Lapid: I Told Trump’s Team That I Will Provide A Safety Net For Netanyahu From This Moment For The Sake Of The Deal

Lapid: I Told Trump’s Team That I Will Provide A Safety Net For Netanyahu From This Moment For The Sake Of The Deal

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and President Donald Trump have signaled a readiness to move forward with parts of Trump's cease-fire plan, which has been a beacon of hope for ending the war in Gaza. The Israeli government has expressed its intent to implement the first steps of the plan, while Hamas has indicated that it would release all of its remaining hostages, a key component of the proposal.

Despite the cautious optimism, significant gaps remain to be negotiated. Hamas has not directly addressed many of the conditions in Trump's plan, including the laying down of weapons, and it is unclear if Israel is willing to negotiate major changes to the plan's postwar vision for Gaza. Netanyahu has indicated that he supports the plan's conditions but has focused primarily on the release of hostages.

The Israeli government has sent negotiators, led by close aide Ron Dermer, to Egypt to finalize technical deals for the hostages' release. Netanyahu believes that the military and political pressure exerted by Israel has compelled Hamas to shift its position on the hostage issue. He has expressed hope that he will be able to inform the Israeli public about the hostages' return in the coming days.

However, the road to a full agreement remains fraught with challenges. Hardline Israeli ministers, such as Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, have issued statements indicating that they would leave the coalition if Netanyahu compromises on the goal of destroying Hamas. Meanwhile, Hamas is not a monolithic group, with some members expressing reservations about the deal.

The situation remains fluid, with mediators in motion and talks scheduled in Egypt. President Trump has exhorted both sides to move quickly, warning that delay could lead to further escalation. The future of the cease-fire plan and the war in Gaza hangs in the balance, with investors and financial professionals closely monitoring the developments.