Rosner’s Domain

It’s over. The nightmare of hostages is over.

There are four things to consider as we ponder the U.S.-declared transition to a “second phase” in Gaza.

The U.S. seems less and less willing to shoulder the economic burden of defending other nations. Netanyahu identifies this sentiment and understands he must respond.

Two weeks ago, in a surprise move, Israel announced its recognition of Somaliland.

What other choice can Israel offer when Trump has a bad plan, and Netanyahu entered the meeting with no plan?

Bondi Beach is now another name on an already crowded map of places where Jews were murdered.

Israelis expected the war would end when Hamas is eradicated. They now have to face a different reality. After two years of blood, sweat and many tears, the enemy is still out there, lurking in the dark, waiting to fight another day.

The basic question about any deal is simple: does it or doesn’t it include a concrete, enforceable process that marks the end of the Netanyahu era? All other concessions are insignificant.

When an Israeli says “I shifted to the right,” he or she is sending us a message: I became more suspicious of peace processes, more skeptical of concessions, more demanding about security guarantees.

When the public wants quiet and diplomats crave closure, the temptation is to pretend a problem has been managed when it has only been deferred.