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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1m

The 20-point plan talks about "decommissioning", not disarmament ("an agreed process of decommissioning, supported by a ... buy back and reintegration program"). The difference might seem trivial, but it's actually significant. ecfr.eu/article/deco...

Decommission, not disarm: How Europe can help nudge Gaza toward peace

As Israel and Hamas edge toward a ceasefire, shifts are under way in both: Hamas is quietly opening up to decommissioning and Israel’s security elite is realising military victory is a myth.

ecfr.eu

Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1h

"Although stopping the suffering in Gaza, together with securing the release of hostages and prisoners, is an urgent and necessary goal, it remains only another form of cease-fire—not a lasting peace."

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1h

The "ceasefire will only be a pause...in a long and dismal story if it is not connected to a future political settlement that accommodates the legitimate aspirations of both Israelis & Palestinians," says Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, member of @theelders.bsky.social. www.foreignaffairs.com/israel/how-f...

How to Free Palestine

Turning the Gaza cease-fire into lasting peace.

www.foreignaffairs.com

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 18h

Trump insisted "I don't have to explain [how]" he'd do that. That suggests he doesn't really have an answer. It'd either be Israel doing that (but that'd contradict his "the war is over" and we have 'eternal peace') or the US (sending US troops would be very unpopular and possibly disastrous).

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 19h

Trump: "We have told Hamas we want disarm. And they will disarm. And if they don't disarm, we will disarm them. And it will happen quickly and perhaps violently. But they will disarm. Do you understand me?"

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 22h

Egypt's Foreign Minister says the 15 members of the Palestinian technocratic administrative committee for Gaza have been approved by all Palestinian factions, including Hamas, but that Hamas will have “no role in the transitional period". www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_ent...

Egyptian FM: 15 Palestinian technocrats approved to manage postwar Gaza

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www.timesofisrael.com

Reposted by Ron Skolnik

Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 1d

Mockler: I think we need to spend more time talking about phase two and the actual peace deal, rather than some Nobel peace prize, when that hasn't been achieved yet.

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1d

And now for some tealeaf reading: It's interesting (though not necessarily telling) that Trump uses the phrase “a lot of people" to refer to the popularity of a one-state solution, but only "some people" to describe support for the two-state solution. www.aol.com/articles/tru...

Trump says ‘we’ll have to see’ on one-state or two-state solution for Gaza: ‘At some point I’ll decide’

“At some point I’ll decide what I think is right,” Trump told reporters. “But it would be in coordination with other states and other countries.”

www.aol.com

Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1d

Indeed. Just trying to imagine what Trump is imagining when he uses certain terms. He's not a sophisticated political thinker, so it's possible that he defaults to the American model he grew up on, and can't be bothered with the complexity and gymnastics of the Smotrich plan.

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1d

If (and this is a huge 'if', of course) this American memorandum is to be trusted, then a one-state future would have to be based on equal rights for all inhabitants, "regardless of race, faith, or ethnicity". But it's doubtful Trump thinks with that level of detail. nypost.com/2025/10/14/u...

Trump says ‘we’ll have to see’ on one-state or two-state solution for Gaza: ‘At some point I’ll decide’

“At some point I’ll decide what I think is right,” Trump told reporters. “But it would be in coordination with other states and other countries.”

nypost.com

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1d

Yes, but he left out the "equal measures" part.

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1d

Forget for a moment the nauseating ego-branding in the title: This presidential memorandum recognizes the Palestinians as a people, entitled - no different from Israelis - to "peace, security, stability, and opportunity" and "fundamental human rights".
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

The Trump Declaration for Enduring Peace and Prosperity

We, the undersigned, welcome the truly historic commitment and implementation by all parties to the Trump Peace Agreement, ending more than two years of

www.whitehouse.gov

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1d

Of course, Trump's complete lack of familiarity with the basic outlines of the Israel-Palestine conflict isn't a laughing matter - because the conflict's far from over, many stumbling blocks remain, and spoilers abound. Even if, as we know, expertise is no guarantee of success.

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1d

Bluto: "Did you say 'over'? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"
Otter: "Germans?
Boon: "Forget it, he's rolling."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zc0...

ANIMAL HOUSE Bluto's Germans Speech

YouTube video by Michael Markowitz

www.youtube.com

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1d

"This took 3,000 years to get to this point. Can you believe it?" Trump's grasp of history is sometimes reminiscent of Bluto, John Belushi's 'Animal House' character, who famously said, "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"
abcnews.go.com/Internationa...

Trump, world leaders gather in Egypt for ceasefire deal signing with Netanyahu absent

After speaking in Israel, Trump traveled to Egypt for an international "peace summit" with more than 20 world leaders on what's next for Gaza.

abcnews.go.com

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1d

Egyptian president at #SharmelSheikhSummit: The ceasefire plan "generat[es] the necessary political horizon to realize the Two-State Solution, as it remains the sole viable path to achieving the legitimate aspirations of both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples." sis.gov.eg/en/media-cen...

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1d

Departing #sharmelsheikhSummit, European Council president says the ceasefire agreement continues the "efforts from the international community towards a ceasefire, the two-State solution and a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians." www.consilium.europa.eu/fr/press/pre...

Statement by President António Costa following his participation in the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit

European Council President António Costa participated in the Summit for Peace held in Sharm El-Sheikh Summit (Egypt) on 13 October 2025.

www.consilium.europa.eu

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1d

Why did Netanyahu not go to the Sharm el-Sheikh summit after first agreeing? Out of concern it'd be seen as a 'peace summit' in which he and the Palestinian president would have equal standing. And b'cuz he doesn't really want to concede that the war's over, reports Gili Cohen. x.com/kann_news/st...

כאן חדשות on X: "ההזמנה מטראמפ בלימוזינה והחשש בעקבות הגעת אבו מאזן: מאחורי הקלעים של סיבוב הפרסה של נתניהו על הפסגה בשארם | @gilicohen10 עם פרטים חדשים #מהדורתכאןחדשות עם @TaliMoreno_ @talberman https://t.co/2gqCcgWDrW" / X

ההזמנה מטראמפ בלימוזינה והחשש בעקבות הגעת אבו מאזן: מאחורי הקלעים של סיבוב הפרסה של נתניהו על הפסגה בשארם | @gilicohen10 עם פרטים חדשים #מהדורתכאןחדשות עם @TaliMoreno_ @talberman https://t.co/2gqCcgWDrW

x.com

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1d

I don't think it's that he doesn't 'want' true peace, as much as he believes it's not possible in Israel and Palestine. He's expressed this zero-sum game belief more than once over his years of activity.

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1d

Journalist, Netanyahu biographer Anshel Pfeffer on the other site (x.com/AnshelPfeffe...)

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1d

Trump "suggested Hamas acting within the parameters of the ceasefire deal", saying, “They do want to stop the problems and they’ve been open about it, and we gave them approval for a period of time … I think it’s going to be fine. Who knows for sure.”
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Hamas deploys armed fighters and police across parts of Gaza

Group targets ‘collaborators and traitors’ in move that raises concerns for disarmament considered crucial to ceasefire deal

www.theguardian.com

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1d

October 6, 2023 wasn't peace.

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1d

That was quick ☹️. “Hamas’s announcement of the expected return of 4 bodies today constitutes a failure to meet its commitments. Any delay or deliberate avoidance will be considered a blatant violation of the agreement and will be met accordingly.” www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_ent...

Katz: If Hamas deliberately delays returning bodies of dead hostages it’s in violation of deal

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www.timesofisrael.com

Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 2d

Important: Egypt said a Saudi delegation headed by Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan will also take part. www.haaretz.com/middle-east-...

Netanyahu declines Trump's invitation to Egypt Gaza summit citing Jewish holiday

The Meeting, Focused on the Israel-Hamas Agreement, Will Bring Together More Than 20 Heads of State, Including Leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, in a Show of Support for Trump's Po...

www.haaretz.com

Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 2d

Who WILL be there: Egypt, US, France, UK, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Canada, Turkey, Japan, India, Germany, Italy, Spain, Norway, Greece, Indonesia, Iraq, Pakistan, Arab League, EU, UN, and - significantly - Palestine.
www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-ea...

FACTBOX: Leaders from 27 countries set to take part in peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt

Peace summit to be co-chaired by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and his US counterpart Donald Trump - Anadolu Ajansı

www.aa.com.tr

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 2d

So is this part of the quid pro quo Netanyahu received for agreeing to this deal? (Reminder: Netanyahu is on trial for three separate cases, only one of which, arguably the most minor, is tied to personal gifts he received.)

Adam Schwarz @adamjschwarz.bsky.social · 2d

Trump calls on the Israeli President to pardon Benjamin Netanyahu:

"Cigars and champagne - who the hell cares about it?"

Netanyahu is currently on trial for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, including allegedly accepting 700,000 shekels (approx. $210,000) worth of luxury goods in bribes.

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