“They’re actually guys like us. They’re pretty nice guys.’”
The Trump administration’s Gaza policy is completely divided.
On the one hand, President Trump is saying all the right things, on the other hand his team is going in and saying all the wrong things.
After Trump’s common sense approach, Steve Witkoff, the ‘envoy’ responsible for foisting the disastrous Biden ceasefire on us, would water them down and dismiss the president’s proposals. Now White House Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler who appeared to be a credible figure decided to directly meet up with Hamas and came out with exactly the sort of thing John Kerry or Jimmy Carter would have come away with.
Boehler said that Hamas is not interested in returning to war: “Israel has done a masterful job of eliminating Hamas and Hezbollah. Hamas did orient toward a long-term truce where they would be disarmed, they would not be part of the political policy, and where we would ensure that they are in a place where they can’t hurt Israel. Part of that was rebuilding Gaza.”
In an interview to be aired tonight with Kan, he added “Hamas suggested that they would release all hostages, lay down their weapons, and no longer be part of the politics of Gaza and that the US and its allies would ensure there was no military infrastructure remaining in Gaza. In exchange, there would be a five to ten-year truce, and the US and other countries would help rebuild Gaza.”
He addressed the Israeli concerns over the US opening a direct channel with Hamas. “The Israelis were kept informed. It’s totally fair for Israel to have concerns, but we are not an agent of Israel – we are the United States, and we have specific interests at play.”
Boehler outlined a possible framework for a deal: that Hamas lay down its arms in exchange for prisoner releases, leading to a long-term truce.
“I think there’s an answer here, and I think the answer is that Hamas lays down their arms,” he said. “We exchange prisoners, and they go into a long-term truce, where they don’t fight, they’re not part of any political party, and that gives us lots of cooling-off time.”
“I spoke with Ron, and I’m sympathetic. He has someone that he doesn’t know well, making direct contact with Hamas. Maybe I would see them and say, ‘Look, they don’t have horns growing out of their head. They’re actually guys like us. They’re pretty nice guys.’”
Boehler since walked back the “nice guys” comment but it seems symptomatic of a regular pattern which is
1. Our guys go to Qatar and leave brainwashed
2. The obsession with making a deal overshadows common sense about dealing with terrorists
I’m not going to quibble about his word choices like calling Israeli hostages ‘prisoners’ or calling Hamas terrorists ‘hostages’ because the bigger issue is he’s pushing the same nonsense that got us to Oct 7.
Hamas is not going to ‘disarm’. A 10-15 year truce is a period of time during which Hamas rearms and prepares for another Oct 7 attack as they have told us over and over again they will do. And Hamas, not Israel or the U.S. will decide when the truce actually lapses. Much like Hamas announced the previous two year ceasefire was over by attacking on Oct 7.
This proposed deal leaves Hamas in Gaza and has the U.S. rebuild Gaza for 10-15 years.
In short, it’s the worst deal imaginable for America and for Israel.
And this is the problem when we start dealing with terrorists instead of letting our allies defeat them.
somehistory says
Isn’t this the same kind of things that happened in Mr. Trump’s first term? He says one thing and his “team” goes in the opposite direction.
This “negotiator” is not really that. He should get a job where he could use his lying skills. and not cause a disaster. Like telling rats the exterminator is their friend.
Perhaps if he wants to be a “negotiator,” he could work for a union.
Rob Porter says
somehistory, just more of the same.
To Daniel Greenfield I say ‘excellent article and excellent analysis of Adam Boehler’s thinking’. Above all this naive, ignorant of Islam clown wants a negotiated settlement. As Daniel Greenfield put it: “The obsession with making a deal overshadows common sense about dealing with terrorists.”
No doubt Boehler thinks a negotiated settlement would make of himself a hero. Israel would end up picking up the pieces, not the well-rewarded Adam Boehler, by then comfortably ensconced in his home in America.
Of Boehler’s thinking this said it all: “They’re actually guys like us. They’re pretty nice guys”. Tell that to the Israelis and the Israeli hostages, fool! If he thinks “they’re actually guys like us” and, in effect, Boehler is “actually ” a guy like them, and to him these savages are “pretty nice guys” then I guess that I am far from being American, not least because this man is actually a stupid, naive and gullible ass. On October 7 and as with Muslims in Syria now murdering Christians, they are miserable, hate-filled, murdering savages who have pulled the wool over his gullible mind. What a pathetic dope!
Trump after learning more about Hamas savagery said he did not want one building left standing in Gaza. Is this now forgotten? Now this Boehler clown wants a ten-year truce (a Mohammad-style ploy) – that would allow these”pretty nice guy” savages to regroup, re-arm and prepare to attack Israel.
Donald Trump needs to wake up to Boehler’s total unsuitability to this task, get this man out of Israel and away from negotiations with Muslims. He is totally ill-equipped, morally, intellectually and in respect of Islam. Behind his back Hamas and Qatar are laughing and thinking that Americans are stupid.
Troybeam says
All I can think of is this: Taqiyya or better yet around round of BS speaking.
Troybeam says
All I can think of is this: Taqiyya or better yet around round of BS speaking for the terms they want.
Bruce David Watt says
the believers in the Koran and hadith say no truce with non-believers is to last more than 10 years or until you can overpower them and kill or subdue them. i say catch each and every one of them and implant pagers that can last 15 years. then peace until.
Stive says
Mr. Worlds biggest ego man, speaks with forked tongue and that is not New but his nature. He does good things but does bad things at the same time but most look at the good and don’t look over there. And many today have the inability to to look ahead at possible consequences of even good things at the start but have a downside later
John1 says
Not one red USA cent for Gaza. Let the rich Muslim oil Arabs pay. Their ideology (islam) caused the war in the first place.
SKA says
What is worse? The Muslims’ capacity for lying and deception? Or the credulity of Americans full of goodwill and good intentions? Combined they spell disaster for Israel and the West.
carpediadem says
How can you send someone with no idea about Islam to Qatar?
And why deal with Qatar at all? Do they not know what it is?
Rob Porter says
It’s about time Trump got Robert Spencer to educate his officials regarding Islam. Right now it appears to me that Witkoff and Boehler are horribly and dangerously ignorant of Islam and Muslim deceit, and are not fit for the tasks they’ve been assigned.
I was pleasantly surprised today to learn that The Jerusalem Times has clued on to Boehler being clueless.
rubiconcrest says
Hamas has everything to gain and nothing to lose at this point, therefore they should not be a part to any negotiation. They hold no cards as Trump would say. Negotiators should consider them a non entity. So why are they at the table President Trump?
I’m going to send him a letter.
carpediadem says
2. The obsession with making a deal overshadows common sense about dealing with terrorists.
That they think they can make a deal with psycho murderers with exactly one aim to eliminate Jews -is the stupidity.
somehistory says
Would they negotiate with a serial killer to get him to stop murdering young women?
gravenimage says
U.S. Hostage ‘Negotiator’ Says Hamas Wants Peace, Offers ’15-Year Truce’, US Rebuilding of Gaza
…………………………………….
I’m afraid Adam Boehler is a willfully naive fool–*and* he’s holding direct talks with Hamas, who he unbelievebly says are “pretty nice guys”.
Here’s the Times of Israel on this tool:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/meet-adam-boehler-trumps-complacent-confused-and-dangerously-naive-hostage-envoy/
abu taleb says
The only way to have peace with the Islamists is when they are in a very much inferior position, poor and hunger. Otherwise, they will try to harm the non muslims in one way or another, starting from something that seems harmless like using loudspeaker from mosques for their daqwah to show their superiority, forbiding non muslims to preach to muslims while they can preach Islam to others freely to their final goal, wipe out non muslims and enslave the non muslims who are still alive but fully subjugate.
Muslims should be allowed to have their complete freedom under secular law which is implemented strictly and given free access to information so that they can apostate freely without fear of their lives. Then Islam should crumble quickly.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
I do think direct talks need to be held w/ Hamas, since they are the ones holding the hostages. In the past, Qatar was an intermediary, but that’s gone nowhere. So now, it has to be US officials reading Hamas the riot act, and telling them what they’ll do if the remaining hostages aren’t immediately released
Gaza being evacuated completely needs to be a non-negotiable
David Young says
They Need to Read Jesse Petrilla’s book: “If it Takes a Thousand Years” Maybe then they would look at this in a different light. Let’s face it they have had this Islamic Hate filliterature and been ehtnically cleansing Jews and Christians Since the 8th Century and the only thing that has changed is the weaponry they have had made available to them by the Muslim Terror State of Iran!
skeptiker says
Es war schon ein Fehler von Netanjahu, das Ultimatum von Donald Trump für die sofortige Freilassung der Geiseln untätig verstreichen zu lassen. Ergebnis, die Hamas bestimmt die Regeln, erpresst und demütigt Israel und die USA . Beschämend. Wer seine militärische Überlegenheit nicht einsetzt, um der Gewalt und dem Terror endgültig den Stecker zu ziehen, hat auch in Zukunft schlechte Karten in der Realität noch ernst genommen zu werden.
alexreid says
This is Idiocy in believing a 15 year Truce will hold. Apparently Mohammed, when he was weak, offered some lot a Truce, which he willingly broke. He built up his Forces & when the Time was right – struck. Just a leaf out of the Islam Play Book & Hitler’s non-Aggression Pact with Stalin. All they’ll do is stockpile weapons, munitions, other material & rebuild Tunnel Complexes & kick off again.
As sure as eggs is eggs.
The West falls for it Time & Time again.
alexreid says
This is Idiocy in believing a 15 year Truce will hold. Apparently Mohammed, when he was weak, offered some lot a Truce, which he willingly broke. He built up his Forces & when the Time was right – struck. Just a leaf out of the Islam Play Book & Hitler’s non-Aggression Pact with Stalin. All they’ll do is stockpile weapons, munitions, other material & rebuild Tunnel Complexes & kick off again.
As sure as eggs is eggs.
The West falls for it Time & Time again.
alexreid says
This is Idiocy in believing a 15 year Truce will hold. Apparently Mohammed, when he was weak, offered some lot a Truce, which he willingly broke. He built up his Forces & when the Time was right – struck. Just a leaf out of the Islam Play Book & Hitler’s non-Aggression Pact with Stalin. All they’ll do is stockpile weapons, munitions, other material & rebuild Tunnel Complexes & kick off again.
As sure as eggs is eggs.
The West falls for it Time & Time again.
alexreid says
This is Idiocy in believing a 15 year Truce will hold. Apparently Mohammed, when he was weak, offered some lot a Truce, which he willingly broke. He built up his Forces & when the Time was right – struck. Just a leaf out of the Islam Play Book & Hitler’s non-Aggression Pact with Stalin. All they’ll do is stockpile weapons, munitions, other material & rebuild Tunnel Complexes & kick off again.
As sure as eggs is eggs.
The West falls for it Time & Time again.
James Lincoln says
Pres. Trump desperately needs to hire consultants like Robert Spencer, Hugh Fitzgerald, Pamela Geller, John Guandolo, Frank Gaffney, etc.
Rob Porter says
To Daniel Greenfield I say ‘excellent article and excellent analysis of Adam Boehler’s thinking’. Above all this naive, ignorant of Islam clown wants a negotiated settlement. As Daniel Greenfield put it: “The obsession with making a deal overshadows common sense about dealing with terrorists.”
No doubt Boehler thinks a negotiated settlement would make of himself a hero. Israel would end up picking up the pieces, not the well-rewarded Adam Boehler, by then comfortably ensconced in his home in America.
Of Boehler’s thinking this said it all: “They’re actually guys like us. They’re pretty nice guys”. Tell that to the Israelis and the Israeli hostages, fool! If he thinks “they’re actually guys like us” and, in effect, Boehler is “actually ” a guy like them, and to him these savages are “pretty nice guys” then I guess that I am far from being American, not least because this man is actually a stupid, naive and gullible ass. On October 7 and as with Muslims in Syria now murdering Christians, they are miserable, hate-filled, murdering savages who have pulled the wool over his gullible mind. What a pathetic dope!
Trump after learning more about Hamas savagery said he did not want one building left standing in Gaza. Is this now forgotten? Now this Boehler clown wants a ten-year truce (a Mohammad-style ploy) – that would allow these “pretty nice guy” savages to regroup, re-arm and prepare to attack Israel.
Donald Trump needs to wake up to Boehler’s total unsuitability to this task, get this man out of Israel and away from negotiations with Muslims. He is totally ill-equipped, morally, intellectually and in respect of Islam. Behind his back Hamas and Qatar are laughing and thinking that Americans are stupid.
Maria V says
YOU CANNOT BREAK BREAD WITH THE DEVIL..!!
Are American politicians that Stupid & Gullible..?? Haven’t these people read the History of Islam & their True intentions??
‘If You Don’t Know History, You Are Bound to Repeat It…’