Trump has made a proposal about moving 1.5 million people out of Gaza, to Egypt and Jordan, so as to make it possible to begin the immense work of reconstruction in the Strip. This suggestion was treated as absurd, bizarre, deserving only of gales of supercilious laughter. But the people of Gaza, many of whom, as soon as the ceasefire was declared, headed to their previous homes in northern Gaza, only to find them in ruins, and then quickly turned around and headed back to tent cities in the south, did not dismiss his proposal. Some of those Gazans are now clamoring to be allowed to go through the Rafah crossing in order to enter Egypt. They don’t think Trump’s suggestion was crazy. Nor has anyone opposed to his suggestion explained why it should be considered so laughable. Does anyone have a better idea as to how reconstruction can be undertaken in Gaza without removing some of its 2.2 million people? There is plenty of space in the Sinai where Gazans could be temporarily resettled until rubble can be removed and housing be built for them in the Strip. Those who want the best outcome for the Gazans — a return to normal life in the Strip, with Gazans settled in apartments rather than in the tents they are now living in, should not mock, but welcome Trump’s suggestion. As of now, despairing Gazans have been cursing Hamas for the ruin it has brought upon them; they have even allowed themselves to be filmed for Falasteeen TV denouncing the terror group — their rage has overcome their fear.
It is not only many Gazans who think Trump’s suggestion would make their own lives much easier, for they would not be condemned to living in the midst of a huge construction site, which is what Gaza will naturally become. A large majority of Israeli Jews support US President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate Gaza’s population to other countries, a Jewish People Policy Institute Israel Index survey revealed Monday. More on this survey can be found here: “Approx. 80% of Israelis support Trump’s plan to relocate Gazans – survey,” Jerusalem Post, February
A large majority of Israeli Jews support US President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate Gaza’s population to other countries, a Jewish People Policy Institute Israel Index survey revealed Monday.
The survey, which was published ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump in Washington, found that approximately eight out of 10 Jewish Israelis support Trump’s suggestion that “Arabs from Gaza should relocate to another country,” while most Arab Israelis oppose the proposal.
According to the findings, 43% of all Israelis believe Trump’s plan is “practical” and should be pursued, while an additional 30% of Jewish Israelis responded that the plan is “not practical, but desirable,” meaning they support the idea but do not see it as realistically feasible.
Almost half — 43% — of Israeli Jews think Trump’s proposal to move two-thirds of the population of Gaza out, to be temporarily resettled in Egypt and Jordan, so that reconstruction can take place, to be both desirable and doable. After all, the full reconstruction of Gaza will take up to 10-15 years. During that time a few hundred thousand Gazans can each year return, as the housing stock in Gaza is built. Both Egypt and Jordan have turned Trump’s proposal down flat, but he has yet to apply the kind of pressure that will change their minds.
Another 30% of Israeli Jews support Trump’s proposal, but consider it “impractical.” What does that mean? It means that they believe it’s impossible to achieve because of the refusal of Egypt and Jordan to take in those Gazans. But they are overlooking the fact that Trump has ways to overcome those countries’ refusal to take in Gazans: he can threaten to cut off the billions of dollars in aid that the U.S. government provides to both countries — close to $2 billion a year to Jordan and $1.7 billion to Egypt. That’s a large carrot if provided, a big stick if it is withheld.
However, 13% of Israelis believe Trump’s proposal is “immoral.” This group includes 54% of Arab respondents and only 3% of Jewish Israelis.
Only 3% of Jewish Israelis consider Trump’s proposal to move 1.5 million people temporarily out of Gaza “immoral.” That’s a very tiny number. Israelis know that such a move would help Gazans to live better while the reconstruction is going on, and they would no longer be subject to Hamas despotism. Neither the rulers of Egypt or of Jordan would allow Hamas to have any role in ruling over Gazan Palestinians in their countries. And with two-thirds of Gazans no longer living in the Strip, the ability of Hamas to launch attacks on Israel from Gaza would also be much diminished. Fewer people in Gaza also means fewer Hamas combatants.
The JPPI study also found differences in opinion in political views, with 81% of right-wing respondents saying the plan is both desirable and practical, compared to 31% of those in the Center and 27% of left-wing Jewish respondents….
Again, those who claim Trump’s proposal is “impractical” because Egypt and Jordan will not accept it ignore the enormous economic pressure Trump can bring to bear on the governments of both countries. It’s not just a question of ending the aid — a total of more than $3 billion annually — but also of putting tariffs on goods from both countries, a weapon Trump is fond of wielding. Both countries could also be blocked from buying American goods, especially weapons, as well as spare parts needed to replace aging parts in the American weapons that are already in the Egyptian and Jordanian arsenals.
If Trump’s pressure — both carrots and sticks — on Egypt and Jordan, were to be used, so that both countries agreed to take in a total of 1.5 million Gazans for resettlement, his formerly “impractical” suggestion would suddenly become “practical.”
In sum, nearly 80% of Israeli Jews support — that is, regard as desirable — Trump’s plan to remove 1.5 million people from Gaza and to place them in Egypt and Jordan while reconstruction is going on. How many years that might take is not clear, but estimates run from 10 to 15 years for a complete restoration of the Strip. Long before then some of those 1.5 million will be allowed back into Gaza, wherever housing has been built for them; residential housing should be the first priority of those doing the reconstruction. That plan will be good for those Gazans, for they will not be living in the middle of a construction site, nor will those temporarily settled in Egypt and Jordan any longer have to endure being ruled by Hamas. And it will, obviously, be good for Israel, which will have a much smaller number of people — and of the terrorists among them — to deal with.
Wellington says
All this will work to the extent that Islam is minimized. And minimizing Islam will be the true Herculean task, not the “mere” rebuilding of Gaza.
gravenimage says
+1
࿗Infidel࿘ says
I think that they should be relocated to other Arab countries, rather than Egypt or Jordan. Just like they were in Tunisia in the 80s. But this time, make them get citizenship in those countries
Also, by proposing this, Trump has for now saved Netanyahu’s government, since Religious Zionist party was threatening to quit the coalition when the first hostage deal arrived. It’s Trump’s announcement of his plan to relocate the Palis that has warmed them up to him and put that off, at least for now
commonsense says
A very wise proposal, Infidel – make the bastards in Gaza take citizenship elsewhere after relocation…if only!
Isabella Hale says
Given that the GAZA strip is uninhabitable right now because of the unexploded ordinance; the entire area is reduced to rubble, no power, no running water it will take a long time to make the area habiitible anyway. Trump’s plan does make sense and is very interesting for the Israelis and the Arabic community who do practice the radicalized theocratic form of Hamas Islam or other terror groups. An international city could be a feasible idea in about 10 years (it may take that long!). Sor of a like Morocco on the sea shore. I get what he means. INTERESTING THE BIBLE SAYS THAT IN THE END TIMES.. and we are not there yet says that many Israelis will be protected by PETRA which is Jordan. I was very fascinated when I heard about this proposal. Great to see Bibi and Donald Trump and now we have Huckabee as the Ambassador to Isreal. Things are looking much better. Maximum campaign in the IRAN’s Allatollah is a good thing. Even the IRANIAN PEOPLE do not want him or the Nuclear BOMB and neither do the surrounding Muslim countries and the Levant peoples and Isaraeli people.
Tony says
Gaza should be reclaimed by Israel and renamed by Israel to be populated by Israelis. After all, Islam is a MUSLIM TERRORIST ORGANIZATION(MTO) against Non-Muslims and NOT A PEACEFUL RELIGION UNDER WESTERN LAWS(Quran 2:216; 4:95; 8:12,39,74; 9:5,29,41,49, 21:921; 88,111,123;21:92; 49:15 and more). More specifically, Islam is a Muslim Terrorist Ideology and Criminal Enterprise of continuous war, discrimination, segregation, supremacy, genocide, polygamy, propaganda, deceit, hatred, incitement, sedition, rape, terrorism, and violence against all Non-Muslims as taught in the Quran. Fundamentally, Islam funds, teaches, and promotes a Terrorist Criminal Organization with Muslims as Terrorists for Allah.
The FRUIT of Islam is incessant WAR, terrorism, discrimination, malice, and violence against all Non-Muslims; this FACT must be taught and broadcast to the general public to prohibit Islam, its Mosques, and its Schools. Also, Islam is an Antichrist System terrorizing Israel, Christians, and Non-Muslims. Plus, there is NO EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW in Islam or in Islamic Law(Quran 98:6-7; 9:29 and more). In Sahih Bukhari(V6,B60,N80), Abu Huraira narrates, “‘You(Muslims) are the best of peoples ever raised for mankind.’ means, the best of peoples for the people, as you bring them[Non-Muslims] with chains on their necks till they embrace Islam[see Quran 3:110].” See also Quran 3:22,151; 69:30-32; 98:6.
Non-Muslims CANNOT have peace with Islam and its Muslims because Islam and its murderous god, Allah, demand a continuous, Muslim war against unbelievers where Non-Muslims are CRIMINALS under Islam when Allah in Qur’an 8:39 says, “And engage in war with them[Non-Muslims] until there will not be sedition and the religion will be completely to Allah…” HENCE, NON-MUSLIMS MUST MAKE ISLAM, ITS MOSQUES, ITS SCHOOLS, ITS ORGANIZATIONS, ETC. ILLEGAL UNDER THE LAW. Similarly, Islam and its many Organizations must be identified and publicly declared to be MUSLIM TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS for their funding, teaching, and support of terrorism, violence, and discrimination against Non-Muslims(eg. Quran 9:5,29,111 and more).
Western Muslims seek to ensure Islam’s legitimacy against Non-Muslim societies, to impose Islamic Law in Western Legal Systems, and to advance Islam’s totalitarian goals to conquer the West. Consequently, Islam promotes a limitless, terroristic, Muslim war against unbelievers when Allah in Qur’an 49:15 says, “Surely the believers are only those who believed in Allah and his messenger. They do not doubt, and they performed JIHAD with THEIR MONEY AND THEIR LIVES for the sake of Allah. Those are the truthful.”
Ralph says
You must have cringed as I did when president George W. Bush stated that “Islam is a religion of peace”. What an idiot!.
Walter Sieruk says
It’s a very good intelligent proposal of President Trump to relocate any of the Gazans to Jordan and Egypt
One of the reasons this is because the decent peaceful Gazans would be much more safe by being away from those vicious jihadist savages of Hamas. Further , they would ,most likely , be happy to life in an Islamic nation among other Muslims.
In contrast, they should never ,ever , be invited or allowed to enter the United States to live. This is because ,among them , some of them will be dangerous and death inflecting jihadist/Muslims. Therefore, it’s best to keep in mind the terrible reality that it only takes a few out of many to mass murder and destruction Remember , the few ,only 19 Muslim terrorists that resulted in the horrific deadly affronts which occurred on September 11,th 2001 .
Having a policy that ensures and protects the safety of the US citizens is something the American government has a duty to do.
JDow says
How do you tell the good ones from the bad ones? Maybe the Israelis have some new tech that mostly works that could vet the people wanting to leave. But, that means even the children should be vetted. That makes it difficult to find full nuclear families that are qualified to leave.
{o.o}
Andrew Blackadder says
Tell me again why Uncle Sam sends so much money to the KINGDOM of Jordan and Egypt while Uncle Sam appears to have no cash for the actual American Veterans sleeping on the Sidewalks from Sea to Shining Sea.
Who is playing whom for a fool?.
Not a trick question.
Sherry Miller says
Since all the leadership of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist groups reside in Doha, why would they not love to have their very own “Doha” right on the Mediterranean Coast from which they can direct their minions right from home? Nice hotels, tourists, shops, and all sorts of capitalist entities right at their fingertips to extract the Jizya from the infidel owners. No more living in tunnels like rats. The rats can eat their imported cheese while sunning on the Gaza Riviera, while still controlling all the resources given to them by other countries. They should be overjoyed at the prospect!
Sherry Miller says
Since all the leadership of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist groups reside in Doha, why would they not love to have their very own “Doha” right on the Mediterranean Coast from which they can direct their minions right from home? Nice hotels, tourists, shops, and all sorts of capitalist entities right at their fingertips to extract the Jizya from the infidel owners. No more living in tunnels like rats. The rats can eat their imported cheese while sunning on the Gaza Riviera, while still controlling all the resources given to them by other countries. They should be overjoyed at the prospect!
Ralph says
Once again, President Trump makes a suggestion that many find preposterous on first hearing it and then on serious reflection, it makes wonderful, good sense. President Trump and Elon Musk are “big picture men” geared to dream impossible dreams and make them come true. America is very fortunate to have such leaders.
gravenimage says
80% of Israeli Jews Support Trump’s Proposal to Relocate 80% of Gazans
………………………………………………
Hard to know what to think. Not sure I want my taxpayer dollars going to build a riviera for the Gazans–and especially *for Hamas*. So long as there are pious Muslims there–or will be soon again–they will just use whatever people have given them as a base from which to launch more Jihad against Israel.
They *could* have a lovely seaside resort in Gaza–but they would have to actually want such a thing, and be willing to at least minimally maintain it. Sadly I think too few Gazans what such a thing–but they do want to free up as much money as possible to use to wage JIhad against neighboring Israelis.
Kepha says
While I have very little sympathy for the Gazans (they poked not only the proverbial bear, but a tiger and lion as well, and poked them way too hard)Uncle Kepha voted for Trump 3 times, and would still do the same, given the sorts of people he ran against. However, Uncle Kepha thinks Trump’s proposal is more than impractical.
I have just about zero sympathy for the Gazans. They danced in the street on 09/11/01 and handed out candy. In the wake of October 7, they boasted of the most unspeakable cruelties, and gleefully posted videos of abductions and killings. They poked not only the proverbial bear, but also a tiger and lion, and way too hard at that.
But displacing another 2.3-2.4 millions is a big job, and, as many have observed, few countries would want to take them in. Add this to the already intractable issue of the Palestinian Arab refugees from 1948 and their descendants, and the impracticality of the proposal becomes all the more clear. Even now, with the exception of Jordan, virtually all Arab states save Jordan refuse to naturalize even the fifth generation descendants of an-Nakhba. Even the PA keeps its own people descended from places in pre-1967 Israel in refugee status, without the option to own land and other facets of real citizenship.
Perhaps it would be better to work on getting the descendants of the 1948 refugees naturalized in the countries in which they reside. The world has already spent more per capita on the clients of UNRRWA than on any other group of people in the world; and has only misery, cleptocratic “Palestinian” leadership, destabilization, and terrorism to show for it. Yet from the same period of time, the Mizrahi Jews are no-questions-asked Israelis at this point; while more than ten million South Asians displaced by the partition of India and their descendants are no-questions-asked Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis. Five generations of Falastin Arab refugee statelessness among populations of similar language, religion, and culture is way too long.
Another: The USA is a choice destination for those seeking higher education, legal immigrant status, and other social/cultural goods. As a consular officer, Uncle Kepha once advocated for a very narrow restriction on any and all visas for people from certain “hotbeds” of people-smuggling and immigration fraud (Nakhon Sawan in Thailand and the Fuzhou are of China were two such places). During the first Trump administration, his “Muslim ban” was widely criticized, even though it did not affect the overwhelming majority of Muslim-majority states. Such a stick could be held over the PA and southern Lebanon, for starters.
As for taking over Gaza, do we want to plant our forces in an area where the civilian population is, almost to a man, hostile? It would be fighting against another “People’s War”, in which the whole population of the territory is hostile. We would have to use methods for which we put German and Japanese officers and politicians on trial after WW2. Should we not have taken a lesson from Viet Nam–where the bulk of the population wanted to live under a Communist dictatorship (and ended up as badly exploited by international capital after the Soviet aid sources dried up, and VN’s leadership had to face economic reality)? Or from Afghanistan, where the bulk of the population is steeped in medieval Islamic bigotry?
There will be no peace in that corner of the world until the Gazans love their own children more than they hate the Israelis. We Americans can do nothing about that.
abu taleb says
No country will accept the Palestinians, except probably some idiot European countries. Especially Islamic countries, they won’t accept the Palestinians, even though they support Hamas. Islamic countries know very well what kind of people muslims are, who wants to invite traitors and backstabbers into their countries?