The long-sought Gaza cease-fire deal announced on Wednesday came in part from a remarkable partnership between President Biden and President-elect Donald J. Trump, who rejected conflict is temporary in order to achieve a common goal.
The two presidents ordered their advisers to work together to push Israel and Hamas to the finish line for an agreement to end the fighting that has devastated Gaza and release hostages held there. for 15 months. The deal will begin on Sunday, the day before Mr. Biden hands over the White House to Mr. Trump.
Each president had his or her own interests in settling matters before Inauguration Day. For Mr. Biden, the deal, if held, represents a final vindication of his watch, which he hopes will end the deadliest conflict in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and free Americans and Israel in captivity. For Mr. Trump, the deal, for now, takes a major issue off the table as he opens a second term, freeing him to pursue other priorities.
The dramatic development, just five days before the transfer of power in the United States, went against the grain of Washington, where opposition leaders rarely cooperate during transitions, even in major crises. . But the political planet quickly returned to normal orbit as both sides argued over who deserved credit for resolving the conflict.
While Mr. Biden waited for official word to come out of the region, Mr. Trump jumped on him by announcing the deal in all social media posts. “This EPIC ceasefire agreement could only have happened as a result of the Historic November Victory,” he added shortly afterwards.
When Mr. Biden appeared in front of cameras at the White House this afternoon, he was kinder, noting that the two teams were speaking with one voice. But he bristled when asked who deserved the credit, him or Mr Trump. “Is this a joke?” he asked.
Yet the alliance, elusive and elusive, stood out in an era of deep polarization. “It’s very special,” said Mara Rudman, who served as special envoy for Middle East peace under President Barack Obama. “Everybody talks about who gets the credit, but the reality is that it’s distribution and that’s part of what made it happen.
This does not mean that it will lead to long-term cooperation on this or any other issue. “It’s a case of what’s in people’s best political interests as well,” said Ms. Rudman, an expert at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center.
However credit is ultimately shared, diplomats, officials and analysts say it seems clear that both presidents played a major role. The deal that was finally agreed upon is the same one Mr. Biden put on the table last May and the envoys led by Brett H. McGurk, his Middle East coordinator, worked hard to get it approved. both parties.
At the same time, Mr Trump’s return to power and his open threat that “all hell will break loose” if the hostages are not released at the time of his swearing-in have clearly changed the situation. the calculations of the warring parties. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who received much of Mr Trump’s support during his first term, could not assume that the new president would support him if the conflict dragged on into his second term. .
Indeed, it said that Mr. Netanyahu, who goes by the nickname Bibi, first called Mr. Trump to thank him after the deal was announced and then called Mr. Biden. In a statement, Mr. Netanyahu stressed his appreciation for Mr. Trump “for signaling that the United States will work with Israel to ensure that Gaza will never be a safe haven for terrorists.” Mr. Biden was not mentioned until the fourth paragraph and in a single sentence that thanked him “too” for his help.
Mr. Trump’s desire to force a deal went beyond public threats and extended to constructive aid on the ground. He gave way to Steve Witkoff, his longtime friend who he had chosen as special envoy for the Middle East, to work with Mr. McGurk to pressure negotiators to complete the deal. Mr. McGurk and his team were happy to get the help and use Mr. Witkoff’s support to their advantage.
“This is Biden’s deal,” former Representative Tom Malinowski, Democrat of New Jersey, wrote on social media, “but as much as I hate to say it, he couldn’t have done it without the Trump – not so much Trump’s threats. Hamas, but his willingness to tell Bibi that the war must end on January 20.”
There were Republicans ready to praise Mr. Biden for his efforts to build a deal with Trump. “It’s good to see the Biden administration and the Trump administration working together to get this deal done,” North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis wrote on social media.
Few transitions have seen such great moments of succession. In the midst of the Great Depression, defeated President Herbert Hoover tried to get President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt to work together to solve the banking crisis, but was rebuffed by an incoming leader who didn’t want to be tied to its predecessor. .
A more chilling example occurred 44 years ago, when President Jimmy Carter worked until the last minute of his presidency to free 52 American hostages held in Iran without the help of his successor, President-elect Ronald Reagan. In fact, evidence has emerged suggesting that people around Mr. Reagan tried to discourage Iran from releasing the hostages before the election for fear that it would help Mr. Carter, although this has never been confirmed. no official investigation.
Mr. Carter eventually made a deal to free the hostages, but in a final insult, Iran blocked the plane with the Americans on board until Mr. Reagan was sworn in on the 20th January 1981. Not lost on Mr. Biden’s team in recent weeks, especially after Mr. Carter’s death last month. Administration officials and their allies in recent days have pondered the possibility of a repeat of history.
The upcoming change in political leadership in the United States is not the only reason for negotiations on the war in Gaza. The situation on the ground has changed dramatically since Mr. Biden proposed a cease-fire in May.
In a short period of time, Israel cut off the leadership of Hamas, destroyed its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon and removed a major military base from Iran. Biden’s cease-fire in Lebanon left Hamas without a second stop against Israel, isolating it. And the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria has reinforced the weakness of Iran and its allies and proxies.
But Washington’s looming inauguration day has created a compelling new deadline for action that’s hard to ignore. Mr. Trump did not say much during the campaign about the war, but when he did, he made it clear that he was not happy about it and urged Israel to fill it as soon as possible because the images of death and the destruction in Gaza. damaged Israel’s international reputation.
Moreover, Mr. Trump’s relationship with Mr. Netanyahu has improved since his first term, when he portrayed himself as the Israeli leader’s closest ally. Mr Trump has cut aid to the Palestinians, moved the US Embassy to Jerusalem, recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and led to a diplomatic opening between Israel and its Arab neighbors. his neighborhood.
But their relationship soured in the last year of Mr Trump’s presidency when he was seen as abusive towards Mr Netanyahu, and further soured when the prime minister congratulated Mr Biden on his 2020 re-election victory. which Mr. Trump continues to deny. Mr. Netanyahu has worked hard in recent months to build up Mr. Trump.
As for Mr. Biden, his personal relationship with Mr. Netanyahu soured until days after the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack by Hamas, when he fled to Israel and embraced the Israeli leader on the tarmac. Biden’s advisers and allies suspected that Mr. Netanyahu deliberately withheld a cease-fire deal to hand Mr. Trump victory in an attempt to curry favor with him.
Mr. Biden said nothing about it during his televised speech on Wednesday. But after 15 months of trying to manage the Middle East crisis and preside over a wider regional conflict, he appeared relieved to see the end in sight.
“I am completely satisfied that this day has come, the end has come, for the people of Israel and the families who are waiting in agony and for the innocent people of Gaza who have been victims of unimaginable devastation due to war,” said Mr. said Biden.
He spoke about working with Mr. Trump without mentioning him by name. “I also saw that this agreement was developed and negotiated under my administration,” said Mr. Biden, flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken. “But its provisions will be applied to most of the next administrations.” Over the past few days, we have been talking as a team. “
Asked about Mr. Trump’s role, Mr. Biden noted that the ceasefire was “the exact framework of the agreement that I proposed in May” and praised Israel for giving it the support it needs to weaken it. Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. “I know the next team is going to have to implement this deal,” he added, “so I told my team to work closely with the next team to make sure we’re all on the same page because that’s what we do.” the American president.
Mr. Trump did not comment on the role of his predecessor’s team and left the impression in his social media posts that he alone made the deal.
“We’ve accomplished a lot without even being in the White House,” he wrote. “Just think of all the amazing things that will happen when I’m back in the White House, and my administration is fully vindicated, so they can win more for the United States of America!”
