WASHINGTON (AP) — The President donald trump I am declaring battle between israel and hamas It has taken control of the Gaza Strip and is already moving toward a much larger goal — a fragile regime-backed ceasefire it claims is a facilitator. A chance for lasting peace To the wider Middle East.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is similarly enthusiastic about the current situation, but is more cautious in his assessment of the future. He characterized the agreement, which is still in its early stages, as a “proposal to free hostages and end the war,” but said his country had used two years of often brutal war in Gaza to demonstrate its military might.
Given how much both sides praised each other in their speeches in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, on Monday, it is notable that they appear to offer markedly different perspectives on the prospects for future peace.
But it also reflects how different the political and diplomatic interests will be for each leader going forward.
This is especially true given that President Trump’s reputation as an international dealmaker could be tested. ceasefire It may still be unstable, but given that Prime Minister Netanyahu is due to face elections by October 2026 at the latest, he may have to focus on domestic issues and satisfying Israeli voters.
“You won” vs. “Our enemy understands”
President Trump gleefully added the Israel-Hamas war to No. 8 on his list of world conflicts he claims to have resolved — if that tally even exists. exaggerate He played a role in calming the global hotspot. He also declared that the ceasefire would usher in a new “dawn of a new Middle East.”
“You have won,” he said of Israel, and encouraged U.S. allies to understand the limits of military power to bring lasting peace. “Now is the time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity across the Middle East.”
“Our enemies now understand how strong and determined Israel is,” Prime Minister Netanyahu said in his speech.
Remember Hamas Attacks on Israel span two years Before the war broke out, he added, he wants his country’s enemies to “understand that attacking Israel on October 7th was a fatal mistake.”
“These monsters are holding babies hostage,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said of Hamas, adding: “Israel has done what it had to do.”
For the past two years, Prime Minister Netanyahu has vowed to achieve a “complete victory” against Hamas. In addition to returning the hostages released as part of the cease-fire agreement, it also disarmed Hamas and forced it to surrender. Hamas, although weakened, is still intact and far from achieving that goal.
President Trump’s plan also includes the possibility of someday establishing a Palestinian state, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition partners oppose. By declaring an end to the war, Netanyahu could see his government collapse and be forced into early elections with low approval ratings and war goals still unachieved.
“Economic development” vs. “Civilization against barbarism”
Mr. Trump has long approached diplomacy the same way he approaches deals in the business world. He now says advancing economic interests across the wider Middle East can help bridge divisions and foster cooperation, even among some of our most hated historical enemies.
The president suggested on Monday that wealthy Arab countries would be willing to help finance an end to the fighting in order to foster prosperity in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
“The people of Gaza must be committed to restoring the basics of stability, security, dignity and economic development,” President Trump said.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said he hoped the future would bring “peace within Israel and peace outside Israel.” But instead of echoing President Trump’s excitement for regional unity through economic development, he called for a future that “unites civilization against barbarism, light against darkness, and hope against despair.”
“Always Ready” vs. “Fear Axis”
Another key point of disagreement between Trump and Netanyahu was on Iran.
President Trump called the U.S. attack in June a decisive blow against Iran’s nuclear program and praised it, saying, “We lifted a big cloud from the Middle East and from Israel.”
But he also acknowledged that Tehran could play a role in achieving greater peace in the Middle East, saying U.S. officials were “always ready” to potentially negotiate with Iran.
Regarding Iran, Trump added: “It would be great if we could make a peace deal with them.” “Are you satisfied with that? Why not? Because that’s what they want to do. I think they’re tired.”
That special sentiment prompted a silent response in a speech that often drew loud cheers from Israeli lawmakers. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid tribute to his country’s “remarkable victory over the entire Hamas-Iran terrorist axis.”
“Little Dot” vs. “Hamas False Propaganda”
Both leaders said the following: Growing international pressure They appeal to Israel to end the war, but their objectives are different.
Prime Minister Netanyahu accused the international community of “taking on Hamas’s false propaganda,” which he said led to “more and more governments capitulating to anti-Semitic mobs in their own countries,” calling on Israel to “give in to Hamas’s demands.”
If that happens, “Hamas killers will quickly return to the border fence and repeat the horrors of October 7 over and over again,” he said.
In contrast, President Trump, while praising Israel’s military and political might, suggested that Israel could not continue to fight Hamas much longer in the face of so much external opposition from around the world.
The huge number of people killed in Gaza during the war, the widespread destruction, and the ongoing Hunger and humanitarian crisisraising allegations of genocide, which Israel denies.
“This land is very small,” Trump said. “There’s this little dot. And think about what you’ve done. It’s incredible.”
Mutual admiration. However, they did not jointly participate in the Egyptian summit meeting.
President Trump has repeatedly praised Netanyahu and even took the unusual step of offering him pardon in the ongoing corruption investigation.
“Who cares about cigars and champagne?” Trump asked.
That was helpful three corruption cases Prime Minister Netanyahu was indicted on that charge. One is the accusation that the prime minister and his wife received luxuries such as cigars and champagne in exchange for political favors.
Meanwhile, after Trump was removed from the Nobel Peace Prize nomination last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to name him the first non-Israel to win the Israel Prize, the country’s highest honor.
Still, such praise did not lead to both men heading to Egypt after finishing their speeches.
President Trump left Israel to attend what the White House claimed was an “event.” peace summit Prime Minister Netanyahu hosted more than 20 world leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
