The Unlikely Partnership: Biden, Trump, and the Gaza Ceasefire Agreement
On the afternoon of Friday, October 10, Steve Witkoff, a close friend of Donald Trump and his envoy to the Middle East, made a surprising phone call from Qatar to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. Witkoff informed Israeli officials that he would be traveling to Israel the following day to meet with Netanyahu. Upon learning that it was Shabbat, which is traditionally reserved for rest and prayer in Judaism, Witkoff's advisors suggested postponing the meeting until Sunday. To their astonishment, Witkoff—despite being Jewish—dismissed the significance of Shabbat with a sharp response in fluent English. He was unwilling to wait, compelling Netanyahu to abandon tradition and meet on Saturday.
By the end of the weekend, Witkoff returned to Qatar to finalize the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. It's noteworthy to mention that Witkoff is not a diplomat; he’s a millionaire real estate executive with no political or diplomatic experience. His close ties to Trump, especially after the former President survived an assassination attempt in September, positioned him as a crucial figure in facilitating this ceasefire agreement.
The outgoing Biden administration even acknowledged that Witkoff's meeting with Netanyahu was essential to the deal's conclusion. The Washington Post reported that both Joe Biden and Donald Trump have since been vying for credit over the agreement. Trump was the first to announce the ceasefire on his platform, Truth Social, while Biden downplayed the situation, implying that the legitimacy of the claim was questionable.
Both leaders, it seems, have valid arguments. The ceasefire closely resembles an agreement that Biden had presented the previous May, yet it is also clear that Trump's involvement hastened the negotiations. Just days before, Biden had reportedly threatened serious consequences if an agreement was not finalized before his inauguration on January 20. Biden aimed for a significant diplomatic achievement during his final days in office, while Trump sought to alleviate a pressing issue on his agenda.
Former Democratic congressman Tom Malinowski described the scenario aptly on social media: "It has been a Biden agreement, but as much as I hate to say it, it could not have been done without Trump." This statement encapsulates the dual pressures exerted on the parties involved. The dynamics of this negotiation revealed a rare, albeit fragile, moment of collaboration between two political rivals, with actions from both ends acting as significant catalysts for the ceasefire.
For the first time, there was tangible pressure exerted on the Israeli side to reach an agreement, attributed to both Hamas's weakened position and external pressure from Biden and Trump. Witkoff noted that while he played a pivotal role, the Biden administration remained the forefront in negotiations, underscoring a significant shift in traditional diplomatic relations.
This unusual collaboration in U.S.-Middle East diplomacy was previously inconceivable given the contrasting positions of the two leaders. However, the time-sensitive nature of the ceasefire negotiations necessitated this unexpected partnership. While political analysts might later regard this cooperation as a mirage in the context of ongoing tensions, it highlights a momentary confluence of interests between Biden and Trump.
On his Truth Social account, Trump celebrated the ceasefire, labeling it as an "EPIC agreement" while reinforcing his commitment to "PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH" in the region, suggesting that his role was crucial, despite the chaotic dynamics of the negotiations. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how this agreement will affect the political landscape in both Israel and the United States moving forward.
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