OPINION
Simchat Torah, which is the Jewish calendar anniversary of the October 7 massacre by Hamas of 1200 Jews and others, two years ago, will begin at nightfall on October 14. By then the 48 hostages held by Hamas might be back home, after todays announcement of Hamas returning the hostages.
And a ceasefire, which means an end (or the beinning of an end) to the IDF action in Gaza which has caused immense suffering and death. Hostage families in Israel, and ordinary Gazans have responded with joy.
The announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize is due October 10. He’s keen, pointing to other disputes he has been involved in settling. “No president or prime minister has ever done anything close to that,” he told the UN General Assembly in September. “Everyone says that I should get the Nobel Peace Prize for each one of these achievements.”
It is unlikely that President Trump will win the prize this year, unless the committee can turns things around really quickly. But an excellent case can be made that he deserves the prize, this year or next, in light of today’s agreement between Hamas and Israel to release the hostages as the first stage of a peace deal.
I say this as someone who, like most Australians, would never vote for him, or someone with his policies.
But on foreign affairs he has begun to build a track record of seeking peace accords and not rushing to send in US military forces. He deserves credit for this sea change in US policy.
Image Credit: Gage Skidmore