My Take on the Upcoming the Trump-Netanyahu meeting |
• Iran, Iran and Iran: Netanyahu will come to the summit with an agenda emphasizing Iran -this has two reasons – to divert attention away from Phase 2 of the plan for Gaza; and because Israel will ask for a massive aid package for more anti-rocket systems and funding for more rockets from Israel’s military industries. Netanyahu will emphasize the rapid re-arming of the Iranian missile systems and he will say that Israel faces an imminent existential threat from Iran’s missiles.
• In Gaza: Netanyahu will oppose any further redeployment of Israeli forces closer to the Israeli border. He will claim that Israel needs to maintain its ability to control all aspects of security in Gaza and to have freedom to act (granted by President Trump).
• Withdrawal: There is no Phase 2 without further Israeli withdrawals in Gaza. Netanyahu needs to understand that Phase 2 is based on Israel withdrawing to a new line and that eventually, and not too far in the distance, Israel will be required to withdraw behind the international border.
• Security Perimeter: Israel needs to be told that once Phase 2 is implemented and the disarming of Hamas is in the process (which will take time), there should remain no Israeli troops left in Gaza. The security perimeter could become a “no entry zone” for Palestinians on the........