Danny Zaken
Israel Hayom, Jan. 22, 2025
“Yes to sovereignty, alongside broad autonomy for the Palestinians, but only after a process – neither Israel nor the Palestinians are ready for this now.” He hinted at the failure of Trump’s “Deal of the Century,” launched in January 2020, which never materialized.”
In the eyes of Trump’s fresh administration, the ceasefire is seen as a “done deal,” irreversible until fully implemented. This is the essence of statements from Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Trump himself – even if their tone is less absolute.
This approach suggests Trump and his team view the deal as concluding the war, ensuring the return of all hostages, and dismantling Hamas’ control over Gaza. But how exactly this will be achieved remains the hardest challenge, as Hamas, portraying the agreement as a victory, has no intention of willingly surrendering its military dominance or arsenal.
Mike Evans, founder of the Friends of Zion Heritage Center and an advisor to Trump on evangelical matters, reaffirmed this perspective. In a conversation with Israel Hayom, he stated that Trump would support initiatives Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wishes to advance, just as he backed the current agreement framework initiated by Israel last summer. …SOURCE