Just hours after President Trump's ultimatum, Hamas indicated that it was ready to negotiate the release of all hostages held in Gaza. As expected, the Islamist movement did not approve of Trump's plan and expressed several reservations. Without waiting for "clarifications" from Hamas, the American president rushed to welcome this ambiguous response, stating: "I believe they are ready for lasting peace." He called on Israel to immediately cease strikes on Gaza, arguing that the details would be worked out during negotiations. He also warned Hamas that it would not accept any delays.
Against this backdrop, Netanyahu is ready to begin negotiations on the first phase of the American plan. In a televised address, he hoped to bring back all the hostages "in the coming days."
Therefore, despite all the many questions and difficulties on the ground, close coordination with the American administration is vital, and it presents a considerable asset: by committing to negotiating the Trump plan, the State of Israel is finally emerging from its isolation in the international arena and obtaining solid assurances from the United States.
In his approach, Trump has thwarted French diplomacy and inflicted a severe snub on President Macron, who wanted to precipitate events by first offering a state to the Palestinians, without obtaining any concessions, notably on the immediate release of all hostages, as the American president strongly demands.
Unlike Macron's plan, the 20 points of the Trump plan were written in concert with Israel. The American plan was not developed using AI, but was carefully and skillfully studied by seasoned experts and diplomats, with the aim of isolating Hamas from the outset and gaining the approval of the Arab-Muslim world.
For now, this is only a draft, a first draft, but it is a noble work for future relations between Israel and all the countries of the Middle East.
Of course, this plan is not a peace treaty, but it does outline a roadmap. A framework agreement that sets solid milestones to enable stakeholders to clearly monitor the plan's progress, while jointly making adjustments and identifying strategic, economic, and diplomatic priorities at each stage.
Certainly, the Trump plan is vulnerable and fraught with pitfalls, but after two years of war without political resolution, it has the great merit of being able to achieve Israeli demands, those we have been seeking since the end of the Six Day War in 1967.
For the first time in the annals of the Arab-Israeli conflict, an American president is blurring the lines and boldly proposing a different vision for resolving the Palestinian question. While setting the record straight on history, he is taking seriously all the factors represented by the overwhelming majority of Israelis:
- the historical rights of the Jewish people to their land
- no withdrawal to the 1949 armistice lines
- secure and defensible borders
- Jerusalem indivisible under Israeli sovereignty
- the Golan Heights under Israeli sovereignty
- Hamas and all "resistance" movements against the Jewish state are now terrorist organizations
- No to recognition of the Palestinian state before final status negotiations
Of course, we are only at the beginning, and the road to peace is fraught with obstacles. To lead a normal life in a hostile environment, Israel will need to equip itself with a comprehensive defense infrastructure. The Jewish state must be able to ensure its strategic depth, defend its vital points, and protect its population in the crowded urban areas along the coastal plain and the Jerusalem region. Only defensible borders and adequate security measures can ensure stability in the Middle East.
Despite uncertainties and concerns, the new geostrategic situation in the Middle East presents new opportunities. It offers Israel the chance to develop security cooperation with pragmatic elements in the region, with all those fighting extremists, including Iran.
However, despite all the threats and risks, let us always remain optimistic by having a pragmatic political will, to finally reshape the Middle East towards stability, normalization, and coexistence.
Now Israel will be able to better explain that resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not the region's only concern. There are real security concerns that justify defensible borders in the Golan Heights and the Jordan Valley as well.
More than ever, we could also more easily convince European chancelleries of the strategic value of the Jewish state in the defense of the West itself, particularly in the fight against Islamist terrorism. Moreover, it is time for Europe – and France in particular – to take into consideration not only the aspirations of the Arabs, but also the heritage of the Jewish people, as well as the threats and vital and security interests of the State of Israel.
The Palestinian question cannot be definitively resolved without a comprehensive solution to all other conflicts in the region. Diplomacy is undoubtedly the best tool for avoiding wars and putting an end to conflicts.
During the new negotiations in Cairo on the release of the hostages, it is desirable to freeze pressure and street demonstrations against the Israeli delegation, as this will encourage Hamas to wage a gruesome and endless psychological war. It is also essential that Benjamin Netanyahu take responsibility and prevent extremist rebels within his government from sabotaging the talks.
Let us not foolishly miss a unique historic opportunity, that of being able to negotiate from a position of strength with unwavering support from the United States. The entire Israeli nation hopes for the release of all hostages, even if the price is very high, by releasing hundreds of bloodthirsty terrorists.
Until Israel wins its case, the IDF must maintain its presence in the Gaza Strip, South Lebanon, and on the heights of Mount Hermon, and obtain solid guarantees so that it can finally live in absolute security, without fearing a new nightmare scenario like that of October 7, 2023.
