Yossi Schwartz ISL (RCIT section in Israel/Occupied Palestine), 03.06.2024
On Friday, US President Biden, in his speech, spoke of the process to end the war on Gaza.
“US President Joe Biden has urged Hamas to accept a new Israeli proposal to end the conflict in Gaza, saying that “it’s time for this war to end.”
The three-part proposal would begin with a six-week ceasefire in which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would withdraw from populated areas of Gaza.
There would also be a “surge” of humanitarian aid, as well as an exchange of some hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
The deal would eventually lead to a permanent “cessation of hostilities” and a major reconstruction plan for Gaza.
Hamas said it views the proposal “positively.”
Speaking at the White House on Friday, Mr. Biden said that the first phase of the proposed plan would include a “full and complete ceasefire,” the withdrawal of IDF forces from populated areas, and the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
“This is truly a decisive moment,” he said. “Hamas says it wants a ceasefire. This deal is an opportunity to prove whether they mean it.”
He added that the ceasefire would allow more humanitarian aid to reach the beleaguered territory, with “600 trucks carrying aid into Gaza every single day.”
The second phase would see all remaining living hostages returned, including male soldiers. The ceasefire would then become “the cessation of hostilities, permanently.”
Among those who have urged Hamas to agree to the proposal was UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who said on X that the group “must accept this deal so we can see a stop in the fighting.”
“We’ve long argued a stop in the fighting can be turned into a permanent peace if we are all prepared to take the right steps,” Lord Cameron added. “Let’s seize this moment and bring this conflict to an end.”
“In his speech, Mr Biden acknowledged that negotiations between phases one and two would be complex.”[i]
It is tough to know who is dishonest, Biden or Netanyahu, or both of them. According to “Israel Today” Ben Gvir reported: “Yesterday I came to the Prime Minister’s office to view the draft of the agreement,” said Ben Gvir. That’s where the incident started to get weird: “His aides claimed to me that he was busy at the moment and couldn’t leave when one of them blurted out: ‘What draft? There is no draft. Another assistant said ‘Oh, there’s a draft, come tomorrow to see it’. This time, we arranged a time set for this morning, so that I could watch the draft.”Also, this morning, I arrived at the Prime Minister’s office, and there, once again, they refused to present the draft agreement to me.
After that, the head of the National Assembly, Tzachi Hanegbi, called me and asked to “explain to me the lines agreed upon by the small cabinet.” I repeated my demand to see the draft of the agreement with my own eyes, but to my astonishment, the head of the National Assembly denied that such a draft existed. I mention again: in a conversation between me and the Prime Minister, he agreed that I would come to his office and look at the draft. Since then, 48 hours have passed, including smears and ambiguity.”
Thus, this account clearly shows that Netanyahu lies, and he likely changed the offer under the pressure of his far-right ministers. It makes more sense to believe that Biden, who does not have a problem recognizing that Israel lost the war, will offer a deal that will end this war and, to save the honor of Netanyahu, presented it as an offer of Netanyahu.
Many of the families whose relatives are captive in Gaza understand that Netanyahu wants to continue the lost war even if it means that Israel is killing their relatives to keep his seat.
The Jerusalem Post attacks Biden’s proposal, saying:
“A Washington-led Western laundry service is working overtime to rinse and sanitize a series of soiled, failed concepts and press them on Israel. Israel must resist since this would lead to long-term strategic defeat. Among the laundered concepts are a “revitalized Palestinian Authority,” “international security guarantees,” “accommodation with Iran,” and “regional integration.” The first is a fantasy, the second ridiculous, the third ruinous, the fourth premature” [ii]
Thus, even this right-wing rag understands that Western imperialism recognizes that Israel lost the war on Gaza. It will not take a long time before Western imperialism will stop seeing Israel as a strategic asset, and that will assist the revolutionary struggle of the working class and the popular courses to fight and destroy Israel in the Arab revolution.
“The left Zionists, like General Yair Golan, clearly support Biden, He spoke for the first time at the beginning of the faction’s meeting and opened with condolences to the family of the late Dolev Yehud, whose body was found in Nir Oz. “Our faction is still a small faction, but it is the most determined, diligent, and committed to the fight against the government of destruction.”
He then presented his three goals: “Stopping the faltering fighting in the Gaza Strip and returning all the abductees home – some for rehabilitation and some for burial, dispersing the Knesset and going to early elections and establishing a real governing alternative. 241 days have passed. 124 abductees and abductees have not yet returned home. The State of Israel now faces a significant deal to be decided. For the first time, an Israeli proposal is being made to release the abductees and stop the fighting. Anyone who loves his people. Anyone who loves his country. Anyone who recognizes the value of evil and our duty not to Leave no one behind – everyone who shares these fundamental values must support the deal, now and immediately. If Netanyahu surrenders again to the nationalist and fascist elements in his government, the rift that will be created in Israel will not be closed.”[iii]
Now, to save Israel, the imperialists, West and East, are likely to put more pressure on the reactionary plan of the two states: One imperialist settler colonialist on 78% of Palestine and a Bantustan on 22% of Palestine under the collaborators, the PA. This is a trap that must be rejected.
For Palestine red and free from the river to the sea!
Endnotes:
[i] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw8860gn1nwo
[ii] https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-804442
[iii] https://www.israelhayom.co.il/news/politics/article/15855097