Netanyahu Meets With Trump
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with President Donald Trump today: It’s the first meeting since the U.S. and Israel struck Iran, and the two leaders intend to talk through what sort of nuclear deal the U.S. should pursue with Iran, as well as what a possible ceasefire in Gaza could look like and how Trump could broker such a deal.
Israel and Hamas have agreed on short-term ceasefires in the past: a January–March ceasefire earlier this year, and a brief August 2024 pause in the fighting. Trump says he wants a more durable truce: a 60-day pause in the fighting during which a full stop to the war is negotiated.
“Hamas has insisted that any cease-fire plan must pave a path to a complete and lasting cessation of hostilities,” reports The New York Times. But “Netanyahu…has insisted on a temporary cease-fire until Hamas’s military wing and government are dismantled.”
“We will free our hostages,” Netanyahu said just days ago, referring to the captives still held in Gaza, “and we will defeat Hamas.” Current estimates say that, of the 251 hostages taken by the terrorists on that terrible day in October 2023, roughly 50 remain in Gaza, with at least 27 of those believed to be dead. Hamas has remained resistant to being dismantled (and to any occupation by Israeli soldiers to ensure the group is stamped out). But among the right wing in Israel, eradicating Hamas is a necessary precondition.
One thing to watch: Netanyahu’s view of Trump’s pursuit of a nuclear deal with Tehran. In the past, Netanyahu has resisted this idea. But Trump appears to be highly motivated to pursue diplomacy following the American strikes on nuclear sites in Iran, and the recent 12-day fighting between Iran and Israel.
Reports as to how much enriched uranium was actually destroyed vary; Trump has characteristically claimed huge success, but Iranian authorities have claimed that enriched uranium was actually moved to alternate sites prior to the attack. Regardless, there are still unanswered questions related to how much of a setback Tehran’s nuclear program has been dealt, and Netanyahu and Trump will need to figure out what type of nuclear capabilities they will and will not tolerate from Tehran—and how to bring that about.
Move over, Eric Adams: We’ll have another black mayor soon! Self-proclaimed socialist Zohran Mamdani, when applying to Columbia University back in 2009 as a high school senior, claimed he was “A
Article from Reason.com
The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.
