Breaking news, midnight - Peace in the Middle East?

Frankly, I think it's realistic to hope for an improvement in the situation, but not a total resolution. I doubt the peace prize will head his way but am very willing to give credit if it's due.

Well - let's hope it will be peace indeed.

Some people have memories that are decades long for sure.

Two very practical questions right now:
1. As at this morning a list has been released of Gaza relief flotilla members that are still being held prisoner by the "Israelis".

2. What is going to happen re the frequent settlers attacks - I put the figure away somewhere safely of just how many they are still doing - and it's a LOT (we're talking a 3 figure amount of attacks/attempted thefts each year!). The Palestinians have to be able to live in peace in what's left of their own country without wondering whether a group of settlers might come into sight over the hill and try and wreck and steal their homes and land.

2. What about "that" massive wall dividing off the country and the way the Palestinians aren't even allowed to walk peaceably down the street in some streets in their own cities? The apartheid has to stop obviously or there can never be peace.

3. That's before we get onto the question of retribution - giving their homes and land back to the Palestinians. That's an enormous question of itself. There won't be peace whilst there are still people that have kept the keys to their stolen homes and can't use them - because there are squatters living there that physically threw them out.

Imo - obviously we hope for peace - but I think we are a long long very long way from peace and there needs to be one heck of a lot of handing back stolen property/apologising/stopping apartheid and I wish I could see it happening - but I have extremely strong doubts it will happen in my lifetime - if ever....

Some of us know from our own personal experience that any land that has been stolen off us will remain ours in real terms and we will always describe it as "ours" unless and until it's bought off us for a fair price. Peace will cost an enormous amount to pay for all that stolen land/stolen homes and it would be nice to think people are going to be paid for their property after all this time - but I'm not optimistic that any of the stolen property will be paid for or returned to its owners.

Maremia

I hope this is not tied into the Nobel Peace Prize wish. The decision on that will be made very soon.

Nominations closed at the end of January which didn't give him much time to put the pressure on.

A two state solution? No, that will be very much way down the line.
Release of hostages and hamas laying down weapons is the order of the day.

He may steal the glory but he hasn't come to this alone.

If this leads to a lasting peace then obviously it is welcome news.

Is there to be a two-state solution?

Trump is very good at shooting his mouth off but rarely understands the detail...

(And far away from curtains etc)

May be it's possible that it took things to get so bad before Trump could intervene.

Its worth recalling that he wants and needs good relationships with Saudi and its almost certain I'd suggest they will have been in touch behind the scenes with him.

Trump signed an agreement with Qatar to generate an economic exchange worth at least $1.2 trillion. Quatar has recently been voicing far more than "strong concerns".

ronib

I am a bit worried that you are lighting a candle overnight Wyllow3. I don’t think it’s a good idea to leave a candle unattended unless of course, you intend an all night vigil?
Each to their own of course.

(I thank you for your concern, ronib. It's a tea light in a big bowl with water in. I do this for family and others if they are very ill)

Oh no, so easily done.

Well, fingers crossed Trump has actually achieved some good. Credit where credit is due. Let him have his moment.

Maremia

Don't panic ronib, some of us have LED candles. Think they are safer to leave on.
And yes, for some religious practices, overnight vigils are a thing.
She will be fine.

Maremia I hope so. I know of one small boy who thought he would copy his Jewish neighbours on a Friday night. He ended up lighting candles which set fire to the curtains.

Great news. I saw the hostage families celebrating on BBC breakfast. Their loved ones will be home soon. This will be signed off at 10am GMT.
Then on to the more difficult negotiations. Hamas have not agreed to surrender arms so far.

I'm keeping my fingers 🤞. Trump could have done this months ago, the plan is very much like the one put forward by Biden but it did need a more ""muscular" approach to get both Netanyahu and Hamas to agree. Netanyahu nearly blew it out of the water by bombing Qatar, hence the mealy mouthed apology but I really hope that this latest plan brings the hostages home and peace to Gaza.

windmill1

Yay! Trump is that little bit nearer to landing that Nobel Peace Prize.

What a joke that would be.......

Trump is many things but not a warmonger. If he can bring peace to this tinderbox part of the world then he would deserve every accolade there is.

I hope this is not tied into the Nobel Peace Prize wish. The decision on that will be made very soon.

Don't panic ronib, some of us have LED candles. Think they are safer to leave on.
And yes, for some religious practices, overnight vigils are a thing.
She will be fine.

Crossing everything here that this will truly happen. For once I believe it actually might, down to the dogged determination on the part of Trump, (though I'm not a huge fan). 🤞

Which in this case GG13 is a good thing.

Hopefully peace for now and the return of all remaining hostages, dead or alive.

Get the aid into Gaza pronto.

Then the mammoth task of negotiating a way of going forward and a lasting peace.

Well done POTUS, I heard it said in the news that he uses muscular diplomacy in other words, my way or the highway.

However much you might despise Trump, if he helps with peace, well, good for him. I think there is good and bad in him, personally. Good for his locals but not good for the rest of us. I don’t hate him and some of what he says seems to be commonsense. Unfortunately, not all.

I am a bit worried that you are lighting a candle overnight Wyllow3. I don’t think it’s a good idea to leave a candle unattended unless of course, you intend an all night vigil?
Each to their own of course.

Yay! Trump is that little bit nearer to landing that Nobel Peace Prize.

What a joke that would be.......

Oh, so much. I'm going to light a candle overnight. And probably for longer.

We can only hope and pray.

(will ask mods to change to "news"