What’s Netanyahu seeking in DC?
According to Egypt’s Al-Ghad TV news site, it seems that Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington is within the framework of coordination between the Israeli regime and the United States for the next stage, and above all, a decision on Gaza.
Bahaa Mahmoud, a researcher at the Al-Ahram Center for Political Studies, said in this regard: Netanyahu will be heading to the White House to meet with Trump while the first clause of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza has been implemented, but Israel continues to violate this agreement and obstruct the implementation of the next stages. In the meantime, the question is whether Trump will pressure Netanyahu to implement the ceasefire during his meeting with him or give him the green light to take specific actions?
He continued: This trip will be more within the framework of coordination for the next stage, meaning that during it, the guarantee of American support for Israel will be examined first and foremost, and the next issue will be the continuation of settlement construction in the occupied territories. Of course, other issues such as the developments in Gaza and the signing of contracts in various fields, including weapons, are also on the agenda.
The researcher added: There is no question of America putting pressure on Israel, so we must ask what is causing this in the current situation? A lot of blood was shed in Gaza, and then, with the signing of the ceasefire agreement, the living Zionist prisoners and most of their bodies were handed over, so why should there be such pressure?
Baha Mahmoud emphasized: The blood of the Palestinians, their lives, and the reconstruction of Gaza have not been important to Trump and Netanyahu so far, and Israel’s first goal is to achieve as many achievements as possible, including continuing to build settlements and displacing the people of Gaza. Also, regarding the release of Marwan Barghouti (a prominent Palestinian prisoner fighter), it should be said that everyone knows that he is a symbol for Palestine and not just Hamas, and his release will change the current scene in general, and of course, this issue is not necessary or important for America.
He said: Another important issue is the geographical importance of Gaza and its location on the Mediterranean coast as a bridge between the occupied territories and Arab countries, and the transfer of goods, so the continued presence of Israel in Gaza, and not the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the release of prisoners, is important for it.
In another part of this conversation about the deployment of international forces, including forces from Turkey in Gaza, the researcher added: Israel wants to continue its military presence in Gaza, to be the main ruler of this region, and for international forces to be present only there. On the other hand, in the current situation, who would send their soldiers and children to be sacrificed in this region, in a situation where the continuation of the implementation of the ceasefire agreement is not guaranteed?