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CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – It is a curious proposal that should not be dismissed out of hand. What if the United States rebuilds and takes over the Gaza Strip?
There is one part of the plan that Donald Trump floating this week that terrifies me. U.S. troops might be needed there to keep building crews from coming under attack. I don’t want to see any American lives lost for what is essentially a real estate development project.
I get it. Donald Trump’s area of expertise is real estate development. We see a stretch of oceanfront land in Scotland; Trump sees a golf course. We see an empty lot in Manhattan; Trump sees Trump Towers. Donald Trump sees the Gaza Strip and notes that there’s more than 20 miles of shoreline along the Mediterranean Sea. Why can’t it be developed into the Riviera of the Middle East?
There would be advantages to an American-led redevelopment. Hospitals, schools, and mosques that are rebuilt wouldn’t be part of a network of tunnels for terrorists. There’d be no command-and-control centers in the re-built buildings. No missiles on the roofs.
An American-led development would also change the dynamics of Gaza. Hamas would never be in control there. That area would never become part of a Palestinian state – nor should it after the October 7th attacks. Iranian proxies might have second thoughts about attacking there, especially if they might hit American investments, American workers, or God forbid, American Marines.
Many people don’t know the history of the land around Israel. In 1948 when land was set aside for Israel, there was also land set aside for Palestinians. In protest, that land was taken over by Egypt and Jordan. Today those nations have no interest in taking in large numbers of militant Palestinians; they prefer to leave it as an Israeli problem only. That’s historically inaccurate. From the time Christ walked the earth the land now known as Israel, and more, was a Jewish state.
I’m not ready to entirely dismiss the Trump plan for Gaza. Isn’t 75 years of violence and failure enough? Maybe it’s time to try something new.
Chris Conley
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