By Michael Kuttner…
“A disorganized and confused mixture of different things, often suggesting a lack of planning or cohesion.”
This definition seems to describe the current chaotic situation.
Without a doubt the release of the last remaining living Israeli hostages can be chalked up as a positive development. The combined efforts of President Trump and his negotiators plus Netanyahu are to be applauded. The collective relief and joy of families and the nation at their return made this year’s Simchat Torah celebrations very memorable. We spent this Chag on a religious kibbutz and the atmosphere was euphoric and uninhibited.
Unfortunately, reality rapidly revealed itself.
Making “deals” with jihadist terror groups was never going to prove successful. The only individuals and groups who hallucinate that terrorists can be guaranteed to keep any so called deals are the same ones who embraced Arafat and his Oslo deceit of the millennium.
Contrary to any signed piece of paper the bodies of murdered Israeli hostages are still being held. The agony of bodies not being all returned at the same time is not only excruciating but in direct contradiction to the “deal.” It was reported that Witkoff expressed sympathy & condolences to a Hamas terror leader on the death of his son by the IDF. This sort of inane gesture characterizes the current mess which is rapidly escalating into a major scandalous situation.
This is merely the tip of the iceberg.
Take the so called ceasefire as an example.
Israeli and USA spokespersons fervently declared that if Hamas broke the terms of this ceasefire “all hell would break out”. It did not take longer than 24 hours for Hamas to attack and kill IDF soldiers. At the same time they rounded up and assassinated opponents. This was recorded on video and widely circulated.
Did all hell break out?
Israel responded by bombing some Hamas locations. Trump promptly told Israel to stop. His rationale? It wasn’t really Hamas but some “rebels” who were violating the terms of the deal.
So much for the gates of hell opening. Hamas naturally has taken note and therefore they have become ever more brazen in their flouting of worthless pieces of paper.
Not only have they reiterated their refusal to disarm they have taken steps to ensure their continued role in controlling Gaza.
Vice President Vance who is visiting Israel has already admitted that there is no mechanism in place to enforce the complete disarming of Hamas. This confession that one of the main objectives of this touted brilliant deal cannot be enforced illustrates the farce that now confronts Israel.
What happens next?
Is there going to be another flip flop by Trump? Will Israel be permitted to finish the job? Will the chief patrons of Hamas, which are Qatar and Turkey, convince Trump, Witkoff and Kushner, to turn a blind eye?
In other words, will this piece of paper turn out to be another case of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory?
Hamas can already see which way the wind is blowing. Their latest demand is that Israel be compelled to pay for the reconstruction of Gaza. Presumably this includes rebuilding the extensive metro network of terror tunnels.
Who is going to govern Gaza? Tony Blair is a non starter. This idea was doomed from the start. Will Trump be seduced by economic blandishments from Qatar? Will his new founded friendship with Erdogen blind him to his irrational hatred of Israel? Will Abbas manage to convince Washington that he has morphed into a life long advocate of democracy and peace?
It doesn’t take very much for gullible people to be seduced by expressions of apparent peaceful intentions. A delegation of Israeli “peaceniks” recently went to Ramallah and had a mutual love fest with the PA President for life. They “kvelled” (Yiddish for expressing joy) as he embraced them and expressed feelings of love for any Israeli recognizing “Palestine.” All this coming from a man who authorizes payments to murderers of Israelis and their families.
Those who wept tears of joy and ecstasy in 1938 as Chamberlain waved a piece of paper signed by Hitler promising peace in our time were cruelly deceived. Today’s cheer leaders for the PA and Abbas follow a familiar path and refuse to learn from bitter historical precedents.
Many who embraced Gaza “friends” pre 7 October 2023 were murdered by them. Some have had their eyes opened to a cruel reality. Some unfortunately still live in la la land.
Amidst all the hoopla and frenetic visions of “a new Middle East” how many gave a thought to the agonizing spectacle of Islamic terrorists being released en masse?
These murderers of Israeli men, women and children were being set free as a quid pro quo for the return of illegally kidnapped Israelis and foreigners. Can anyone imagine the agonies being experienced by families as they saw the killers of their loved ones being released and being welcomed as conquering heroes by residents of PA controlled territory?
Apologists are quick to explain that without this wholesale release of murderers Hamas would have never agreed to return our hostages. All it really proves is that terror against Jews pays when those touting this worthless piece of paper prefer appeasement to actually finishing the job.
The way things are headed the end result of this two year war will be to leave Hamas still pulling the strings in Gaza. Can any sane person imagine the likes of an Arab and Islamic “peace” force disarming and defanging Hamas? We have seen this farce play out before in Afghanistan where another “brilliant” American piece of diplomacy handed control of the country back to the murderous Taliban.
Hamas may very well have been degraded but thousands of its terrorists are still intact and they continue to control by murderous means. The international mendacious media are not interested in the facts and prefer to peddle headlines and reports accusing Israel of truce violations and evil intent.
The unhinged Jew and Israel haters have at least made their agenda clear. Their true objective is the destruction and dissolution of the Jewish homeland.
Given all the facts, how does one explain the adoration and outpouring of Trump mania witnessed during his recent whirlwind visit to Israel?
Compared to Biden’s past “even handed” equivalence and equivocation of terror with retaliation the current administration’s responses have at least been more grounded in reality. Add in the fact that Kamala Harris would have been a major disaster one can understand that Trump is a preferred President.
His visit and appearance at the Knesset was always going to be a major Hollywood style production. The man glows and glorifies in unadulterated adoration and this occasion provided perfect opportunities for major ego massaging. It was an event with a preordained script and so it unfolded.
If it had been possible Trump would have been elevated to sainthood status on the spot and the Nobel peace prize would have been presented to him. Judaism does not create saints and Israel’s original nomination of him for Nobel Prize status no doubt doomed his chances. However the rhetoric from the Knesset Speaker, Israel’s President and Prime Minister convinced many that the long awaited “Moshiach” had in fact finally appeared.
Proclaiming that a new dawn was breaking and that “eternal peace” had finally been brokered Trump convinced all those weary of two years of war that the messianic age had actually arrived.
Like the masses who believed that the disastrous Oslo accords would usher in an era of peace today’s gullible groupies believe that Trump’s piece of paper will do the same. As the American mirage inevitably disintegrates there are some hard questions to answer.
When and who will thwart Iran’s continued march to nuclear blackmail status?
Who will destroy the Houthi menace? The US seems content that American ships are immune from attack and refuses to react when vessels from other maritime nations are targeted.
How will Hamas be prevented from controlling Gaza?
Who will prevent Hamas from rearming?
When will Israel be permitted to finish the job and eliminate all terror threats?
Can Trump deliver or will he lose interest with the task only partially completed?
Kushner has just stated that “Israel and Hamas are transitioning to a peacetime posture.” As long as someone like him refuses to see that Hamas’s only posture is the disappearance of Israel there will never be the slightest prospect of any sort of peace.
We live in dangerous times where the haters are emboldened and the majority of democracies prefer appeasement to bold action. Without a clear plan of action any prospect for genuine peace and tolerance will vanish as quickly as the Arabian desert mirages.
Michael Kuttner is a Jewish New Zealander who for many years was actively involved with various communal organisations connected to Judaism and Israel. He now lives in Israel.
[This article was originally published on J-Wire and is reproduced here with permission from Michael Kuttner.]
