On Chicago’s Morning Answer, Dan Proft spoke with Jonathan Tobin, editor-in-chief of the Jewish News Syndicate, about President Trump’s newly unveiled 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza and fostering broader stability in the Middle East.
Trump’s “Eternal Peace” Promise
During his White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump described the initiative as a pathway to “eternal peace in the Middle East.” The plan reportedly has support from a range of regional players, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan. Trump said European leaders had also expressed astonishment at the prospect of such an agreement.
Tobin, however, cautioned against over-optimism. He noted that while the intentions behind the proposal may be constructive, similar efforts have failed repeatedly over the past century because of one key obstacle: the refusal of Palestinian leadership to accept the legitimacy of a Jewish state.
The Conditions and the Doubts
The plan hinges on Hamas surrendering, disarming, and releasing hostages, while creating conditions for a normal life in Gaza under international oversight. Tobin emphasized that believing in its success requires faith in a long list of unlikely conditions: the emergence of apolitical Palestinian technocrats to govern, the willingness of the UN and international community to prioritize peace over politics, and the idea that Qatar—a known backer of Hamas—could serve as a trustworthy partner.
Why Netanyahu Plays Along
Asked why Netanyahu would endorse a plan he likely views as unrealistic, Tobin pointed to Israel’s reliance on Trump, who he described as the most pro-Israel U.S. president in history. Netanyahu, he argued, has little choice but to give the proposal space to succeed—or fail. This allows Israel to demonstrate good faith while retaining Trump’s backing should Hamas ultimately renege.
Short-Term Outcome, Long-Term Conflict
Tobin stressed that the plan’s fate will be clear in the near term. Either Hamas complies by disarming and releasing hostages, or it does not. In that case, Trump has signaled he would support Israel in taking decisive military action. But Tobin also acknowledged that militant groups and sympathetic governments may simply wait out Trump’s tenure, counting on future political shifts in the U.S. or Europe to restore their influence.
The Larger Reality
Even if the plan delivers short-term progress, Tobin said, the broader conflict between Islamist movements and both Israel and the West is unlikely to end soon. “Three or four years from now, we’ll still be talking about the same issues,” he concluded, though the plan’s viability will be tested much sooner.