The deal on the table

The Shalit deal was on the table in December 2006, half a year after Shalit was abducted.

It took 5 years before Netanyahu was ready to accept it. The current deal has been on the table since May. It has taken Netanyahu months until Trump simply told him to do it. T

he truth is that there has been a better deal on the table since September – but that required the end of the war within 3 weeks and Netanyahu has not been prepared to end the war. Now Trump is telling him to end the war and Netanyahu has no choice.

Even a bad deal is better than no deal.

Instead of ending the war in 3 weeks and bringing all of the hostages home immediately, it will take longer and there will be more suffering. Caution: It is still not a done deal – but it looks very promising right now.

Categories: Gilad SchalitInsights

Gershon Baskin

Gershon Baskin is one of the most recognizable names in the Middle East Peace process. He is a political and social entrepreneur who has dedicated his life to peace between Israel and its neighbors. His dedication to creating a culture of peace and environmental awareness, coupled with his impeccable integrity, has earned him the trust of the leaders of all sides of the century old conflict. Few people have such far-reaching and positive impacts on promoting peace, security, prosperity and bi-national relationships. Gershon is an advisor to Israeli, Palestinian and International Prime Ministers on the Middle East Peace Process and the founder and director of IPCRI, the Israeli-Palestinian Public Policy Institute. He was the initiator and negotiator of the secret back channel between Israel and Hamas for the release of 1,027 prisoners – mainly Palestinians and Arab-Israelis of which 280 were sentenced to life in prison, including Yahya Sinwar, the current Palestinian leader of the Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The prisoners were imprisoned for planning and perpetrating various attacks against Jewish targets that resulted in the killing of 569 Israelis in exchange for one Israeli soldier, Gilad Schalit. Gershon is actively involved in research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, environmental security, political strategy, peace education, economics, culture and in the development of affordable solar projects with the goal of providing clean electricity for 50 million people by 2020. He is a founding member of Kol Ezraheiha-Kol Muwanteneiha (All of the Citizens) political party in Israel. He is now directing The Holy Land Bond and is the Middle East Director for ICO – International Communities Organization - a UK based NGO working in conflict zones with failed peace processes.