(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .
Trump, surprisingly, is almost right on Gaza. And he could win a coveted Nobel peace prize if... [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-01-27
Trump, surprisingly, is almost right on Gaza. And he could win a coveted Nobel peace prize if he made a few changes.
Of course those changes are likely to be deal breakers for him and the right wing, but again, he could easily win a Nobel Peace Prize with these changes. I was going to say “simple changes,” but nothing about the Middle East and Change is simple.
Now first thing: I am not a scholar on these issues.
Second: I know the Middle East is a near impossible situation with 5000 years of hate and mistrust.
Still the possibility of a “fix” is there? I mean, Trump has said we should rebuild Gaza. That is a good beginning.
So lets start with Trumps “plan.”
Move everybody out of Gaza Rebuild Gaza Move everybody back (maybe? There seems to be some hedging here that, of course causes mistrust of this plan. Well that and the fact that Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner previously described Gaza's waterfront property as 'very valuable' with the thought being that it would be valuable, but not to the Palestinians.)
Still the plan of cleaning up Gaza is a very good idea. The area is basically destroyed and the majority of its people are already displaced from their homes and shelter, with little food and minimal healthcare.
But the best path in my opinion is:
1. Move everybody, but not out of Gaza. That plan is too much a new “Trail of Tears.” Since some 70 plus percent of Gaza residents are already living with “internal” displacement, just focus that internal displacement to certain areas of increased temporary housing, food and medicine.
2. Then begin a piece by piece rebuild, instead of trying to clear the whole place at one time.
First some facts: Gaza is 141 square miles and about twice the size of Washington DC.
Secondly it is home to about 1.5 million (Trumps number) to 2.5 million. Let’s say 2.2 million as per this source: www.anera.org/
Moving 2.2 million people into Jordan and/or Egypt is not going to happen. At least not peacefully and not without many people, children included, dying.
So how does one do a piece by piece rebuild vs emptying the whole strip and 2.2 million people?
What this means is that rebuild starts in say a 3 mile by 3 mile block. All people from that area are moved to areas nearby, but still within Gaza. This does involve displacement, but a huge portion of the Strip’s population is already displaced. This would at least be a controlled, and more importantly, a locally controlled displacement. Then that 3 mile by 3 miles block is razed, unexploded ordinance is removed safely, and a complete rebuild is started with mostly living accommodations built. Housing, grocery stores, parks, etc. Engineers and Architects will decide how best to fit a lot of people into that 3 by 3 mile area in a way that is kind, just, and gives a sense of home and community.
Once built (and we will discuss who pays etc shortly), people from the surrounding area are moved in to free up another 3 mile block. Rinse and repeat.
Yes, it is slower, and yes, the hard line right of both the Palestinians and Israeli people will not like it. But I believe the middle will prevail as this will be the fairest option for all sides. With the fewest deaths. And highest chance for a lasting peace.
These blocks can be started wherever it is best for the people. I would not start on the waterfront as that will be a later part of the plan.
Who pays? Well I see this as a multipronged deal.
Both Jordan and Egypt need to think what it would cost them to house and care for these 2.2 million people? Including the cost of the distrust from their people and the people of Gaza for having just watched a whole people being removed. Saudi should also look at the costs that they would pay for peace in the Middle East. Also, the world should look at what they can/should contribute to further world peace or just as charity to a people without a home and who’s children are dying.
Finally, the Gaza coastline (that Jared wants): The coastline should be redone as Hotels, Embassies and resorts and such. This would be a way to provide jobs and money to the Palestinian people. Like most coastlines around the world, Gaza should maximized this area for jobs, tourism, fishing and recreation.
And who pays for this coastline rebuild? Well let’s make this mildly capitalistic, but capitalism done right. Let’s say Jordan gives 500 billion to help rebuild the Gaza Strip. That 500 billion is put toward that first 3 by 3-mile block. Housing, Shelter, and Food for the Palestinian people. And it saves Jordan the cost and disruption of housing a million displaced people in Jordan.
In return the government of Jordan would get a 100 year lease on a ¼ mile of the coastline to put up an embassy and a Hotel for use. The lease is a dollar a year, but the land still belongs to Palestine (yes, more on that later), and after 100 years the Hotel or land goes back to Palestine control.
There is 24 miles of coastline along the Gaza Strip. That’s a potential of 48 trillion dollars to rebuild Gaza into a near paradise for it’s people. And the Embassies and Hotels built are not out of this money. The whole 48 trillion dollars goes to building the best Gaza Strip possible for it’s people.
So next Egypt gives a trillion as they are bigger. They get a ½ mile at a dollar a year for 100 years. The hotels and embassies built will make money for Jordan and Egypt, but also provide jobs and taxes to Palestine. And Embassies means respect and a commitment to that country.
And the benefit is that the Gaza Coast becomes a destination resort to see this great rebuild. And the more countries that help, the more they are invested in Gaza and its success and growth. Jordanians that wouldn’t think of going to Gaza now might summer vacation there. Egyptians too. Now let’s say France gives 500 billion, or a trillion. They build an embassy and build a hotel and suddenly the French are visiting Gaza. England does the same. And a lot of English people visit and get sunburns. Etc. Etc.
Keeping the money at 500 billion insures it is only Countries, and not people, leasing land.
Of course the people of the world can send 100 bucks or whatever to aid the rebuild, but oligarchs can’t lease or own along the Gaza coast.
This rebuilding would be one of the biggest projects in human history and would bring jobs and money to a place that is just crumbling right now.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if Gaza became a true tourist/ vacation destination area? A safe place for people to visit and enjoy. But more amazingly, a place for the Palestine people to thrive and have shelter and medical care.
Finally: Here is the dream, and what would be HARD (ok, moving the people even locally and rebuilding 3 by 3 mile blocks is insanely hard; and this 3rd part would be near impossible, but it would 100% earn Trump a Nobel Peace Prize. And as much as I dislike Trump, I would applaud and hand the award myself to him if I could. Hell, not only the Peace Prize, but in history books he would be seen as one of the greatest presidents of all time. And yes, it hurts me to say that).
The true bringer of Peace would be this:
3. While this block by block rebuild of Gaza is going on, Israel will build housing and communities within Israel. Once completed, Israel then moves the Israel Settlers out of the West Bank back to Israel into these new, beautiful communities. Those now vacant settlements in the West Bank go to the Palestine people. And most of those settlements are very nice and large and would be a huge boon to the Palestine people of the West Bank. And trust: the trust this act would build with both Gaza and the West Bank would be immense.
This brand-new Gaza, and improved West Bank, now become the state of Palestine and a peace deal is brokered: with a thriving Gaza, a happier West Bank, and an official Country of Palestine, this could actually make a lasting peace possible? And Trump would get a Nobel Peace prize. A win-win. It is even a win for Israel if this comes with it a lasting peace with a stoppage of bloodshed.
It would require a small strip of land to connect Gaza to the West Bank as it’s difficult having a country split in two, but this connection doesn’t need to be bigger than an 8-lane highway? Or a 4-lane highway and a light rail. For a lasting peace I can see all this happening.
And when there is housing, jobs, security, and your own country, suddenly peace seems a good thing to keep. Hating your neighbor might be hard to give up after so long, but the children won’t know hate, and the parents of those children likely won’t want to go back to the rubble that was the old Gaza.
There is already a call to rebuild Gaza. President Trump is calling for it. The only decisions are who will pay for it and who will own it. If the world comes together and says, “Let there be a peaceful Palestine, and we will help build it,” then the people of Gaza and the West Bank will own it. But if only the radical right wing of America and Israel decide what happens to Gaza (and would the West Bank be next?), then it’s much more likely the Palestinian people will be scatter throughout the Middle East. And that will only lead to more fighting and loss and strife.
Now to get Trump to do it, it has to seem his idea. The good point is it partially is. Just keep hammering the changes one at a time while dangling “Nobel Peace Prize,” “Best President ever.” “Rebuild Gaza and have Jordan, Egypt, Saudi, and the EU pay for it? Great idea President Trump!”
He likes having other people pay for things.
And just as important, get Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabi on board. It benefits them to keep the Palestine people in Gaza and the West Bank. Use that to get them to gently push Trump in a pro State of Palestine direction.
Finally:
Yes, I know it should be up to the Palestinian People if the coast becomes a tourist area, or leased out, or whatever they want. But I see this as a way for them to get jobs, money, homes, security, and mostly importantly: an official State. Maybe I’m wrong, but there seems to be a way forward at this time.
The other option is clearing out the whole Gaza Strip of its people, and I see that as a move that ends up with the people permanently displaced and Gaza divided into portions for the rich. And a possible genocide of a whole people. And that is not something that I feel this World could handle right now.
(sorry for any typos or if I misidentified any people here)
[END]
---
[1] Url:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/1/27/2299602/-Trump-surprisingly-is-almost-right-on-Gaza-And-he-could-win-a-coveted-Nobel-peace-prize-if?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=latest_community&pm_medium=web
Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.
via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/
