To President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu

To President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, I ask:

Why 60 days? Why not 30 days? Why not two weeks?

In fact, why not one week?

Why only 10 hostages in the first week? Why not release them all now? After all, the new framework will lead to the end of the war—so why not end it sooner? Fewer soldiers killed, fewer Gazan civilians killed, less suffering for the hostages and their families. Hamas has finished its role in Gaza.

Let the Palestinians and Arab states help Hamas exit the stage. Hamas will not surrender to Israel, but it will surrender to the pressure of the Palestinian people and Arab nations. Israel cannot disarm Hamas, but the Palestinian people and Arab states can—and the main incentive: not a single dollar will go into Gaza’s reconstruction as long as Hamas remains in control and poses a threat. On Monday at the White House—Trump, tell your friend Bibi: Do it now, immediately!

Categories: Insights

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.