The 'Peace Council' Is Good for Israel - and the Roadmap Against Hamas Too

The article argues that the roadmap for disarming Hamas, announced by Trump within the framework of the "Peace Council," constitutes a strategic opportunity for Israel, even if Hamas has not yet surrendered its weapons. The author, Prof. Moshe Cohen-Eliya, compares the situation to ceasefires in past wars and emphasizes that time is a strategic resource, but warns against procrastination. He claims that Israel has expanded its control to 73% of the Strip and that the international discourse now focuses on dismantling Hamas, not rehabilitating it.

The article, penned by Prof. Moshe Cohen-Eliya, an expert in constitutional law, presents an optimistic-strategic stance regarding the roadmap for disarming Hamas, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump within the framework of the "Peace Council." The author argues that the very fact that Hamas is required to discuss dismantling its tunnels, surrendering its weapons, and relinquishing its rule constitutes a significant achievement, even if Israel has not yet officially adopted the outline and Hamas ties disarmament to an Israeli withdrawal. Cohen-Eliya notes that since the hostage deal, all hostages, both living and deceased, have been returned, down to the last one, and that Israel has expanded its effective control over the Strip to 73% of its territory. He claims that the international discourse now focuses on dismantling Hamas's rule, not rehabilitating it, and that the "Peace Council" shifts the center of gravity from the UN, where Israel lacks legitimacy, to a flexible American mechanism based on power, money, and enforcement capability. The author emphasizes the importance of time as a strategic resource, drawing a comparison to the ceasefires during the War of Independence and the Yom Kippur War, where the pause was used to accumulate strength. However, he warns against turning the argument into an alibi for procrastination, distinguishing between strategic patience and planless delay. He applies the same logic to Iran, stating that the real test is whether time has shifted the balance of power in Israel's favor.