Peace in the Middle East has been elusive. It has been bedeviling and challenging because of Arab intransigence and delusional thinking. The U.N. Partition Plan of 1947 was accepted by Israel and rejected by the Arab world, leading six Arab countries to attack Israel.
The wars that followed—in 1956, 1967 and 1973—were inspired by Arab nationalism and mostly led by Egypt’s then-President Gamal Abdel Nasser and his confidante, vice president and successor Anwar Sadat.
Sadat made peace with Israel in 1979 when he realized Israel was not going to be defeated on the battlefield and billions of dollars would pour in from America to stabilize his economy. He was assassinated in October 1981 by the Muslim Brotherhood—the same group that gave rise to Hamas. Just as the Muslim Brotherhood would never agree to Sadat’s deal with Israel, Hamas will never agree to peace with Israel. Its charter calls for Israel’s destruction. That is their singular goal and focus.
The terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, made it clear that Hamas must be defeated and removed from Gaza once and for all.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan effectively does just that. Unfortunately, the majority of Gazans support Hamas. Their relocation will enable them to focus on their lives and the lives of their family instead of devising ways of attacking Israel, committing atrocities and taking hostages. They will be significantly compensated for their relocation. They will finally have a chance to get out from the ruins of Gaza, as many would have done already if they had the opportunity. As The New York Times acknowledged, more than 100,000 Gazans left at the beginning of the war. The figure is likely much higher. Trump is giving those who want to leave the greatest opportunity on earth. Gaza will no longer be the festering sore that the Arab world uses against Israel to pressure and demonize the Jewish state.
Once Gaza is no longer a launching pad for Hamas missiles and terrorist attacks, Trump can focus on Judea and Samaria. Many people expect that just as Trump allowed Israel to annex the Golan Heights, he will facilitate Israel’s annexation of Judea and Samaria in his second term. Once Judea and Samaria are granted sovereignty, the Arab world will reduce its delusional notion that they will someday take over Israeli land. They will be more inclined to make peace.
But it cannot stop there. Residents of Arab towns in Judea and Samaria must be put on notice: Just like Hamas was removed from Gaza, so, too, Hamas and other terrorist operatives will be deported with their families if they commit acts of terrorism. This applies to Jenin. This applies to Qalqilya. This applies to Hebron and Nablus. Terrorism will not be tolerated in Israel. Aging Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas has done a poor job of controlling terror and his “pay for slay” fund only encourages terror.
Trump’s Gaza plan has sent shockwaves through the Arab world. It is the first time that a president has made it crystal clear to terrorists and would-be terrorists that he is not going to take it anymore. Either behave, or you are out.
It’s about time that the terrorists were served notice. Trump’s straight-up approach will pay dividends in the future with peace in the Middle East closer at hand than ever before.