The Nobel Peace Prize committee will find it hard to ignore Donald Trump's accomplishments, with his acumen overshadowing even the legendary Henry Kissinger in his level of sophistication and originality.
These moments will belong first and foremost to the hostages who return and their families, but also to every Israeli who worked for their return, and to the American team that made this possible.
Erdoğan has already announced that the Turkish army will be part of the international force that will deploy in Gaza after the IDF withdrawal and that Turkey will play a role in rehabilitating the Strip.
When the home trembles, when doubt is cast upon it, its residents rush to rescue it. "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken," wrote Ecclesiastes.
Officials in Jerusalem described the second day of talks in Egypt as marked by “cautious optimism.” Once again, they are confident that images of hostages returning to their families will overshadow the national debate over the heavy price Israeli society will pay – including the troubling message it sends about the revolving doors of Israel’s prison system and the cost of future abductions.
A deal with Hamas may be a necessary evil, but anyone who agrees to release 250 mass murderers – who left behind trails of blood and bereavement, and will almost certainly kill again – has no right to speak of “total victory.” This is not a triumph. It is being blackmailed by terrorists and surrendering to their demands, even if the goal is a worthy one.
The international community cannot lose its nerve now. For the first time since October 7, the balance of power has shifted in the right direction, not through appeasement or empty rhetoric, but through unified, unwavering pressure on Hamas to lay down its weapons or face the consequences.
On the sukkah in the Diaspora and in the Land of Israel; on Jewish existence in a world once again trembling; on the fallen sukkah of David that has hovered over us for a long moment and risen; and on the great spirit that has awakened and will not return empty-handed.
Trump, undeniably one of Israel’s greatest allies in history who has stood by Israel in the most challenging times against the entire world, but in collaboration with Steve Witkoff, perceives Gaza as a venue for a deal, not necessarily a dangerous minefield. Both are real estate professionals who operate on the belief that when an asset declines, one merely needs to purchase it at a low price, refurbish it, and sell it for a profit. This mindset, however, is ill-suited for the Middle East.
Should the new peace plan fail, the blame should be placed squarely on Hamas. Netanyahu acted properly when he granted request to halt attacks in Gaza. The bottom line is that success was and remains dependent on implementation.