Confused and dazed in Tel Aviv

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There is a surreal moment driving out of Tel Aviv, after passing kilometers of “Welcome home hostages” signs: a 10-story-tall image of a beneficent, smiling Donald Trump, “Thankyou Mr. President” added in enthusiastic script.

Dana Stroul, in an opinion piece in the New York Times, writes that Trump won Bibi over to the peace agreement by digging into his troubled domestic politics, promising him a boost in popularity as elections loom in a year, and adding the Trump trademark authoritative sneer to voices calling for dropping all legal proceedings against our prime minister.

But the deal Bibi got is a bit different than the one Ms. Stroul suggests. Because when it comes to ending the war and releasing the hostages, Trump has been in control since he took office in January. Families of hostages, frustrated by the brick walls they encountered in the Prime Ministers’ office and the Knesset, began turning to Trump. Trump had already been instrumental in the previous hostage release.

Now, everyone is fully aware that it is Trump who is calling the shots. Bibi can tell the nation he intends to return to war, but we all know that a hand signal from Trump – slow down little guy – will prevent him from sending troops back in.

That is, Bibi has gained, if not popularity, a way to remain in the top seat while ending the war. The trade-off: diminished power in real time.

For the Israeli left, such as it is, these are confusing times. A right-wing American president brought us an end to the war where the Democratic presidents before him had failed. The international left is somehow demonstrating in support of Hamas – a failed extremist dictatorship dedicated to eradicating its larger neighbor – even as the broad outlines of the first stage of a ceasefire agreement were inked. In the meantime, Hamas is busy demonstrating why the world needs to take away its weapons, as it turns them on Gazans who support ending its rule.

In addition, as Stroul pointed out, Trump is validating other actions by Israel’s right-wing government, including the court system reform that would concentrate power in the hands of corrupt politicians – something the broad center-to-left has been fighting for almost three years.

Stroul writes that Trump flipped the script. For those of us who have opposed this government since it took office, Trump flipped the diplomatic script, but also that of traditional right and left. And those of us who, for the past three years attended weekly or daily demonstrations opposing the reform, the war, the continued hostage situation – we find we need to stop, redefine ourselves and our stands, and possibly flip our own scripts.

Many describe the end to the war as returning to them the ability to breathe. We all took a deep breath, collectively, as a nation; but I would add that we can finally begin to move forward, after two years of being sucked into the ugly sewer of war. There remains, of course, much to oppose. But to advance, we might also need to decide what we intend to stand and be counted for, instead of against. Here is a partial list:

For an independent commission to investigate the events of Oct. 7;

For an independent inquiry into war crimes; for bringing the full picture of the destruction and deaths in Gaza to the forefront of Israeli attention;

For dealing with the issues of the Haredi population in a way that includes them in the state;

For dealing with the issues of the Israeli Palestinian population in a way that is just and equal;

For beating our swords into ploughshares: diverting funding from defense, settlements and yeshivas to education, health and welfare;

For helping this country bridge the gap between agreeing to end the war and achieving peace.

Mr. President, I voted against you, but thank you. Please continue to keep your foot on our brakes. And when it comes to creating real peace, we may be confused, but we are ready.