The peace plan-Israel’s burden

It’s December, Chanukkah is around the corner, and the peace plan is as exciting as yesterday’s day-old bread. The high fives, back slapping, and self-congratulatory hyperbole have disappeared in the rear-view mirror of the world’s mind. Even flotilla-loving Greta has returned to climate change and found new pastures to protest and annoy.  One might assume that Gaza has lost its appeal on the world stage. The hostages have been returned, and the ceasefire gravitas has ebbed like smoke through the keyhole.

The elephant in the room remains the obvious improbability that this or any other plan requiring Hamas to surrender their weapons or control of Gaza will succeed. The old 90s adage “been there, done that, bought the t-shirt” fits well with the expectations of this peace plan or any other previous plan that loses momentum, and Israelis have to deal with missile attacks or intifadas, whichever becomes the terrorists’ preferred method. I cannot recall one peace plan that changed the minds of the “Palestinians,” increased Israel’s security, reduced global bias against Israel, or led to a terrorist-free Middle East. It’s ingrained in the region’s DNA.

Peace often serves as a convenient buzzword for political gain and personal legacies. World leaders aim to shape history and secure their legacy, seeking a sense of immortality. From Presidents Carter to Clinton, and now Trump, peace in the Middle East has consistently been the primary goal of every administration, a badge of honor, and a bonus of “good leadership.” Gaining global admiration is a political aphrodisiac. The idea that deep-seated hatred will somehow vanish with a handshake and a signature is not only naïve but as effective as chewing on water. Yet, that has been the blueprint for every attempt to establish “peace” in the Middle East. A mix of self-righteous, almost narcissistic confidence and wishful thinking that this time “it will work.” Famous last words.

The hostages have been released, which is a blessing, but aside from the UN Security Council’s thumbs-up for the plan, nothing else has really happened. Hamas has yet to shed its masks and guns and give itself up. The international stabilization force has yet to materialize, and terrorist attacks in Israel are still happening or being foiled. Hamas has not surrendered and seems to take pleasure in prolonging the release of dead hostages.

The leading players in the stabilization force will allegedly be Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, and Indonesia. France, on the sidelines, committed itself to funding, whatever that means or entails. Those who championed the popular Palestinian State and Palestinian flags on imaginary embassies, like in Malta, are now stuck in that lane. According to the Trump plan, a Palestinian State is the last curtain call. A long wait till the fat lady sings.

Lest we forget: the Palestinians have been offered statehood for the past 80 years, and they refused it. I doubt this time will be any different. I might be proven wrong. Having self-government also means economic responsibility, which Palestinians—thanks to organizations like the UN—have never had to shoulder. They have mainly relied on global funding. Billions have been channeled into the Palestinian cause from the international community and the UN, yet nothing has ever been manufactured, produced, or built except Hamas terror tunnels. Let us not forget UNRWA, which funded schools and literature hateful toward Jews and Israel. A few hundred UNRWA employees participated in the October 7th atrocities. These are the people the Trump plan aims to change and mold into productive, Western-like citizens of a new state. Sorry for my pessimism, but good luck with that.

Egypt is hardly concerned with Israel’s well-being; it is more focused on avoiding past mistakes, such as allowing terror infiltration by groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, similar factions, or Hamas proxies. Turkey is trying to revive the Ottoman Empire to regain influence in the region. Turkey recently held an anti-Israel summit where terror leader Khaled Mashaal was among the “guests” and reiterated his objections to the peace plan. Then there is Pakistan and Indonesia. Both are dealing with terror groups of their own, such as ISIS, the Taliban, and Hizb ut-Tahrir Indonesia. These nations do not exactly inspire confidence.

Although weakened, Hamas is still alive and well. Still controlling parts of Gaza and still holding on to their power. They might be down but not out. Their game is to stretch this out as long as possible, giving them time to recruit and probably rebrand. What they will morph into is anyone’s guess, but like snakes, they will grow a new skin and slide back into the region to become a greater threat to Israel. It has always been the modus operandi of Palestinian terrorists.

A report in January 2024 by Dr. Ely Karmon of Reichman University and the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) states that Palestinian terror organizations lead global terrorism. After the six-day war in 1967, various terror factions emerged in Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. Some well-known groups, like the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), transformed into the Palestine Liberation Organization, and thanks to Arafat and his connections to Iran and the Ayatollah, groups like Hezbollah and similar organizations appeared. The Palestinian terror network provided training grounds for Al-Qaida, Hezbollah, and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Southern Yemen. Terror groups merge and redefine themselves with time and money. Hamas had Qatar, Turkey, and Iran behind it. In the past, Arab terror groups had the backing of the USSR. With such a past and potential regrouping, Hamas remains one of the most prolific terror groups in the world.

Those of us who have experienced numerous peace plans and subsequent intifadas can’t help but conclude that this will likely also harm Israel. After handshakes, peace awards, and media coverage, it consistently happens that Israel faces waves of terror attacks and new intifadas. By now, it should be clear that the only path to peace is to eliminate the enemy, the bad guys, the hostage takers. Instead, Hamas was granted diplomatic concessions and protection. As always, Israel was compelled to free prisoners, some of whom committed terrible crimes. We have been down this road before, and it never ended well. Those released will join “the cause” with even deadlier resolve than before.

The longer time passes, the more Hamas can regroup, rebrand, rebuild, and refocus. Hamas has already won the public relations battle against Israel, and it will require some creative marketing from Israel to match their audacity and effectively present their case. Legacy media outlets like the BBC, which was recognized in 2021 as the third most antisemitic organization by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, CNN, whose bias is widely known and not even hidden, and publications like The New York Times and The Washington Post will continue their anti-Israel propaganda because it sells.

The rise of antisemitism is now seen as acceptable and justified, often framed as fighting apartheid and genocide by left-wing political and entertainment platforms. Religious leaders (like the Pope), right-wing podcasters such as the toxic Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson, contribute to a recipe reminiscent of 1938-like global antisemitism tropes and Jew hatred, which is now unleashed with immunity. When countries openly oppose the only democracy in the Middle East— a predominantly Jewish state— and continue to perpetuate antisemitic lies and false narratives, the battle for decency and moral integrity has been lost.

Meanwhile, children are being killed in Sudan, Congo, and South Africa. Persecution of Christians is widespread in African countries, especially Nigeria. Where is Greta and her flotilla? Where are Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia—who find Israel too morally lacking for the Eurovision song contest—yet have no issue with killings and genocides in African nations? Where are the signs and protests saying “free Congo” or “free Nigeria”?

Such is the hypocrisy of the world, and such is the situation with Israel. Israel has gone through more peace plans than a child goes through underwear. Will this process be any different from before? Those of us who have watched from the sidelines for decades have developed a certain level of cynicism and satirical anticipation. Given the current pace, this 20-point plan might be achieved by the end of this decade. In the meantime, Israel remains vulnerable to more terror attacks from Hamas or other sympathetic groups. The world has moved on. Trump has moved on. With the spotlight gone, the peace plan becomes just another political frustration. For Israel, it’s a matter of its very existence.

There is nobody more eager for peace than the Israelis. According to Dr. Karmon¹, if Hamas members decide to leave, even temporarily, they will find a safe haven in Turkey and Iran. Both countries are openly hostile toward Israel. Iran considers Hamas a useful Sunni ally in the region and a pawn to advance its anti-US and anti-Israel objectives. The naive beliefs of those promoting the peace plan largely overlook Iran’s true strategy to remain the real power behind international and global terrorism. This isn’t just Dr. Karmon’s prediction but reality.

Golda Meir was stoic and determined about her role as a leader, a Jew, and a woman in hostile territory. She saw and understood the world within these contexts and environments. She was neither pessimistic nor naïve. Golda Meir saw peace as an extension of Israel’s struggle to survive rather than a utopian state. Israel has always wanted peace, but its enemies have not always complied. “We say peace and the echo comes back from the other side, war. We don’t want wars even when we win.” Golda Meir².

¹Karmon, E. (2024). Palestinian Terrorist Organizations, Pioneers of Global Terrorism: Is Hamas Entering the Global Arena? Reichman University. International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT).  extension://cefhlgghdlbobdpihfdadojifnpghbji/https://ict.org.il/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Karmon_Palestinian-Terrorist-Organizations-Pioneers-of-Global-Terrorism_2024.pdf

²https://www.azquotes.com/author/9943-Golda_Meir