American negotiations with Hamas, unprecedented in nature, should infuriate Israelis. But more than that, they should inspire us to rethink what real independence means.
NO ONE knows what is going on behind closed doors and America could be threatening Hamas and laying it on the line with them. As for Israel's independence--Trump wants that, too. He doesn't want Israel to be dependent on a future President with less support again. Just like he wants Europe to be more independent. I feel confident that whatever America is doing behind closed doors with Hamas is all working in the favor of Israel, not just the USA. Either way, we'll know everything pretty soon.
I WISH I could be confident that Trump is not risking Israeli security, but, as I commented here a few moments ago, I do not know what is being offered TO Hamas in exchange for Edan Alexander. I'm also concerned that by speaking directly with Hamas only about the Americans, it may result in NO further live releases. By the way, is there ANY chance that Israeli Intelligence can actually locate where some or all living hostages are being kept, and is there any chance at all at this late stage that any could be rescued....Or are they too heavily guarded?
Well, you might have heard by now that Hamas has rejected every offer yesterday and said either Israel withdraws and the war comes to an end, or the hostages will die. They have already said if there are any rescue attempts, they would kill the hostages. And Israel cannot stop now and let Hamas regroup and rearm as they are attempting and have had some success. So. Now what? Anyone's guess, but I think war is about to resume.
Actually, Dana, were it avaialable, I would have selected a broken heart emoji or the (bleeding) heart with band-aids because the situation is getting worse & worse, & I for one, am taking this very personally. Israel presents an ever optimistic view that IDF is powerfu, & we will prevail, but the truth is, (I think) we are "shaking in our boots." Hamas smells our desperation. It's extremely painful knowing that 24 or so of our young men are alive & clinging to life, have all but lost a glimmer of hope, yet may perish in those cold torture tunnels. In a way, it feels like a catch 22; Chances are we won't get back any more hostages (I think Trump approaching them has only served to inflame & embolden them), and if we continue the ground offensive, we may well completely flatten Gaza to smithereens, along with all those remaining there. The World in general will then become even more Anti-Semitic & Anti-Israel. We will be accused by scores more of genocide & ethnic cleansing.
Oh, I hope your vision is not correct. Time will tell. I will continue to hope and believe in my vision and hope that you find some peace of mind during this difficult time of uncertainty. As for antisemitism--there is NOTHING Israel can do to change the trajectory. The haters will hate anything, no matter how "good" Israel/Jews try to be, that has been made clear, so Israel might as well do what they need to to survive, period. The antisemitic trajectory will change when good, strong leaders speak and act against it, and good, strong people do the same. In America, we have those leaders now and they are speaking and acting on it. Again, we just have to hope and pray and do what we can to stand strong, no matter what happens.
Like you, I am hoping and praying. I have also shared the thought that Robin Alexander (She posted above) expressed; I know there is risk in any assertion, but it would be a thought to LIE & PRETEND, briefly pulling out of Gaza as soon as all the living hostages are returned in one go (as they have said). Then continue the offensive to annihilate Hamas as much as possible.
Yet when Trump was informed of the intransigent attitude of Hamas he tweeted a very pro Israel Tweet I think that Trump was clearly exploring in private negotiations whether there was in fact any possibility no matter how remote and unrealistic of a possible release of hostages without the IDF having to go back into Gaza. We should not jump to conclusions on this issue
The US has treated Israel like a vassal, especially in terms of defense and armaments, because Israel has allowed it. There are certain weapons that Israel is not yet capable of building. However, for the ones they can, Israel must expand its defense industry. This is especially important because, at some point, the US will elect a president whose attitude towards Israel is even worse than Obama’s was.
Trump is taking the heat off of Netanyahu by being the brassy heavy. The ICC, UN, Vatican, and every other self important liberal pro Palestinian made up entity and virtually every nation on earth has heaped lies and constraint upon Israel since the pathologists first reported a fraction of what the Gazans did during the massacre. We just watched the babies’ coffins return and the poor Palestinians/bad Israel propaganda has only increased. While Trump does what he does superbly in front of cameras, Bibi and IDF are planning. And yet still cannot do what needs to be done because of hostages. Trump and Bibi are working hand in hand. Gaza will be destroyed and rebuilt just as Zephaniah 2 professed.
Trump just signed into law an EO going after antisemite ‘protestors’. Which is going after anti Jew, anti Israel, anti Netanyahu, anti Zion, anti IDF . . . Trump just released huge armaments for Israel. They’ve reached your ports and tarmacs by now. Trump is publicly standing in every way behind Israel and against Gaza. I’m certain there will be American troops beside IDF if/when needed. From the grapevine…
And just today, March 7, the Trump Administration has **cancelled** $400M in grants to Columbia University, citing its failure to confront antisemitism on campus.
For a human being, having friends is an essential asset - but nations can't have 'friends'.
The equivalent is having allies (consequently honoring treaties and sharing information with like-minded countries) - it makes nations safer.
Unfortunately, mr. Trump doesn't appreciate friends as a person nor, as US president, recognises the value of having allies. Europe knows already and Israel will find out soon, I am afraid.
I think the conclusion is absolutely correct. To the greatest extent feasible, Israel should strive for independence, particularly in regards to military autonomy including supply chain autonomy. The U.S. will be a better ally under Trump than Biden, but there is no doubt that national interests diverge in the normal course of events and Israel needs more optionality.
Trump's priority is to get the hostages out and for that this transactional president is willing to talk to Hamas directly. I would not interpret that as a policy shift, unlike Obama with Iran.
Once all the living hostages are out, the transaction is complete and Netanyahu can do as he's done with prior agreements and finish Hamas. Trump, if anything, will be cheering him on.
Israel has much to offer many countries and Avigdor Lieberman, as Foreign Minister, did much to that effect, especially with small Eastern European countries like Hungary. But don't ever believe that small countries will take Israel's side against the United States.
That's why it's important for Israel to accommodate the US when possible. An example was for US arms sales to Gulf countries in the 1980s, when they were extremely hostile to Israel.
I don’t feel betrayed by President Trump sending a mission to talk with Hamas. It’s good to have such a supportive American president. It’s also good to look towards Leviticus 26.3 (Behoukosai). Our strength and success will always come from Hashem.
As the first commenter said, we don’t know what’s happening behind the scenes. So, for what it’s worth, I suspect that President Trump wants a quick “victory” by having all American-Israeli hostages (the one living, the others dead) released immediately. After which, he will announce that it is up to Netanyahu to decide on the best course for Israel regarding Hamas and the remaining hostages, and that whatever he decides, the U.S. will back Israel.
Hamas will therefore not surrender the U.S. hostages separately for at least two reasons. First, it will not create any daylight between the U.S. and Israel. In fact, the U.S. has already indicated it will give Israel a free hand.
Second, the bodies will no doubt tell the tale of mistreatment and murder while the living hostage will give his account. When these horrors are revealed, Hamas will feel the backlash.
However, the Israeli-Americans hostages are Hamas’ only hope to negotiate its way to survival and, thus, “victory”. Its gamble is that Trump will not sacrifice the one life and, instead, put pressure on Israel to cave in.
Frankly, I don’t see that happening. What is needed to resolve this situation with no further bloodshed is precisely what will never happen: those countries who support Hamas need to tell it that it has lost and needs to surrender and release the hostages unconditionally. This won’t happen because these countries have no love for or interest in Palestinians beyond using them as pawns in some larger game.
So, after Hamas refuses to release the American hostages, and unless a million Israelis hit the streets to say “get all the hostages home now, whatever the costs because we are prepared to fight Hamas another day”, the IDF will implement its game plan to defeat Hamas but this time it will have wall-to-wall US military and diplomatic support. One wishes it were otherwise, but you have to play the hand you’re dealt.
Trump makes public statements saying one thing than does another behind closed doors. I can get whiplash from his ever-shifting positions on foreign policy. For those of you assuring that Trump has Israel's back, you are missing the point. Even if Trump is the "best friend Israel has ever had", a comment Bibi felt the need to publicly express not so coincidentally after Trump's blow-up at Zelensky in the oval office, Israel cannot depend on the whims of any US president of either party. As we saw with the last administration, they won't always have a friendly president, including any future Republican president, especially considering the isolationism growing within the GOP.
So when The Muslim Brotherhood assassinates Donald Trump using CIA Paramilitary, like they did with JFK and Malcolm X-- Israel gets the blame and Vance can cut off all Military Support and appear to be the Ultimate Democrat.
Meanwhile Armageddon begins in The Middle East and The Jews are Babylonian Slaves again, if They We don't win.
NO ONE knows what is going on behind closed doors and America could be threatening Hamas and laying it on the line with them. As for Israel's independence--Trump wants that, too. He doesn't want Israel to be dependent on a future President with less support again. Just like he wants Europe to be more independent. I feel confident that whatever America is doing behind closed doors with Hamas is all working in the favor of Israel, not just the USA. Either way, we'll know everything pretty soon.
I WISH I could be confident that Trump is not risking Israeli security, but, as I commented here a few moments ago, I do not know what is being offered TO Hamas in exchange for Edan Alexander. I'm also concerned that by speaking directly with Hamas only about the Americans, it may result in NO further live releases. By the way, is there ANY chance that Israeli Intelligence can actually locate where some or all living hostages are being kept, and is there any chance at all at this late stage that any could be rescued....Or are they too heavily guarded?
Well, you might have heard by now that Hamas has rejected every offer yesterday and said either Israel withdraws and the war comes to an end, or the hostages will die. They have already said if there are any rescue attempts, they would kill the hostages. And Israel cannot stop now and let Hamas regroup and rearm as they are attempting and have had some success. So. Now what? Anyone's guess, but I think war is about to resume.
Agree to anything, get the hostages out, then obliterate the MF-ers. It's so easy. LIE. Stop being so ethical. It's ridiculous. Fight dirty.
Actually, Dana, were it avaialable, I would have selected a broken heart emoji or the (bleeding) heart with band-aids because the situation is getting worse & worse, & I for one, am taking this very personally. Israel presents an ever optimistic view that IDF is powerfu, & we will prevail, but the truth is, (I think) we are "shaking in our boots." Hamas smells our desperation. It's extremely painful knowing that 24 or so of our young men are alive & clinging to life, have all but lost a glimmer of hope, yet may perish in those cold torture tunnels. In a way, it feels like a catch 22; Chances are we won't get back any more hostages (I think Trump approaching them has only served to inflame & embolden them), and if we continue the ground offensive, we may well completely flatten Gaza to smithereens, along with all those remaining there. The World in general will then become even more Anti-Semitic & Anti-Israel. We will be accused by scores more of genocide & ethnic cleansing.
Oh, I hope your vision is not correct. Time will tell. I will continue to hope and believe in my vision and hope that you find some peace of mind during this difficult time of uncertainty. As for antisemitism--there is NOTHING Israel can do to change the trajectory. The haters will hate anything, no matter how "good" Israel/Jews try to be, that has been made clear, so Israel might as well do what they need to to survive, period. The antisemitic trajectory will change when good, strong leaders speak and act against it, and good, strong people do the same. In America, we have those leaders now and they are speaking and acting on it. Again, we just have to hope and pray and do what we can to stand strong, no matter what happens.
Like you, I am hoping and praying. I have also shared the thought that Robin Alexander (She posted above) expressed; I know there is risk in any assertion, but it would be a thought to LIE & PRETEND, briefly pulling out of Gaza as soon as all the living hostages are returned in one go (as they have said). Then continue the offensive to annihilate Hamas as much as possible.
Amen!
Yet when Trump was informed of the intransigent attitude of Hamas he tweeted a very pro Israel Tweet I think that Trump was clearly exploring in private negotiations whether there was in fact any possibility no matter how remote and unrealistic of a possible release of hostages without the IDF having to go back into Gaza. We should not jump to conclusions on this issue
Indeed. Trump is the only nation leader totally behind Israel and Netanyahu.
I think the president of Argentina might disagree.
President Trump has been the most pro-Israel president for decades, so I don't think he's doing this against Israeli interests.
Agree!
The US has treated Israel like a vassal, especially in terms of defense and armaments, because Israel has allowed it. There are certain weapons that Israel is not yet capable of building. However, for the ones they can, Israel must expand its defense industry. This is especially important because, at some point, the US will elect a president whose attitude towards Israel is even worse than Obama’s was.
Trump is taking the heat off of Netanyahu by being the brassy heavy. The ICC, UN, Vatican, and every other self important liberal pro Palestinian made up entity and virtually every nation on earth has heaped lies and constraint upon Israel since the pathologists first reported a fraction of what the Gazans did during the massacre. We just watched the babies’ coffins return and the poor Palestinians/bad Israel propaganda has only increased. While Trump does what he does superbly in front of cameras, Bibi and IDF are planning. And yet still cannot do what needs to be done because of hostages. Trump and Bibi are working hand in hand. Gaza will be destroyed and rebuilt just as Zephaniah 2 professed.
None of this is on Israel. Hamas is 100% responsible for all of this. Get the hostages back and the IDF can end it.
Precisely.
Trump just signed into law an EO going after antisemite ‘protestors’. Which is going after anti Jew, anti Israel, anti Netanyahu, anti Zion, anti IDF . . . Trump just released huge armaments for Israel. They’ve reached your ports and tarmacs by now. Trump is publicly standing in every way behind Israel and against Gaza. I’m certain there will be American troops beside IDF if/when needed. From the grapevine…
And just today, March 7, the Trump Administration has **cancelled** $400M in grants to Columbia University, citing its failure to confront antisemitism on campus.
https://www.thefp.com/p/exclusive-trump-administration-cancels
Please, dear God, let him come after the Universities of California next. They are all so awful for Jews.
Already happening
https://thehill.com/homenews/education/5178565-doj-antisemitism-investigation-university-of-california/
As are deportations of Hamas activists
https://www.breitbart.com/middle-east/2025/03/07/report-trumps-state-department-revokes-first-visa-of-foreign-pro-hamas-student/
For a human being, having friends is an essential asset - but nations can't have 'friends'.
The equivalent is having allies (consequently honoring treaties and sharing information with like-minded countries) - it makes nations safer.
Unfortunately, mr. Trump doesn't appreciate friends as a person nor, as US president, recognises the value of having allies. Europe knows already and Israel will find out soon, I am afraid.
You just might not be correct here. And just because I’m right doesn’t make me wrong.
I think the conclusion is absolutely correct. To the greatest extent feasible, Israel should strive for independence, particularly in regards to military autonomy including supply chain autonomy. The U.S. will be a better ally under Trump than Biden, but there is no doubt that national interests diverge in the normal course of events and Israel needs more optionality.
Trump's priority is to get the hostages out and for that this transactional president is willing to talk to Hamas directly. I would not interpret that as a policy shift, unlike Obama with Iran.
Once all the living hostages are out, the transaction is complete and Netanyahu can do as he's done with prior agreements and finish Hamas. Trump, if anything, will be cheering him on.
Israel has much to offer many countries and Avigdor Lieberman, as Foreign Minister, did much to that effect, especially with small Eastern European countries like Hungary. But don't ever believe that small countries will take Israel's side against the United States.
That's why it's important for Israel to accommodate the US when possible. An example was for US arms sales to Gulf countries in the 1980s, when they were extremely hostile to Israel.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sy3fofpjkl
I hope you're right!
Very true.
I don’t feel betrayed by President Trump sending a mission to talk with Hamas. It’s good to have such a supportive American president. It’s also good to look towards Leviticus 26.3 (Behoukosai). Our strength and success will always come from Hashem.
Amen
I completely agree. I have been saying this since October 7th happened. Israel can’t rely on the US even while it keeps the US as an important ally.
I agree.
As the first commenter said, we don’t know what’s happening behind the scenes. So, for what it’s worth, I suspect that President Trump wants a quick “victory” by having all American-Israeli hostages (the one living, the others dead) released immediately. After which, he will announce that it is up to Netanyahu to decide on the best course for Israel regarding Hamas and the remaining hostages, and that whatever he decides, the U.S. will back Israel.
Hamas will therefore not surrender the U.S. hostages separately for at least two reasons. First, it will not create any daylight between the U.S. and Israel. In fact, the U.S. has already indicated it will give Israel a free hand.
Second, the bodies will no doubt tell the tale of mistreatment and murder while the living hostage will give his account. When these horrors are revealed, Hamas will feel the backlash.
However, the Israeli-Americans hostages are Hamas’ only hope to negotiate its way to survival and, thus, “victory”. Its gamble is that Trump will not sacrifice the one life and, instead, put pressure on Israel to cave in.
Frankly, I don’t see that happening. What is needed to resolve this situation with no further bloodshed is precisely what will never happen: those countries who support Hamas need to tell it that it has lost and needs to surrender and release the hostages unconditionally. This won’t happen because these countries have no love for or interest in Palestinians beyond using them as pawns in some larger game.
So, after Hamas refuses to release the American hostages, and unless a million Israelis hit the streets to say “get all the hostages home now, whatever the costs because we are prepared to fight Hamas another day”, the IDF will implement its game plan to defeat Hamas but this time it will have wall-to-wall US military and diplomatic support. One wishes it were otherwise, but you have to play the hand you’re dealt.
Trump makes public statements saying one thing than does another behind closed doors. I can get whiplash from his ever-shifting positions on foreign policy. For those of you assuring that Trump has Israel's back, you are missing the point. Even if Trump is the "best friend Israel has ever had", a comment Bibi felt the need to publicly express not so coincidentally after Trump's blow-up at Zelensky in the oval office, Israel cannot depend on the whims of any US president of either party. As we saw with the last administration, they won't always have a friendly president, including any future Republican president, especially considering the isolationism growing within the GOP.
So when The Muslim Brotherhood assassinates Donald Trump using CIA Paramilitary, like they did with JFK and Malcolm X-- Israel gets the blame and Vance can cut off all Military Support and appear to be the Ultimate Democrat.
Meanwhile Armageddon begins in The Middle East and The Jews are Babylonian Slaves again, if They We don't win.
How pedantic The Plutocracy has become!