A Palestinian and Israeli View of Gaza, the Ceasefire & Trump’s Statements

An Israeli and Palestinian view of Gaza, the ceasefire and Trump's statements: Gideon Levy of Haaretz newspaper and Dalal Iriqat, Professor, Arab American University of Palestine, to Karan Thapar for The Wire.

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The internationally acclaimed award-winning columnist of Haaretz newspaper, Gideon Levy, says “there is nothing more important than to stop the war” and yet President Trump seems to be pushing Israel to renew the war. He says this way of handling the crisis is “explosive and dangerous”. He describes President Trump’s behaviour as “crazy and catastrophic”. He says Donald Trump is “not a serious man”.



Gideon Levy believes that although the ceasefire will continue this Saturday and Hamas will release three Israeli hostages, he is extremely doubtful that there will be a phase 2.



In the interview, Gideon Levy discusses in detail President Trump’s statements about taking over and owning Gaza, about forcing Egypt and Jordan to accept 2 million Palestinians from Gaza, even by threatening to cut off their aid, as well as the possibility that President Trump could, in three weeks, accept Israel’s annexation of the West Bank. Where does this leave the two-state solution? Where does this leave Trump’s dream of an Israeli-Saudi Accord? And, finally, if this how the Trump presidency has started what does he fear might happen over the next four years?



I will leave you to see the interview to find out in detail Gideon Levy’s responses to these concerns. He is rich, analytical, riveting and very insightful.



Dalal Iriqat, a Professor at the Arab American University of Palestine in Ramallah, believes that the Israel-Hamas ceasefire – which she calls a deal not a proper ceasefire – will continue beyond Saturday the 15th. She does not believe the war will resume on Saturday. However, she believes the real danger is what will happen when phase 1 ends? Will there be a phase 2? Will there be a complete cessation of the war? Will there be a full Israeli evacuation from Gaza?



Dalal Iriqat has also said that President Trump’s statements about Gaza, Egypt, Jordan and the West Bank are outrageous but have to be taken seriously. I will leave you to see the interview to find out the details of what she says about Trump’s statements.



However, Dalal Iriqat accepts that Trump’s statements reveal that he does not believe in a two-state solution. It’s not part of his policy or his vision for the future of this part of the Middle East.


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