When Israel's prime minister spoke before the UN General Assembly last week, he swore to "finish the job" against Hamas and to ensure that a Palestinian state does not become a reality. But Benjamin Netanyahu's Israel is becoming increasingly isolated and criticism of its warfare – where 66,000 people have been reported killed – is growing.
Now, on Monday, Netanyahu is to meet his most important ally, US President Donald Trump, in Washington. Trump writes in social media that everyone is aware that something "special" will happen.
An agreement to put an end to the nearly two-year-long war is said to be near. In connection with the General Assembly in New York, Trump met with leaders from several countries in the Arab world to discuss a way forward.
Plan in many steps
According to what has emerged so far, through sources in international media, a 21-point plan is proposed. Among other things, a permanent ceasefire is to take effect, Hamas is to release all hostages, Israel's military is to gradually leave Gaza, many Palestinian prisoners in Israel are to be released, and Hamas is to be disarmed.
A new authority is proposed to govern the devastated Gaza during a transition period, with the support of the UN and several countries in the Middle East, including an international force. Later, it is to hand over to a Palestinian government under the Palestinian Authority, which is then expected to have undergone a number of reforms.
A decimated Hamas has, however, not expressed any desire to lay down its arms. And Benjamin Netanyahu was in the UN clearly skeptical of the possibility of establishing a reformed Palestinian government.
Extremists in the lead
That a solution is near has been said many times before.
Donald Trump has so far had few objections to how Israel wages its war and earlier this year advocated for a US-reshaped Gaza, completely without Palestinians. Now the question is whether he will put concrete pressure on Israel's prime minister, according to several experts who have spoken to AP and AFP.
Benjamin Netanyahu is facing seething discontent even at home. To maintain power, he has become completely dependent on more extreme government colleagues who want to take an even harder line in the war and conquer more Palestinian land.
Netanyahu may have to choose between Trump and his coalition members, says Eytan Gilboa, professor at Bar-Ilan University in Israel, to AP.
