; sanctions on Iran reimposed
The Trump peace plan cannot end Islamist jihad
The peace plan announced by US President Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu on 29th September is the closest thing to a realistic peace plan we have seen in the last two years. It ushers a breath hope in the midst of despondency. It is a masterful piece of diplomatic craftsmanship. But everything depends on whether Hamas is willing to concede defeat. That is unlikely.
On its face, the proposal looks like a win-win for both Israel and the Palestinians. All Israeli hostages will be released. Gaza will be deradicalized. Hamas will have no role in Gaza’s future governance and will be disarmed. Israel will gradually withdraw from all of Gaza (except a buffer zone), and regional Arab and international forces will act as peacekeepers to ensure reform of the Palestinian Authority and facilitate reconstruction of Gaza.
The plan is supported by a wide group of regional and international nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and – even Pakistan and Turkey. In this way, Iran and Russia are being isolated.
Hamas has been cornered. If it agrees, the war “will immediately end”. Hamas will lay down its arms and commit to deradicalisation and peaceful co-existence. But if Hamas refuses to agree or does not release all hostages, Israel will retain the full right to continue its current military campaign, the aim of which is to dismantle Hamas and ensure the release of the hostages. Either way, international peacekeepers are to begin operating in those parts of Gaza currently controlled by Israeli forces even as the war continues to remove Hamas from the remaining 30% it still dominates.
In order to create a “New Gaza”, a technocratic government will be set up under leadership of President Trump and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. An economic plan will be created to redevelop Gaza. Independent monitors will oversee the demilitarization of Gaza. An International Stabilization Force (ISF) will train and provide support to vetted Palestinian police forces in consultation with Jordan and Egypt. But while the plan looks good on paper, in the Middle East not all is as it seems.
Will this plan bring peace? Even if Hamas accepts, the war will of course not come to an end. It will be a ceasefire at best. That is because Israel is not fighting a war against Hamas, but against a death-cult ideology financed by hostile Islamic states like Iran and Qatar that has spread like a cancer around the globe. Organizations adhering to this death cult operate not only in Gaza but also the Arab parts of Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria (the “West Bank”), Lebanon, Syria and Jordan, as well as Iraq, Iran and Turkey. This Islamist jihad ideology does not think in terms of conventional warfare. It never accepts defeat. It is willing to sacrifice its own children for the greater goal of defeating the infidels.
It remains to be seen whether Hamas will agree to this deal. The indications are that they will demand amendments. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Thursday: “There are a lot of holes that need to be filled. We need more discussions on how to implement it, especially on two important issues — governance and security arrangements. We are supportive of the Trump plan and the vision to end war and need to move forward.” Abdelatty said that Qatar, Egypt and Turkey are working to convince Hamas to accept the plan, warning that the conflict will escalate if the Palestinian terrorist group refuses.
As military analyst Andrew Fox has observed, this plan could provide Israel with a tactical win, but does not guarantee a political-strategic victory: “This deal is a temporary measure, not a comprehensive peace agreement. It ensures a pause in fighting and an opportunity to rebuild, but it does not resolve whether Gaza will be genuinely stable or who will ultimately govern it in the long run.”
Boats from a large flotilla attempting to break a maritime blockade on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip | Photo: Jamal Awad/Flash90
Flotillas heading for Gaza intercepted
The Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday night intercepted dozens of boats in the “Global Sumud Flotilla” attempting to breach the blockade of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. The declared objective of the Global Sumud Flotilla—sumud meaning “steadfastness” in Arabic—was to “to break the illegal siege on Gaza by sea, open a humanitarian corridor and end the ongoing genocide.” Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, a French European parliamentarian of Palestinian origin, were among those participating.
Israel maintains that its naval blockade on the enclave, which aims to prevent weapons, terrorists and funds from entering or exiting Gaza by sea, and was imposed on Jan. 3, 2009, is compatible with international law.
Sanctions on Iran reimposed
This week the European Union reimposed sanctions on Iran due to Tehran’s violations of its obligations under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). This follows the invoking of the snap back mechanism by France, Germany and the UK (E3) who notified the UN Security Council on 28 August of Iran’s significant non-compliance of its commitments under the JCPOA – an agreement made between Western countries and Iran in 2015 to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons.
J’accuse
Melanie Phillips: Britain’s political and cultural establishment has blood on its hands today. Expressions of shock and sympathy from Labour politicians have curdled the stomach. After all, what on earth did they expect? British Jews have been warning about the lethal incitement against them for a long time, but have been totally ignored.
Waiting on Hamas with bated breath
Andrew Fox: The timing and form of the deal are heavily influenced by international pressure and Israeli domestic politics: Trump needs this war done, and Bibi needs an off-ramp.
IDF intercepts ‘Global Sumud Flotilla’ heading to Gaza
“All the passengers are safe and in good health,” said the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
EU confirms ‘snapback’ sanctions on Iran amid calls for dialogue
European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas emphasized however that “a sustainable solution to the Iranian nuclear issue can only be achieved through negotiations.”
Qatar Must Apologize for Supporting Islamist Terrorist Group
Khaled Abu Toameh: Israel’s PM Netanyahu has apologized to Qatar for killing a Qatari civilian in its recent strike on Hamas leaders in Doha. But if anyone needs to apologize, it is Qatar, which has long been financing, hosting, and advocating for Hamas and other Islamist terror groups such as the Islamic State (ISIS) and Al-Qaeda.
Andrew Tucker is in New York for the UN General Assembly. He gives us an inside look at what has happened so far and what is expected to happen at the meeting.
SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK:
Psalm 80:1-7
Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth
2 before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh. Awaken your might; come and save us.
3 Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.
4 How long, LORD God Almighty, will your anger smolder against the prayers of your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears; you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
6 You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors, and our enemies mock us.
7 Restore us, God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.
