Aaron David Miller: Questions raised about how Donald Trump would 'take over' Gaza

The U.S. President has laid out a plan to relocate Palestinians to neighbouring countries, and redevelop the war-torn region into what he described as the 'Riviera of the Middle East'.

Former U.S. State Department Middle East Negotiator Aaron David Millers says he doubts Trump has a strategy to execute his plans. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Morning, Thanks for having me.

Speaker 2 (00:01):
Is Trump mad to be thinking this? To we take
him seriously?

Speaker 1 (00:07):
You know, i'd ask you, is threatening to regain the
Panama Canal by Greenland turned Canada into the fifty first state? Serious?
I think what he's proposed here is less serious than
some of those. I think he is interested in buying
Greenland and will look for a way to try to
do it. NATO allies Bedan on the issue of Panama Canal,

(00:29):
I think he's using the threat of violating the treaties
to basically extract something out of the Panamanians, either on
immigration or on lower tolfies. So I think on this one,
the chances that this could be implemented are slim denon
and slim left has already left time. But it is
dangerous in its articulation, and that's the real problem. In

(00:53):
one fell swoop with the Israeli Prime Minister looking like
he just like the cat who swallowed a dozen canaries,
President of the United States tethered US credibility and prestige
to what some people will regard as force transfer. He's
undermined Egypt and Jordan to long standing treaty partners of
Israel and allies of the US. He's made the idea

(01:17):
of Israeli Saudi normalization much more difficult. And he sent
this unmistakable signal to authoritarians, including Putin and she that
if you want territory, just articulate the fact that you
were going to seize it. All in all, it is
an idea whose time has not yet come. It's not
ready for prime time. I doubt if he has a strategy,

(01:39):
and if he does have a strategy, if he actually
tries to do any of this, I think it's going
to fundamentally harm American credibility and interest.

Speaker 2 (01:52):
As you mentioned, obviously, Knitt and Yahoo loved it. What
is the reaction throughout Israel on this.

Speaker 1 (02:00):
Wing is dancing in the streets. I think that was
one of the reasons Trump did this. He's provided this
in now with talking points that he can use to
keep his government together. Most Israelis don't care about gods,
They don't care about the humanitarian situation there because of
the trauma of October seventh, that takes priority. As far

(02:22):
as mister Nithaniao is concerned. This way help him marginally
with the Israeli body politics. Majorities want an implementation of
this deal and an end to the Warren Goza. But Israeli,
a public opinion rarely ever tapes decisions when it comes

(02:43):
to national security. So buy and large again. You know
where you stand in life is where you sit. So
the right wing will love this, the extremists even more.
Most Israelis will probably dismiss it. But support for Trump
in Israel is very high.

Speaker 2 (03:04):
It's one thing for him to muse about finding the
Palestinians some way to live. But the follow up with
the comments that he might send in troops the house.
That's pretty serious stuff, really, isn't it.

Speaker 1 (03:15):
Well, I mean I think it's serious. It's ludicrous. He'd
have you already see Republicans, which is rare since loyalty
is the current corn of the realm and Trump Land.
But you know, Republicans then Democrats either coming down saying
it won't work. It's scary, it's crazy. Yeah, So no,
that's you know, we did set up a something called

(03:39):
Jlock six months ago to try to deliver assistance. I
don't know if you follow that issue. Had such logistical
problems with this heavy seas, faulty construction, uh and the
project basically collapsed. Cost several hundred million dollars. That was

(03:59):
only a here to deliver humanitarian aid. Now he's talking
about what and the American versus into an area roughly
the size of twice the district of Columbia, with one
of the highest population densities in the world. It would
take Israeli fifteen months operating there. Couldn't suppress a moss.

(04:20):
What makes Trump think that American forces to face with
an insurgency and they will be faced with an insurgency
and the part of the mass it'll it'll stand the
stock way up. Yeah. No, it's a non starter and
it's not to be taken seriously.

Speaker 2 (04:36):
Aaron, I really appreciate you Tom this morning. Thanks very
much for it your problem. For more from the Mic
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