Gaza peace plan has promise, but also many challenges

The fragile plan to end the fighting in Gaza and release the Israeli hostages — both living and dead — deserves the praise it has received.

It is a combination of a relentless and merciless Israeli offensive, pressure from a growing coalition of Middle East players, particularly Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and the international nature of the 20-point American plan that includes a prominent role for former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

And while President Trump’s bluster and threats probably don’t move the hard men of Hamas, his statements that Palestinians will not be forced from Gaza, that Israel will not be allowed to annex the West Bank, and his willingness to give Qatar an Article Five-like security guarantee were crucial.

That said, the President has a way of making sharp turns, and no one should underestimate the capacity of Hamas and especially Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to violate both the spirit and the letter of any agreement that evolves from ongoing talks.

One thing is certain in the Middle East: The souk never closes and the haggling will be intense. All should understand that Middle East diplomacy requires an extra measure of doggedness to achieve progress. Let’s see if President Trump and the others can demonstrate that kind sustained focus.

The 20-point plan has not been agreed to in total. Hamas has accepted some parts and not others. Prime Minister Netanyahu will have political problems in implementing Israeli commitments and, truth be told, if the halt in fighting results in a collapse of his government and an election, he might not be around all that long.

A large majority of Israelis support the agreement and that should help Netanyahu, but he has ruled out a Palestinian state and here the Israeli public is behind him, too. No one should underestimate the trauma of the Oct. 7 attacks. A vast majority of Israelis don’t believe it is possible to live side-by-side with a Palestinian state any more.

The proposed agreement calls for a reformed, technocratic, apolitical Palestinian Authority (PA), which is currently a corrupt, moribund polity led by 89-year-old Mahmoud Abbas that has little to no legitimacy.

Netanyahu’s government has done all it can to keep Palestinians divided with the PA and Hamas ruling different Palestinian communities.

In the West Bank, Israel is expanding settlements in such a way to make a contiguous Palestinian state impossible. America used to pressure Israel to stop settlement activity, but not so much anymore.

Israel is withholding the tax revenue it collects for the PA, has increased raids and detentions in the West Bank, demolished an increasing number of Palestinian homes, and restricted supplies of water. One minister in the Netanyahu government has declared that these policies will insure that there will “never be a Palestinian state.”

The proposed agreement calls for the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 that are serving life sentences for killing Israelis. Might one of them be Marwan Barghouti?

Barghouti, 66, has been called the “Palestinian Mandela.” He has broad support among Palestinians and many believe he could be a unifying figure. He reportedly still believes in a two-state solution despite 23 years in an Israeli prison following a trial that was judged political and lacking evidence.

Netanyahu opposes his release because he is such a unifying figure. Abbas opposes his release because he would challenge his authority. The U.S. has never called for his release, but has inquired about his treatment, which has included torture. Will Hamas insist he be set free?

While the American plan offers a glimmer of hope, without men of good will and vision the chance for peace could, sadly, once again end in tears. A Mandela — or two — would surely help

• Keith Peterson, of Lake Barrington, served 29 years as a press and cultural officer for the United States Information Agency and Department of State. He was chief editorial writer of the Daily Herald 1984-86. His book “American Dreams: The Story of the Cyprus Fulbright Commission” is available from Amazon.com.