Biden says deal only reached due to military pressure on Hamas, Iran proxies
By: Jacob Magid (The Times of Israel)
Let's ignore Biden's attempts to appease the Palestinians to save an unworkable two-state solution. Let's ignore Biden's threats to withhold military aid from Israel to save an unworkable two-state solution. Let's ignore Biden's attempts to portray Benjamin Netanyahu as the impediment to peace and obstacle to implementing an unworkable two-state solution.
Even now Hamas and Palestinians are dragging their feet over releasing hostages they took in terrorist attacks against Israel. Palestinians are still trying to leverage their terrorism to hurt Israel. Is there any doubt that Israel will have to do the same damned thing in a few years?
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
US President Joe Biden maintains that the deal was finally reached because of the US-backed Israeli military pressure on Hamas and Iran’s other proxies.
In his first remarks following the implementation of the deal’s first three hostage releases, the president addresses what he says was the criticism of his diplomatic approach from those who believed that it would lead to a wider regional war.
He says he heard his critics out but ultimately concluded that abandoning the course he was on — that saw largely backing the Israeli government — would not have led to a ceasefire and would have also resulted in the regional war that he says his critics feared.
Standing by his strategy, Biden says the Middle East is “fundamentally transformed” as a result, with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar now dead, the terror group severely weakened and its sponsors similarly decimated, including Iran and Hezbollah.
Biden asserts that while the US pursued diplomatic solutions, it also provided significant military support to Israel, which allowed the IDF to decapitate Hezbollah’s leadership and military capabilities.
“Israel’s campaign was so successful that Hezbollah did what it said what it would never do, and abandoned Hamas” by agreeing to a ceasefire with Israel in late November before one was reached in Gaza.
Lebanon is now ruled by a new prime minister and a president who support maintaining the country’s sovereignty, free from Hezbollah control, Biden says.
He reiterates that Iran is at its weakest state in decades and that the US helped Israel twice thwart missile attacks from Tehran over the past year.
Biden claims that the Palestinians now have a “credible path” to statehood, suggesting that this is the result of today’s ceasefire.
Still, Biden says a future in the Mideast where Israel is more integrated with its neighbors, including Saudi Arabia, is now possible as a result of today’s hostage deal.
The outgoing president thanks his senior aide Brett McGurk for leading the hostage talks on behalf of the US.
“Now it falls on the next administration to implement this deal,” Biden says, noting that he was pleased that his team and Trump’s team “spoke as one” in the talks’ final days.
The deal was the result of Washington’s persistence, the support of its allies and “diplomacy backed by deterrence,” Biden says, urging Trump to take the same approach.
“The pursuit of lasting peace must always be our calling,” Biden says.
Tags
Who is online
25 visitors
Benjamin Netanyahu only achieved this tepid victory by skillfully working around Joe Biden. Joe Biden's formula for peace to score political points with his far left wing really has been the greatest obstacle to achieving any sort of lasting peace and a viable two-state solution. If this ceasefire is a victory then it was achieved in spite of Joe Biden's meddling.
Terrorists only understand terror; they've turned their backs to civilized behavior. Gaza may not have been bombed enough to achieve a lasting peace and a viable two-state solution. Even now, in the midst of hell itself, Palestinians are dragging their feet as another act of terror against Israel. Israel may have to do this all over again in a few years.
Don't worry everyone. Biden has no concerns about Hamas regrouping.
Just an FYI all Hamas are Palestinians; but not all Palestinians are Hamas.
Suggest both Americans and Israelis learn that.
There hasn't been an election in the West Bank or Gaza since the first one. Hamas killed off all of the PA in Gaza; and the PA is doing it's best (with Israeli aid) to make sure that it doesn't take root in the West Bank. Can't have their US/Israeli funding end. Even if it means selling out their own people.
As for the two state solution being unworkable. The PA and West Bank Palestinians capitulated long ago; and look what that has gotten them. Being forced from they homes and land by Israeli settlers and IDF. Unwarranted raids, arrests, and killings by the IDF.
Neither Hamas nor the Israeli government want a two state solution. The PA, as previously mentioned, just doesn't want their meal ticket canceled.
The Palestinians stand no chance against the US backed and banked Israeli military. It doesn't matter who is in the White House; Israel will never accept a two state solution; and they are the ones that control land access; sea access; and airspace over the West Bank and Gaza.
Are you serious?
Perhaps you just discovered that, but do you think israelis don't know that? Those who lived there their entire life?