Biden, Blinken Push Israel to Lose War — for a Fraction of the HostagesJoel B. Pollak 2 May 2024
U.S. President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have pushed Israel into a position where it must accept defeat in its war against Hamas terrorists — in return for just a fraction of the remaining Israeli hostages.
Under the terms of the hostage deal currently on the table, Israel would withdraw from Gaza; stay out of the last Hamas stronghold in Rafah; and release thousands of convicted Palestinian terrorists, among other concessions.
In return, Hamas would release 33 of the remaining 133 hostages, focusing on the old and infirm. It would retain a number of hostages to trade for a permanent ceasefire. But Israel could not restart the war even if it wanted to do so.
Most of the hostages — including most of the 100 or so still thought to be alive — would remain in Hamas’s hands. Terrorists would also have a strong incentive to kidnap Israelis — and Americans — in future, and will try to do so.
Israeli politicians, from left to right, understand exactly what the country is facing. Left-wing protesters chanted Thursday that Israel must choose between “Rafah” — i.e. winning the war — and releasing some of the hostages.
On the right, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conservative coalition partners have threatened to leave the government if the deal goes through — which is entirely up to Hamas, since Israel has tacitly accepted it.
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https://www.breitbart.com/middle-east/2024/05/02/biden-blinken-push-israel-to-lose-war-for-a-fraction-of-the-hostages/
