Is this guy for real -- unless there is a method to this madness... all a strategy ploy, by the Trump administration

From: The Times of Israel March 10, 2025
He says Trump personally approved his talks… or not:

Boehler gave two very different definitive answers to the perfectly simple question of whether Trump personally approved his direct talks with Hamas.

Tapper asked him: “So you did get sign-off from President Trump ahead of time, though?” Boehler nodded three times and answered: “Of course.”

Channel 12’s Yonit Levy asked him, in similar vein, whether Trump “personally signed off” on his direct talks with Hamas.
This time Boehler replied, “The White House did. So that’s a group of folks. But people in the White House did know about me having those discussions, yes.”

He publicly criticizes Israel’s hostage deal terms to date as untenably generous to Hamas: True

Rather than presenting a united front between allies against the terrorists who are still holding Israeli (and dual American) hostages, Boehler publicly criticized the Israeli government’s handling of the crisis thus far, which saw Israel free some 2,000 Palestinian inmates in return for the release of 33 Israelis.

“We wouldn’t do that deal in the United States,” he told Channel 13
And he publicly differentiates between American and Israeli interests

Making more music for Hamas’s ears, he took pains, in the CNN interview, to specifically distinguish between America’s interests, in the negotiations and Israel’s:
1. “We’re the United States.
2. We’re not an agent of Israel.
3. We have specific interests at play.”

He expresses scathing indifference to Israel’s concerns about his negotiating with Hamas

Boehler blithely declared that he wasn’t too bothered if Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, was furious about his face-to-face interaction with the mass-murdering terror chiefs:
1. Dermer is Benjamin Netanyahu’s closest confidant
2. and a kind of counterpart to Boehler as the prime minister’s hostage talks coordinator

“I don’t really care about that that much — no offense to Dermer,” Boehler said on Channel 13
“If it was a big deal every time Dermer got a little bit upset… Ron might have a lot of big deals every day.”

“I love Ron,” he professed. “We’ll work together again. It was great. I take no offense because he was doing what he was supposed to do.”

Terrorists are ‘nice guys’

He uses ‘nice guys’ and ‘Hamas’ in the same convoluted sentences:

Boehler twice used the phrase “nice guys” when discussing Hamas in such convoluted formulations during his CNN interview as to subsequently recognize the need, to issue a clarification because his remarks were being misinterpreted.

The first reference was when he was again discussing Dermer being upset: “I spoke with Ron, and I’m sympathetic."
1. He has someone that he doesn’t know well, making direct contact with Hamas.
2. Maybe I would see them and say, ‘Look, they don’t have horns growing out of their head.
3. They’re actually guys like us. They’re pretty nice guys.

The second reference was when he was asserting that Israel knows that his contacts with Hamas were ultimately going to prove beneficial to Israel:
“Israel knows walking out of that, that it’s not like Hamas got the world because I thought they were a bunch of nice guys.”

Hours later, he realized that those comments were, shock, being misunderstood, and issued a clarification, with Trumpian resort to CAPITAL LETTERS

“I want to be CRYSTAL CLEAR as some have misinterpreted,” he wrote. “Hamas is a terrorist organization that has murdered thousands of innocent people.

They are BY DEFINITION BAD people.
And as @POTUS has said, not a single Hamas member will be safe if Hamas doesn’t RELEASE ALL HOSTAGES IMMEDIATELY.”

He self-evidently didn’t insist that Hamas immediately release all the hostages:
Except that, as he made clear in his interviews, he has not been demanding of Hamas that it “RELEASE ALL HOSTAGES IMMEDIATELY.”

But rather, as he told CNN, he had been trying to “jumpstart some negotiations that were in a very fragile place” and had “wanted to say to Hamas:
1. What is the endgame that you want here? Not the dream endgame,
2. but what do you think is realistic at this point.”

Boehler thinks Hamas will ultimately choose to melt away:
1. displayed a dangerous naivete as regards Hamas’s ultimate intentions,
2. for all the world as though October 7 had not happened,
3. and as though Hamas, in order to try to ensure its survival,
4. was not cynically utilizing every ounce of leverage it has attained
5. by holding (and torturing and sometimes killing) the hostages
6. he is charged with helping to extricate.

Hamas has told the world that it will repeat October 7 as often as it can until Israel is destroyed

Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, told Lebanese television barely two weeks after the massacre, and clarified that, yes, he meant:
1. “Israel is a country that has no place on our land,” and yes, it needs to be annihilated.
2. “The Al-Aqsa Deluge [as Hamas called its October 7 slaughter] is just the first time,
3. and there will be a second, a third, a fourth… Nobody should blame us for the things we do.
4. On October 7, October 10, October one-millionth, everything we do is justified.”

But Boehler knows better. On Channel 12, he solemnly asserted his conviction that the:
1. declaredly genocidal monsters will ultimately prove willing to give up their guns
2. and take no role in the political leadership of Gaza —
3. that Hamas, in short, will choose to melt away, to become not Hamas.

Asked by Levy whether he “realistically” thinks “that Hamas would eventually agree to lay down its weapons and not be part of Gaza’s political future,”
he answered without hesitation: “I do believe that.”

It is not clear why Boehler would have reconsidered his initial answer to the question of whether it was Trump who personally approved his direct interactions with Hamas, since the president has himself publicly confirmed and defended the outreach:

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday:
1. “We are helping Israel in [holding] those discussions because we’re talking about Israeli hostages,”
2. “We’re not doing anything in terms of Hamas.
3. We’re not giving cash…
4. You have to negotiate.
5. There’s a difference between negotiating and paying.
6. We want to get these people out.”

It could just be that Boehler is beginning to realize that he has mishandled his mandate.
Then again, given the complacency exhibited by Boehler in his interviews, he is unlikely to be questioning his own performance.

Indeed, he smilingly indicated in several of the interviews that he might “drop by” on Hamas again.

Doubtless Hamas, which must be laughing in disbelief at the emissary Trump sent their way — so contrasting a figure, it should be noted, to the empathetic and earnest Trump Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, on whom the hostages’ families have built so much hope — would be only too pleased to see him.

Terrorists - unprecedented International legitimacy, negotiating directly with US

Nonetheless, however, it is Trump who selected this man to represent America when rewarding Hamas for its monstrous assault on October 7 by giving it unprecedented legitimacy at direct negotiations.

And, ultimately, it is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who left the vacuum into which Trump decided to insert Boehler. For months:
Netanyahu chose not to strive for the implementation of the hostage-ceasefire deal that he and his ministers approved and conveyed to the US in May.

And after the protracted weekly rounds of phase one implementation — had finally begun in January
1. of agonizing hostage releases,
2. prisoner releases
3. and a ceasefire —

Netanyahu then chose not to press on to phase two of the deal, when:
1. some 24 living hostages stand to be released in exchange for many more freed terrorists,
2. a full IDF withdrawal from Gaza
3. and a permanent ceasefire.

Consequently, Hamas since March 1 — outrageously and untenably — has been enjoying all the benefits of a cessation of war without releasing any hostages.

It was Netanyahu, too, who elected to sideline Mossad chief David Barnea and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar from the negotiations — men whose life’s work has been dedicated to the security of Israel — and instead install Dermer, who ostensibly speaks Trump.

Yet Dermer was blindsided by the president and his envoy Boehler.

However dissatisfied Netanyahu may profess himself to have been by the Barnea-Bar conduct of negotiations, they, unlike Boehler, have no delusions about Hamas’s strategic genocidal intentions.

Indeed, it has been their conviction, and that of the IDF brass, that:
1. Israel should have pressed ahead with the hostage-ceasefire deal months ago,
2. and urgently secured the release of all the hostages,
3. prioritizing that obligation over the need to destroy Hamas.

Because, after all, as they know — but Boehler apparently doesn’t — Hamas can be relied upon to breach the ceasefire any and every which way it can, and Israel will have every reason and legitimacy to resume a hopefully more effective campaign once the hostages are home.

Now, Netanyahu has lost control of strategy and tactics, in the battle against Hamas — to a US president who has:
1. publicly welcomed released hostages to his office,
2. ascertained that the Israeli public overwhelmingly prioritizes the return of the rest of the hostages over a return to the war,
3. and concluded that he can handle this better than Netanyahu.

A US president who, it must now be hoped, will relieve the burden of ongoing negotiations from an envoy who, after interview after interview in which he was given a platform to explain what he has been up to, wound up needing to clarify that Hamas are “BY DEFINITION BAD people.”

From: Ynet.news.com March 12, 2025
Is Trump a partner or a landlord?

The honeymoon that could still turn on Netanyahu
While Trump supports Israeli interests, his dominance raises questions about whether he is a partner — or a remote shot caller

Analysis: As Trump pressures Israel on strategic decisions, Netanyahu finds himself:
1. increasingly subordinate to American demands,
2. including negotiations with Lebanon and Hamas;

The opening months of Trump’s administration marked a honeymoon period for Israel’s government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In the White House now sits a president who:
1. understands Israel and its interests,
2. aligns with the logic of the right-wing government,
3. and even pushes initiatives —
4. like a plan for Gaza migration — that go beyond what even the Israeli right envisioned.

But alongside this optimism lies a sobering reality:
Instead of a partner in the White House, Israel faces a landlord — or perhaps a monarch.

In the Oval Office, Netanyahu encountered a man making strategic decisions for him.

Through his envoy, Steve Witkoff, who began working even before Trump assumed office,
1. Trump imposed the first stage of a hostage deal that Netanyahu had resisted.
2. This agreement could have been made a year ago but was now forced upon him.

Similarly, the US is now pressuring Israel to proceed with negotiations over its border with Lebanon — a step Netanyahu likely opposed when Yair Lapid signed the maritime border agreement with Lebanon, which Netanyahu had previously called a "betrayal" and vowed to cancel.

Netanyahu surrender:
When Netanyahu agreed to a cease-fire with Hezbollah, he effectively surrendered to former President Joe Biden, which has now become a surrender to Trump.

In practice, Netanyahu is going to implement Lapid's agreement to the letter.

The direct negotiations between the US and Hamas were also imposed on Israel.

These discussions were conducted from a position of strength, and although the talks failed — with the US announcing they would not resume—
had they succeeded and Hamas realized it was better to deal directly with Trump, it’s likely:
1. Israel would have faced further American-imposed moves,
2. leaving no room for its own decision-making.

On the issue of hostages the American approach offers significant hope.

Trump and his envoy Witkoff are unrelenting in their efforts to secure a cease-fire and hostage release.
Unlike Biden, Netanyahu cannot refuse them — and they know it.

Additionally, Israel finds itself complying with American directives at the UN such as voting in favor of Russia and against Ukraine.

It must be acknowledged: Israel is currently fully subordinate to the American agenda.

To its surprise, it is discovering that:
1. Trump is not content to merely be US president —
2. he aspires to act as Israel’s prime minister, too.

So far, he’s succeeding, as Israel’s government accepts his demands and requests without resistance.

Netanyahu, it seems, will avoid the treatment Zelensky received in the White House, as long as he continues to comply with Trump.
However, the moment Netanyahu stops, he risks a similar fate — and he knows it.

For now, Netanyahu has little alternative.
1. This explains Israel’s silence when Trump’s envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, revealed his direct negotiations with Hamas.
2. Israel also remained quiet when Boehler mocked Minister Ron Dermer in interviews
3. and joked about having coffee with Hamas leaders.

Opposition and PM office jostling for control of the narrative
This chain of events has naturally spurred political attacks between Likud and Yesh Atid.

Yesh Atid reminded the public how:
1. "Netanyahu’s propaganda machine" accused Lapid’s government of surrendering to Hezbollah,
2. only for Netanyahu to now negotiate over territory and prisoner releases with Lebanon."

Yesh Atid stated: "Two years later, under Netanyahu’s leadership,"
1. Hezbollah has established outposts on Israeli land,
2. the Jewish people have experienced their greatest tragedy since the Holocaust,
3. the northern region has been evacuated and bombarded,
4. and the prime minister who promised deterrence is now negotiating over territories
5. and releasing terrorists to Lebanon

In response, Likud’s spokesperson fired back: "Lapid claimed the shameful surrender agreement, he signed with Hezbollah"
1. ‘preserved the security of northern settlements,’
2. ‘improved security,’
3. and ‘reduced the chance of military escalation with Hezbollah.’

Unlike Lapid, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s policies have:
1. brought Hezbollah to its knees,
2. eliminated Nasrallah and senior members of the organization,
3. significantly damaged Hezbollah’s rocket capabilities,
4. and dismantled its presence in Syria.

Unlike Lapid, Netanyahu has not ceded an inch of sovereign territory to Lebanon.
On the contrary, he has maintained Israeli military presence in five strategic points within Lebanon to protect our settlements.

“While Lapid worries about the electoral threshold, Netanyahu ensures security." Like October 7, 2023

Regarding the Lebanon agreement talks in Naqoura — including representatives from IDF the US, France, and Lebanon — resulted in the establishment of three joint working groups.

These will focus on:
1. stabilizing the region,
2. addressing five Israeli-controlled points in southern Lebanon,
3. disputed areas along the Blue Line (13 points in total),
4. and the issue of Lebanese prisoners held by Israel.

In an unprecedented move, Israel decided, in coordination with the US and as a gesture to Lebanon’s new president Joseph Aoun, to release five Lebanese prisoners, including one Hezbollah member.

This gesture was not without context:
1. President Aoun was elected against the will of the Shiite axis
2. and has been taking behind-the-scenes steps against Hezbollah.

Israel aims to strengthen the moderate faction in Lebanon by taking concrete actions.

At the same time, Israel clarified that if Lebanon’s military deploys forces in the south it would begin withdrawing from positions it currently holds.

Israel had agreed to discuss disputed border points with Lebanon two years ago at the request of the previous envoy, Amos Hochstein.

While the war delayed the implementation of this agreement, it had already been conveyed to the US administration.
This is a significant step toward advancing dialogue between the countries, including resolving border disputes.

A potential Israeli-Lebanese agreement is a clear American interest, as well as that of Saudi Arabia, Trump’s key regional ally.
The Saudis seek to bolster their position in the region at Iran’s expense.

Trump, eager to secure a deal with Saudi Arabia — would not hesitate to broker such an agreement at Israel’s expense:
1. both for a potential Nobel Prize
2. and to enrich his family and billionaire friends

Netanyahu and his government, however, seem unwilling to express any opposition.

For those looking for proof of Trump’s power, they need look no further than Ukraine’s capitulation to all US demands and Israel...