Many were up in arms when, on Wednesday, Trump told reporters as he was boarding Air Force One that 1. “without the United States, the hostages would not be alive now. 2. There are about 20 alive; we will get them out step by step.”
However, from recent news reports, the U.S. president is not wrong;
Israeli media reported on Tuesday that Edan Alexander, the 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier hostage released on Monday, told Trump that since he took office, his conditions while held hostage had improved significantly.
Ultimately, it was Trump’s team negotiating with Hamas that got Alexander out.
The Prime Minister’s Office put out a statement on Sunday when the deal was announced, attempting to spin the deal in their favor and make it look as though Israel was an active player, when in fact, it was Trump’s team that was on the ground making the deal for his release.
So, while many were up in arms at Trump’s apparent taking credit, others still said that he is right, and it is further proof that the Israeli government is not doing enough for the return of the hostages.
Nevertheless, when it comes to Trump’s Middle East tour, the fact that in two short days, Israel has been so significant during discussions has thoroughly refuted any claim made that Israel is low on the U.S. president’s list of priorities.
Further, it was a sign: a sign that sometime in the near future, Israel could enter some very advantageous agreements with its neighbors and, although they are not next door, their joining the Abraham Accords could be the foot in the door, for the country that needs to improve 1. its diplomatic standing in the Middle East, 2. recover its international reputation, 3. and ultimately garner enough partners to put pressure on Hamas to bring about a definitive end to the war.
