The Bibby and Donny Bromance in Mar-a-Lago

The Greek Courier

A documented purveyor of falsehoods and an autocrat facing corruption charges and accusations of war crimes, found some common ground today in Florida as they navigated their respective political and legal challenges. Iran, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and Bibby's legal battles were on the menu.

But let's start with the news first.

Iran

Standing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump again warned Iran against rebuilding its ballistic missile program or "behaving badly" and threatened with “very powerful” consequences if Tehran proceeds. “I hope Iran is not trying to build up, as I’ve been reading, that they’re building up weapons and other things,” he said. “If they are, they’re not using the sites that we obliterated, but they’re using possibly different sites.”

West Bank

Following discussions about Iran, the focus shifted to the West Bank. Although Trump expressed admiration for his ally, he acknowledged differences in their approaches to settler violence in the occupied territory. “We’ve had extensive discussions about the West Bank, and I wouldn’t say we agree on it 100%, but we will reach a conclusion,” Trump told CNN’s Kevin Liptak in South Florida.

When pressed on the specific areas of disagreement, Trump responded, “I don’t want to disclose that now. It will be announced at the appropriate time, but he will do the right thing.” The West Bank, situated west of the Jordan River between Israel and Jordan, has been under Israeli military occupation since 1967 and is home to over 3.3 million Palestinians.

While the conflict in Gaza intensified, the West Bank saw an increase in Israeli military operations, a record number of Palestinian home demolitions, and an unprecedented expansion of Jewish settlements. This occurred against the backdrop of a Palestinian leadership struggling with allegations of corruption and stagnation in decision-making.

In September, Trump stated that he would not permit Israel to annex the West Bank. These comments indicated a stance aligned with many Western and Arab nations, which have cautioned that any Israeli annexation of the territory would effectively undermine the prospects for a Palestinian state.

Gaza Strip

Donald Trump also stated that he is “not concerned” about Israel’s actions, including the speed at which it is progressing to phase two of the Gaza peace plan.

“I’m not concerned about anything that Israel is doing. I’m concerned about what other people are doing or maybe aren’t doing, but I’m not concerned. They’ve lived up to the plan. They’re strong,” the president told reporters in Florida while standing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Israel has lived up to the plan, 100%,” he added.

The U.S. has been urging a swift transition into the next phase of the Gaza peace plan, but Israel has been hesitant to further withdraw from the region without Hamas disarming first. This situation has created tension with some White House advisers, who believe that Netanyahu might be delaying progress to the next phase, according to individuals familiar with the matter. The second phase of the deal entails Hamas' disarmament, the commencement of reconstruction efforts, and the establishment of post-war governance.

The lies, the pardons, and the gifts  

Trump's history is replete with false and misleading statements. Fact-checkers have noted thousands of untruths during his presidency, a pattern that has continued into his second term. Even today, during the meeting with Netanyahu, Trump falsely claimed that "just about" every hostage was released because of him, a statement directly contradicted by the fact that 105 hostages were released under Biden's administration during a ceasefire. Such instances highlight Trump's tendency to distort reality for political gain.

Netanyahu, on the other hand, faces serious corruption charges, including bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, in an ongoing trial that has deeply divided Israeli politics. He has requested a pardon from the Israeli President, a move that has sparked intense debate, with many opposing clemency unless he admits guilt and withdraws from political life. Moreover, Netanyahu faces arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to atrocities in Gaza.

In an attempt to seemingly influence his pardon prospects, Trump claimed that President Herzog told him clemency was "on its way". However, Herzog's office swiftly denied this, stating that there had been no such conversation. This incident underscores the complexities of Netanyahu's legal battles and his reliance on political alliances.

Despite their baggage, both leaders heap praise upon each other. Netanyahu lauded Trump, stating, "We've never had a friend like President Trump in the White House," while Trump touted Netanyahu as a "strong man". This mutual admiration underscores the strategic importance of their relationship, particularly as Netanyahu seeks reelection in 2026. Netanyahu also announced that the US President will receive the Israel Prize for Peace, marking the first time the country’s highest civilian excellence honor will be awarded to a non-Israeli citizen.

The meeting also touched on the plight of Ran Gvili, the last remaining hostage from the October 7, 2023, attack. Trump stated, "We're doing everything we can to get his body back," as Gvili's family met with top U.S. officials to urge progress on his return. The emotional weight of this issue adds another layer to the complex discussions between the two leaders.