The man who is internationally acclaimed for securing the release of Israeli solider Gilad Schalit from Hamas custody in 2011 has described Prime Minister Netanyahu as “a drunk driver in the seat of government”. Gershon Baskin says Netanyahu’s belief that military pressure can defeat Hamas and secure the release of hostages is wrong and is likely to lead to the opposite outcome i.e. the killing of the hostages. As he put it:
“Military pressure has killed and is killing hostages”.
Gershon Baskin holds the draft agreement between Israel and Hamas for the release of Gilad Shalit at his home in Jerusalem, October 12, 2011
“We support your proposal” adding “all leaders” do.
Dr. Baskin says that rather than take his word for it Israel should get Qatar and Egypt to clarify and verify with Hamas whether they have accepted this deal or not.
Speaking about the so-called Biden peace deal, a new and updated version of which could be announced in the very near future, Dr. Baskin called it “a bad plan (which) doesn’t end the war (and) doesn’t return all hostages.
I will stop there. I am only giving you the main broad important points made by Dr. Baskin. There’s an awful lot of detail in the interview which you must hear yourself.
Dr. Baskin speaks in detail about why the Biden plan is a bad plan. He explains why Netanyahu’s insistence that Israel must control the Philadelphi Corridor is an attempt to scupper the Biden plan but also unnecessary because, as he explains, Egypt has already effectively closed access to Gaza through the corridor.
Dr. Baskin speaks at length about why Netanyahu’s belief that military pressure can release the hostages is mistaken and wrong and dangerous.
Dr. Baskin gives extensive details of his own plan, his approaches to Qatar, Egypt and America to get them to seriously think about his plan and the response he’s got from Hamas. He also explains why, unlike what he’s done in the past, he’s gone public with the details of his plan.
