Donald Trump’s dream for a greater Gaza
Twenty years ago, I sat with Gen. Omar Suleiman in the headquarters of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service in Cairo. We discussed a trilateral land swap between Egypt, Israel and the Palestinians. The logic behind the plan was the same as that of President Trump's recent comments. Only now, the urgency for its implementation is clear to the world.
The rulers and borders between Egypt, Gaza and Israel have changed many times over the last hundred years. From the Ottomans to the British, from the Egyptians to the Israelis, from the Palestinian Authority to Hamas, this small strip of land has never known quiet — and it will never allow others quiet until its inhabitants have a vision of peace and prosperity. Trump has provided just that.
Today, Gaza is a terrorist’s dream. There are hundreds of kilometres of underground tunnels in which they can hide themselves and hostages. Meanwhile, the Gazan population is left exposed and vulnerable above ground.
How does Trump’s vision change this? This is not about sending the Gazan population into Egypt, but rather about adjusting the borders of Egypt, Gaza and Israel to benefit all sides.
The Gaza strip would be expanded down to El Arish in northern Sinai, doubling its land mass to 800 sq. km. Egypt would see a land crossing from Sinai to Jordan, while Israel would annex its main population........
© The Hill
