Dorcha Lee: Israel lets Trump take charge in Gaza talks

Up to now, Israel has never agreed to a peacekeeping mission for Gaza, but the US could persuade it, especially if US troops participate

Benjamin Netanyahu meets with speaker of the House Mike Johnson, at the Capitol in Washington, last week. Picture: J Scott Applewhite/AP

Last Monday night, at a dinner in the White House, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu handed Donald Trump a copy of Israel’s formal nomination of the US president for the Nobel Peace Prize. The Israeli nomination was not the first. Pakistan has also nominated Trump, for the contribution of his good offices to averting a war between Pakistan and India. The day after receiving the Pakistani nomination, Trump went ahead and bombed Iran, a Muslim country. Embarrassing moment for Islamabad.

But this gesture from Netanyahu is all about Trump’s declaration, last week, that he wants agreement this week on a 60 day ceasefire in Gaza.