Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that Israel would not accept a ceasefire that would prevent the destruction of Hamas, after U.S. President Joe Biden presented a so-called Israeli “proposal” that would allow Hamas to survive.
Biden on Friday presented a ceasefire proposal that he claims was proposed by Israel, whose terms make no mention of Hamas, let alone its disarmament, and call for Israel to withdraw and cease fighting.
Israel has now laid out a roadmap for a lasting ceasefire and the release of all hostages.
The proposal was conveyed to Hamas by Qatar yesterday.
Today, I would like to explain those conditions to the world. pic.twitter.com/0cdypBP9wb
— President Biden (@POTUS) May 31, 2024
Biden has repeatedly claimed the proposal came from Israel, but former President Barack Obama Weighedsaid the suggestion was Biden’s (and suggested to some observers that it was actually Obama’s).
Biden also praised the Israeli government for making the proposal, while warning right-wing parties in the Israeli government not to reject the proposal, none of which could comply due to the Jewish Sabbath.
In the hours that followed, Hamas welcomed the agreement, as did European leaders, but Netanyahu issued a statement suggesting the deal differed from Israel’s actual proposal.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Netanyahu released a statement providing further clarification.
Israel’s conditions for ending the war remain unchanged: the destruction of Hamas’ military and governing capabilities, the release of all hostages, and a guarantee that Gaza will no longer be a threat to Israel. In this proposal, Israel will continue to insist that these conditions be met before a permanent ceasefire can be implemented. The idea that Israel would agree to a permanent ceasefire before these conditions are met is inconceivable.
Biden’s clear intention was to drag Israel into a deal it never proposed by claiming that Israel had offered it, and then get Hamas and the world to accept it, thus raising the costs for Israel to oppose the proposal.
This strategy hinges on Hamas accepting the deal, even though its terms are identical to proposals Hamas has rejected for the past few months. Hamas may now accept the deal, given that Israeli forces have attacked Hamas’ last stronghold in Rafah, southern Gaza. In the past few weeks, Israel has taken full control of the Gaza-Egypt border and discovered and destroyed miles of underground tunnels loaded with weapons.
Joel B. Pollack is executive editor of Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday The show airs Sunday nights from 7 to 10 p.m. (4 to 7 p.m. ET) on SiriusXM Patriot. He is the author of his recently published e-book,The Zionist Conspiracy (And How to Join It)” is available on Audible. He is also the author of an e-book. Not Free or Fair: The 2020 US Presidential ElectionHe is the recipient of the Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship in 2018. Follow him on Twitter. Joel Pollack.
