This reminds me of Benjamin Franklin’s successful negotiating strategy with the British at the end of the Revolutionary War. Franklin demanded Canada, and the British got a “win” when he finally dropped that demand, and they hardly noticed in their relief that Franklin got the US land claimed by the States to the Mississippi and up to the Great Lakes, the maximum the US could expect.
Trump’s offer to take over Gaza is contingent upon the Arab countries taking the Palestinians out of Gaza, something they have refused to do. Trump is assuming that either his offer to take over Gaza will cause them to take the Palestinians out of Gaza, or it will not. If the Palestinians are removed from Gaza that removes a major irritant in Israeli-Arab relations. If not, then Trump can back the Israelis to the hilt in whatever measures they use to take out Hamas. In either case Trump is not serious about taking over Gaza. It is a typical Trump negotiating ploy: Make a large proposal, get people talking, get what I really want.
Trump’s end goal is a more peaceful Middle East. We shall see if he can get there.
Trump is not a warrior or a crusader. He is ever a deal maker. Time for friends and foes of Trump to learn that.
Yep. I assumed this was the opening salvo of a negotiation – start with what is regarded as unattainable and the gratitude of the opposition in “compromise” is nearly universally achieved.
Of course, this can only be done in a position of leverage. When someone in a position of weakness does this, the patent absurdity of it all shines brightly.
“Trump’s offer to take over Gaza is contingent upon the Arab countries taking the Palestinians out of Gaza, something they have refused to do.”
As long as it’s Egypt and Jordan taking them…I think Trump will have a fight on his hands. Massad Boulos (and Tiffany Trumps FIL) Trumps ME advisor has been in his ear. And Kushner. As long as they keep them out of Lebanon and allow the country to rebuild with Joseph Aoun, he might be onto lasting change.
But in all honesty, although it’s a bold idea, I’m not sure he has thought this one through. I hope he pulls it off.
Doesn’t Islam (let’s say “devout Islam”) divide the world into two? The “abode of Islam” and the “abode of war”? And any land taken from the “abode of Islam” must be taken back, with Muslims having an obligation to die fighting for return of that land?
Isn’t the root of the problem in Palestine -the mere fact of Israel exists -on “stolen land”? An affront to Islam.
Isn’t that the meaning of the cry “from the river to the sea”? Isn’t that why Islamic countries supported Hamas in their fight? Isn’t that why there could not be peace all these years? You have this land, we have this land… never worked.
Now Trump says he’d like the US to “own” the Gaza Strip?
I’m not saying it wouldn’t be the right thing to do, what I am saying is -it’s a bit myopic to assume everyone looks at things through a Christian lens.
David WS-
Agree.
Most of the Palestinians are radicalized nuts.
I don’t want to be put in a position where they can easily say to each other that the “US stole their land.” We’ve seen what they do. I don’t want that for the US.
If it’s just another ploy to get the locals involved *actually* involved, I say “great!”
I fully understand and appreciate the cautionary comments here. But let’s also remember that, regardless of the Gaza mess, the USA is on Islam’s hit list and always will be, unless and until we actually fall to the Caliphate, as much of Western Europe is likely to do. This negotiating ploy by Trump won’t change that, I don’t believe.
Wise words, Mr. McClarey! The grotesque melt-down’s on Twitter were amusing, at least, but not very shrewd.
[…] Analysis, Punditry, and News:Mar-a-Gaza: A More Peaceful Middle East – Donald R. McClarey, J.D., at the American CatholicU.S. To Take Over Gaza – Rod Dreher […]
I recall a good friend in college making a point: If you want something that requires negotiation, initially demand 2 times greater. The extra 1/2 will give you room to give ground, so you wind up with the whatever-it-is you actually want.
“Isn’t that the meaning of the cry “from the river to the sea”? Isn’t that why Islamic countries supported Hamas in their fight? Isn’t that why there could not be peace all these years?”
Yep.
Never forget though, a particular group of radicalized nuts by the name of Al Quaeda also ultimately decided that Mid-East chaos wasn’t enough Their actions caused the term “9/11” to become (more) notorious.
If Trump can provoke the Arab Street to police up their own …unsavory elements…that’s likely to worthily impact our lives here and around the world too.
On one hand, one can understand Trump’s extreme statements as bargaining positions leading to rational results (given his NYC real estate dealings). On the other hand, I am worried that some of his more simple-minded supporters take his statements literally (such as Mike Huckabee), which could have destructive results.
Don’t think this will work. Gaza’s problem is that it’s occupied by people who are chronically done dependent, bereft of skills, and bereft of constructive objects. They’re like the Gypsies. No one wants them – for good reason.
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If we lived in a sane world, UNRWA would have been shut down 60 years ago and those camps converted to ordinary settlements or emptied. The trouble has been that the Arab governments of that era, especially those of Egypt and Syria, made sure we did not live in a sane world. Most of the Arab governments appear bored with the whole business. Alas, the political elite in Iran is not and the sort of twit who lands positions in international agencies is not, hence this runs on and on.