Superb analysis. I am hoping Trump's recent remarks that he is "not confident" the Gaza deal will hold is a sign he knows what game the Biden team forced him to play. Also, the fact that he only made one brief reference to the hostages in his Inaugural address and did not crow about the achievement seems significant.
As to the Abraham Accords, I am glad to see this essay bring those back into focus. One thing I have long felt has been underappreciated about those accords has to do with their name. Aside from the Accords' immediate diplomatic objectives, the name points to a very long-term transformation in culture and understanding that must occur if this battle between the West and Islam is ever to end. That is, an understanding that each of the three faiths derived from Abraham have a common linkage that must become more central than any one of the three in the road ahead for humanity.
The Emirates have taken the Abraham part very seriously, building the Abrahamic Family House complex in Abu Dhabi, consisting of a mosque, church and synagogue. Each is built in a cube of the same size.
Trump's negotiator, Steve Witkoff, was featured prominently yesterday, as were hostage families from the US. I hope Witkoff has good advisors. This article is very informative. Thank you.
Trump administration officials have said that Hamas will not be allowed to remain in power in Gaza. But completion of all 3 stages in the deal as signed appears to create a situation in which not only will Hamas remain in power but its access to weapons from Egypt will be restored.
Superb analysis. I am hoping Trump's recent remarks that he is "not confident" the Gaza deal will hold is a sign he knows what game the Biden team forced him to play. Also, the fact that he only made one brief reference to the hostages in his Inaugural address and did not crow about the achievement seems significant.
As to the Abraham Accords, I am glad to see this essay bring those back into focus. One thing I have long felt has been underappreciated about those accords has to do with their name. Aside from the Accords' immediate diplomatic objectives, the name points to a very long-term transformation in culture and understanding that must occur if this battle between the West and Islam is ever to end. That is, an understanding that each of the three faiths derived from Abraham have a common linkage that must become more central than any one of the three in the road ahead for humanity.
The Emirates have taken the Abraham part very seriously, building the Abrahamic Family House complex in Abu Dhabi, consisting of a mosque, church and synagogue. Each is built in a cube of the same size.
When it just opened we were able to wander around by ourselves. Visits seems a lot more structured now: https://www.abrahamicfamilyhouse.ae/
Good to know. Thanks.
Trump's negotiator, Steve Witkoff, was featured prominently yesterday, as were hostage families from the US. I hope Witkoff has good advisors. This article is very informative. Thank you.
Trump administration officials have said that Hamas will not be allowed to remain in power in Gaza. But completion of all 3 stages in the deal as signed appears to create a situation in which not only will Hamas remain in power but its access to weapons from Egypt will be restored.
It is hard to tell whether the new administration has a strategy to resolve this dissonance or they are just being sloppy. We must keep both possibilities in mind and look for evidence as to which is the reality, an approach that I outlined in the WSJ a few days ago: https://www.wsj.com/opinion/whats-trump-trying-to-say-ask-a-doctor-understanding-policy-politics-ff8bad51