Gaza deal: Middle East on the path to peace?
According to US President Donald Trump, Israel and the terrorist organisation Hamas have agreed to implement the first phase of a peace plan. Under the terms of the agreement, all Israeli hostages will be released and Israel will withdraw its army. Hamas has confirmed its accord. Commentators examine the chances for lasting peace in the Middle East and discuss Trump's personal role in the process.
The Trump method is working this time
Trump's unorthodox approach is precisely what might help him succeed, La Stampa comments with satisfaction:
“There is only one factor that distinguishes the story of these negotiating sessions in the Middle East from all previous ones. The presence of Donald Trump. It may seem paradoxical, but it is precisely the unpredictability, impetuosity and total indifference to institutions of the most unconventional president in the history of the United States that marks the real turning point at a negotiating table that already represents a break with the past. The very elements that make him unsettling as regards the resilience of the American democratic system at times are becoming crucial in the negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh.”
Worthy of a Nobel Prize
If Trump can establish lasting peace, he really does deserve all honours, Helsingin Sanomat believes:
“Trump is changing perceptions of how peace is achieved. He views peace processes as deals and transactions in which there are winners and losers, as well as economic benefits. Traditional diplomatic channels and UN processes mean nothing to him. ... Trump strives for quick and spectacular results. His methods are at odds with the traditional ideals of peacemaking - but they may yet end wars. Trump threatens, applies pressure on his allies and fuels trade wars. ... If a lasting peace is achieved in the Middle East or Ukraine in Trump's name, he will deserve a Nobel Prize.”
Open questions about Palestinian demands
Corriere della Sera addresses the still unresolved issue of the release of Palestinian prisoners:
“The Palestinians want the release of Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat, two of the main leaders of the second intifada who have been sentenced to multiple life sentences or long prison terms. Barghouti is seen by Palestinians as a symbol of resistance, and international diplomats, including some Israeli politicians, are convinced that he could become the successor to President Mahmoud Abbas. Above all, they are demanding the release of the terrorists who participated in the massacres of 7 October and the return of the bodies of Yahya Sinwar and his brother Mohammed, who together planned the massacre.”
The principle of hope - please apply!
Humans can and must overcome their own mental barriers, writes WOZ, referencing the work of philosopher Ernst Bloch:
“According to Bloch, human consciousness is not only the product of human existence, as Karl Marx described it, but is also endowed with a 'surplus' that can find expression as 'what has not yet become' in social utopias, art or daydreams. ... In view of the very real tragedy in the Middle East, such metaphysics may sound cynical. ... However, Bloch's principle of hope can also be understood as a collective power of imagination that influences the reality of the near future. Especially now that a plan to resolve the conflict is on the table, we in Europe should also practise solidarity and hope.”
Prospect of progress
Commenting in ABC, Nicolás Redondo Terreros, former secretary general of the Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE-EE), is optimistic that things could finally move in a positive direction in the Middle East:
“Today we see a small glimmer of hope in Trump's proposal. ... Russia has ceased to be relevant since the change of regime in Syria. ... The Arab countries are beginning to put the future before their hatred of the Jews. The insecurity of the Iranian regime after the targeted US bombings and Israel's beheading of terrorist organisations like Hezbollah give cause for hope. And while most of us are waiting with bated breath, hoping that the painstaking US initiative will be successful, the anti-establishment hard left and some adventurers continue to demonstrate - not so much for the rights of Gaza than for the destruction of Israel.”