(LifeSiteNews) — As Wednesday reports say, President Donald Trump has secured a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, so how does this move explain the U.S. government’s strategy for a new Middle East?
Credit where credit is due. @realDonaldTrump has successfully resolved several serious conflicts around the world. pic.twitter.com/0EyHHy5Gfo
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 2, 2025
Israeli media has documented the ruthless killing of Palestinians queuing for food aid, as attacks by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank continue to escalate – which are also targeting Christians.
At home, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a trial for corruption and is accused of leading a coup as he seeks to replace the head of the Israeli security service, Shin Bet, against the orders of Israel’s highest court.
Moves are being made in Israel to arrange a coalition, amid warnings Netanyahu’s ultra-Zionist cabinet will try to thwart Trump’s Gaza peace initiative.
Donald Trump certainly knows all this. Netanyahu is set to meet with him on July 7. So why does Trump seek to secure Netanyahu’s immunity from criminal prosecution – permitting the corrupt Israeli leader to frame himself as the victim of a hostile Deep State?
The gold watch and the golden opportunity
When Trump was elected in November 2024, he had a golden opportunity to save the world from the forever wars centered in the Middle East – whilst also saving Israel from itself. The elephant in the room is the Israeli leader – whose position is now considerably weakened.
On Wednesday the Times of Israel published Trump’s claim that a two-month ceasefire has been agreed in Gaza. This is to be no mere pause, as Trump adds that a permanent peace deal is to be settled under these conditions.
US President Donald Trump said Israel has agreed to the conditions to finalize a 60-day ceasefire, ‘during which time we will work with all parties to end the War’ https://t.co/tGx6BTJYQY pic.twitter.com/uP6EG0BXqf
— Reuters (@Reuters) July 2, 2025
If we take seriously the new State Department’s pledge to identify the U.S. national interest with world peace, then the price of this peace may be the presentation of a golden retirement to Benjamin Netanyahu.
READ: MAGA loyalists support Trump’s move to end forever wars in the Middle East
For almost 50 years Netanyahu has dedicated his career to uniting the U.S. national security strategy with his own. This is a politics and economics of permanent war which has bankrupted the U.S. and produced a financial and diplomatic crisis to which MAGA is the proposed solution.
To put it simply, Trump’s grand strategy cannot succeed with Netanyahu in place.
With Israel in domestic crisis, and with many of its leading figures warning of a civil war, to pave the way for a peaceful retirement for Netanyahu might be the only real pathway towards peace.
The Abraham Accords
As Axios reported on the Trump-brokered peace deal for Gaza, Israeli news outlet i24 said that regional normalization was advancing, too.
What “normalization” with the Saudis and other Arab states means is the conditions for these regional neighbors to recognize Israel and do business with it in future.
Saudi, Israel talks depend on ending Hamas rule in Gaza in favor of the Palestinian Authority
If Israel and the Palestinian Authority can reach an agreement over Gaza, then normalization with Israel will be back on the table, a Saudi source close to the Royal Court told i24NEWS…— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) July 1, 2025
The latest development towards a new Middle East is that the Saudis will agree to an Arab-managed Gaza absent Hamas.
This is taking place under the framework of the Abraham Accords, which were declared under President Trump in 2020.
Its framework to promote peace, understanding and trade in the Middle East was initially supported by Israel, Sudan, Bahrain, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.
In recent days reports have circulated claiming Lebanon, Syria and Saudi Arabia will be joining the accords, following a June 25 announcement by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff saying the Accords will be expanded.
Special Envoy @SteveWitkoff: “One of the President’s key objectives is that the Abraham Accords be expanded … We think we’re going to have some pretty big announcements on countries that are now coming in to the Abraham Peace Accords.” pic.twitter.com/a2vq4f99mz
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 25, 2025
On June 30 Trump signed an executive order which lifted significant sanctions on Syria, saying “there is great potential in working with Syria to stop Radicalism, improve Relations, and secure Peace in the Middle East.” [sic]
On July 1, the nuclear state of Pakistan signaled it would not “remain on the sidelines” of the emerging new arrangement, indicating it may also join the Accords.
Some very important statements by the Pakistani Defense Minister here on the Abraham Accords which will be handled “according to Pakistani national interests” and Pakistan’s role of a major regional player. He says Pakistan won’t remain a spectator to the changing global order. pic.twitter.com/SWlLCi0zNq
— The STRATCOM Bureau (@OSPSF) July 1, 2025
Earlier, on June 26, the formerly pro-Netanyahu outlet Israel Hayom laid out the blueprint for “Trump and Netanyahu’s 2-State Vision” under the expanded Abraham format.
Hayom’s report said US-Israeli “consensus” on the plans would be followed by “rapid implementation” of the following points:
- “Gaza hostilities will end within two weeks,” Hamas to leave, the remaining hostages released, and Gaza to be managed by “four Arab states … including Egypt and the UAE.”
- “Multiple nations globally will accept numerous Gaza inhabitants seeking emigration.”
- Syria, Saudi Arabia, and “additional Arab and Muslim countries” will recognize Israel and establish diplomatic relations under the Abraham Accords.
- “Israel will declare its willingness for future Palestinian conflict resolution under the ‘two states’ concept, contingent upon the Palestinian Authority reforms.”
- The United States “will acknowledge limited Israeli sovereignty implementation in Judea and Samaria” – which is the Israeli government’s term for the Occupied West Bank.
Hayom, which recently warned Netanyahu had driven Israel “to the civil war abyss”, also noted that “two diplomatic sources informed Israel Hayom about substantial American presidential pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu to conclude the Strip operations.”
The pressure on Netanyahu from Trump was increased following the U.S. president’s public outrage over Israeli violations of the ceasefire with Iran. Trump was also reportedly enraged that Netanyahu’s actions would destroy his plan for regional peace.
“Israel Hayom further discovered that fears regarding the ambitious plan’s potential failure contributed to President Trump’s significant anger concerning Israeli strikes after his Iran ceasefire announcement.”
Hayom’s report clearly indicates the effect of Netanyahu’s inclusion in this plan:
“During the conversation demanding that Prime Minister Netanyahu halt the aircraft, Trump expressed confusion about how Netanyahu would disrupt their agreed strategic peace framework over a minor Iranian missile.”
Hayom’s report concludes with a subtle explanation of these complexities. Trump knows Netanyahu has no future if peace breaks out. He knows Netanyahu has sought any pretext to sabotage any peace deal in the past, and this is why Netanyahu would respond with a peace-shattering response to “a minor Iranian missile.”
EXCLUSIVE: Iran’s cardinal says peace only possible through ‘justice, mutual respect’
Hayom’s report says the quiet part out loud – but quietly.
“Trump, having previously discussed Netanyahu’s trial with him, seeks to liberate him for a complete peace vision engagement.”
Donald Trump is purchasing peace with a golden retirement plan for Netanyahu. The price of this peace will be high. It may not guarantee a Palestinian state. It seeks to halt – but not completely reverse – the annexation of the West Bank.
It does seem to tally with the call made by Vice President JD Vance to review what it means to be an ally of America, and his vision of replacing client states with regional partners.
It is to be hoped this also means a final answer to major question Vance raised in May 2024 when he asked – why does U.S. foreign policy habitually result in “genociding” people, be they historic Christians or not?
This deal may be the rebalancing offered by “realism and restraint” which Vance announced would be the guiding vision of the Trump administration.
If U.S. grand strategy is truly moving away from the forever war economy, the immunity of Netanyahu from prosecution is one price that is being paid for a lasting peace. Is this an artful deal towards Palestinian displacement – or a detransition from the death machine that has captured the United States in the name of the defense of democracy? It could be both.
This may be the price of peace. Trump has to deal with what – and who – is there – both in the Middle East and in the U.S. House and Senate. The basic fact is the human, moral and financial cost of business as usual is breaking the United States, and no amount of lobbying can change that.
Trump is right to move the United States off the economics of mass destruction. The question is what will be left in the Middle East if his plan to do so should succeed.
