A Few Words For The Record As PM Netanyahu's Poker Game May End
Dr. Aaron Lerner 12 January 2025

If a hostage deal goes through in the coming days which ostensibly locks us
on the path to a permanent ceasefire, I wouldn't be surprised to hear
reports of assurances from Prime Minister Netanyahu that we aren't actually
locked into handing Hamas a victory complete with effective control of the
Gaza Strip.

It wouldn't be the first time Mr. Netanyahu bet the house on not having to
fulfill dangerous commitments.

Let's be clear about the precedent such a deal sets for future conflicts
with our enemies: Kidnap Israelis as part of the opening gambit of any
operation and even war against the Jewish State, and eventually some of the
families of the Israeli hostages - with the generous help of the Israeli
media and other actors - will ultimately cause the State of Israel to agree
to forego defeating the enemy.

Sure, that doesn't mean the enemy won't suffer casualties and physical
damage. But thanks to the Gaza precedent, they will be confident that they
can ultimately both stay in power and have third parties rebuild whatever
was destroyed.

In the past, we traded terrorists for hostages.

This is a whole new level of Israeli concessions to kidnappers: victory.

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