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Chris's avatar

Yes, a hard call. And I don't think we know the real why. I have a suspicion the missing funding from Iran was seen as "uh oh." We have no other option.

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Ken Barclay's avatar

Very good analysis as always.

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murray feldman's avatar

you said it -it is a bad deal. Trump's comment all hell will break loose was directed at both Hamas

and Bibi. Can Israel trust trump? That is the question that remains to be seen.

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Pangolin Chow Mein's avatar

That was just typical Trump heated rhetoric that his supporters love. Trump pressured Netanyahu because MBS gives Trump billions and MBS wants the war over. Hamas said uncle months ago as Netanyahu has done God’s work eliminating them…so no pressure was needed on Hamas or what’s left of the suicide cult.

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David Galinsky's avatar

It is difficult to see how the cease fire furthers the defeat of Hamas. Only time will tell. Hopefully the "west" won't lose focus on the goal of Victory.

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Pangolin Chow Mein's avatar

Trump and Kushner have received billions of dollars from Saudi Arabia and MBS wants this war over! So Trump is getting his marching orders from MBS and so that is why Trump pressured Netanyahu to agree to the ceasefire. Remember MBS got his way with Qatar on 2017/18 even when an honorary member of the Qatari royal family was Secretary of State. Trump eventually brought Qatar back into his good graces when he needed them to facilitate his surrender to the Taliban.

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Dr. Chine's avatar

Naturally, the families can't hear anything but that there may be an exchange.

Soviets used to kill everyone if hostages were taken, to include the hostages.

No one wanted to take Soviets hostage.

Already a delay is announced.

The problem is Hamas and others see this as a victory if 1000 are released.

They can continue to recruit by signalling that the new recruits will be set free if caught because the hostages will not be given back until major concessions are met.

Too many Israelis want their cake and to eat it, too.

Either they are willing to fight and die for their country or give it back.

US military does not want to be drawn into Israel's need to expand, or its beef with Iran.

I've been in harm's way.

US is not at threat from Iran or anyone else in the Middle-East.

That is a lie cooked up by Israel and the US military-industrial complex.

I wonder if Netanyahu cut this deal with the promise from Trump that the US will pay off Israel's war debts.

US is drowning in debt, but maybe is going to help Israel?

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Rick Reiss's avatar

The Middle East is nothing but hard calls. There are never any good options … just a choice from lots of crappy options, and trying to then best figure out which option is the least crappiest.

Success in the Middle East seems to only be measured in degrees of misery. This “deal” might be the least miserable option; but how to measure the success of this deal if and when those 1000 released Palestinian psychopaths come back to rain down more murder, terror, rape, torture, and kidnapping upon the Israeli people again?!?

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