The release of the Israeli hostages filled most of the world with joy yesterday. The end of the war in Israel is now possible. War is ugly, which is why however unrealistic its vision is in a fallen world, we must always at our core desire to be peacemakers. Phase 1 of this peace deal is not just (e.g., 20 Israeli hostagess released for 2000 convicted terrorists), but it is nevertheless a path forward toward peace. Later phases of Hamas actually disarming will be much more difficult, but this first very important step had eluded the world prior to the Trump Administration’s achievement

And let’s give Mr. Trump an unqualified congratulations. His vision of peace through strength and commitment to Israel is exactly what brought this to bear. Mr. Netanyahu’s leadership, as flawed as it was before the war, was nevertheless resolute in driving a divided country toward the singular goal of removing the threats to Israel. And Mr. Trump supported him all the way. Earlier this year the United States joined Israel militarily in the destruction of Iran’s nuclear capability. That in itself was the biggest key for the release of the hostages, as the U.S. support for Israel, including militarily against the biggest threat in the region, and the overwhelming decisive power of the the United States Air Force* made the world understand: Joe Biden is no longer the president and the United States is the most important actor in the world (for good or ill). Mr. Trump needs to be given the highest accolades in his efforts to pursue peace.** His unrelenting focus on ending conflicts in the world, his personal willingness to engage and not leave to his subordinates, his tireless energy***, are all reasons to applaud him.

The interesting political thing for me is to see how much praise the left will be willing to give to Mr. Trump and Mr. Netanyahu. While Mr. Trump’s positive role in this outcome seems indisputable, the left is so infected with its hatred of Mr. Trump that this gives them a very difficult dilemma. Can they show any intellectual integrity, or will they stay silent? Initial signs are not particularly encouraging, such as Mr. Biden’s Secretary of State Anthony Blinken seemingly trying to take credit for the achievement. Yet President Clinton was gracious enough to say that Mr. Trump deserves great credit. This will be interesting to watch, and if the later phases of this deal actually get done, it will be increasingly difficult for the left to deny it.

Further, the left, which has so energized itself by its antisemitic hatred of Israel and it’s “settler colonialism,” decrying the “genocide” of Gazans, must now reexamine that premise. Coleman Hughes offers a nice rejoinder on X:

Nevertheless, these last few days are days for joy. And the hope for broader peace in the region are as high as they’ve been in our lifetime. I may not be willing to say “only” Donald Trump could have done this, but I can say that very few could do this, and no other person on the world stage currently could have. His singular determination deserves our praise.

* There is much discussion about the U.S. military and the significant expansion of China’s military capability. In a conflict in the South China Sea, the U.S. would certainly have a fight on its hands. But there is no other military on earth with the global reach and capability of the U.S. The U.S. can apply significant and decisive military power anywhere on the globe. No other nation can do this.

** While I consider it unseemly for him to publicly seek the world’s approval for such things as a Nobel Peace Prize, his efforts in both his first and second terms do merit that prize. Far more than Mr. Obama’s winning in 2009 merely because he brought hope to the world.

*** The contrast between Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden is so stark in this regard, and I personally thank God we actually have a president again, and not merely a figurehead. Whether you love him or loathe him, there is no doubt who is running the country right now.