Ending the war now in Gaza, which will also end the war between Israel and Hezbollah, is in the hands of Netanyahu. There is a solid offer from Hamas on the table to end it all within 3 weeks and to return all of the Israeli hostages. But we know with 100% certainty that Netanyahu refuses to end the war, as I have been told by one of the three Israeli chief negotiators. So, now, we have to understand that ending these wars and bringing the hostages home is essentially in the hands of President Biden. He is the only force on this planet that can impose on Netanyahu a decision to end these wars and to bring the hostages home. I think that Biden has been an excellent US President, but if he does not force Netanyahu to end these wars, the “Biden Legacy” will be that of the US President who fuelled the war in Gaza, rather than the US President who brought an end to the wars. The person who can most influence President Biden to make the right decision is CIA Director Bill Burns – that is what I have been told by more than one senior White House officials involved with the hostage issue. I am trying to reach him directly, but it is not so simple to reach the head of the CIA.
Regarding issues such as Philidelpi corridor, it must be sealed on the Egyptian side with US and other international observers and verifiers. I believe that a short successful Egyptian-US negotiation on this is not very complicated. Not one Israeli soldier needs to remain in Gaza. The Israeli army needs to protect Israel from the border, where they should have been on October 7. It is not the Russian army on the other side of the border. Regarding Hamas remaining in power in Gaza, with Hamas in Gaza not one dollar of money will flow into Gaza for reconstruction if Hamas remains in power. Everyone knows this, including Hamas. The people of Gaza don’t want Hamas and as far as I know, Hamas is prepared to turn over governing to a legitimate council of professionals headed by a legitimate Palestinian public figure (I know who I think it should be but it is not my decision), the governing council would not include representatives of political factions and would serve for a limited period until full Palestinians elections could be held (West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem). The head of the Gaza Council needs to be appointed by Mahmoud Abbas, but with that ends the direct link and control of Ramallah over the Council. There are many more issues which need to be discussed, but this is not the place. This is a call for us to all pressure Biden to force Netanyahu to bring these wars to an end.
