Trump to Leaders: Put 'Old Feuds' Aside10/14 06:13

   

   SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt (AP) -- President Donald Trump called for a new era 
of harmony in the Middle East on Monday during a global summit on Gaza's 
future, trying to advance broader peace in the region after visiting Israel to 
celebrate a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Hamas.

   "We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to put the old feuds and bitter hatreds 
behind us," Trump said, and he urged leaders "to declare that our future will 
not be ruled by the fights of generations past."

   The whirlwind trip, which included the summit in Egypt and a speech at the 
Knesset in Jerusalem earlier in the day, comes at a fragile moment of hope for 
ending two years of war between Israel and Hamas.

   "Everybody said it's not possible to do. And it's going to happen. And it is 
happening before your very eyes," Trump said alongside Egyptian President Abdel 
Fattah el-Sissi.

   Nearly three dozen countries, including some from Europe and the Middle 
East, were represented at the summit. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 
was invited but declined, with his office saying it was too close to a Jewish 
holiday.

   Trump, el-Sissi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatari Emir 
Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani signed a document outlining a broad vision that Trump 
said would lay the groundwork for Gaza's future.

   Despite unanswered questions about next steps in the Palestinian enclave, 
which has been devastated during the conflict, Trump is determined to seize an 
opportunity to chase an elusive regional harmony.

   He expressed a similar sense of finality about the Israel-Hamas war in his 
speech at the Knesset, which welcomed him as a hero.

   "You've won," he told Israeli lawmakers. "Now it is time to translate these 
victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of 
peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East."

   Trump promised to help rebuild Gaza, and he urged Palestinians to "turn 
forever from the path of terror and violence."

   "After tremendous pain and death and hardship," he said, "now is the time to 
concentrate on building their people up instead of trying to tear Israel down."

   Trump even made a gesture to Iran, where he bombed three nuclear sites 
during the country's brief war with Israel earlier this year, by saying "the 
hand of friendship and cooperation is always open."

   Trump's whirlwind trip

   Trump arrived in Egypt hours late because speeches at the Knesset continued 
longer than expected.

   "They might not be there by the time I get there, but we'll give it a shot," 
Trump joked after needling Israeli leaders for talking so much.

   Twenty hostages were released Monday as part of an agreement intended to end 
the war that began on Oct. 7, 2023, with an attack by Hamas-led militants. 
Trump talked with some of their families at the Knesset.

   "Your name will be remembered to generations," a woman told him.

   Israeli lawmakers chanted Trump's name and gave him standing ovation after 
standing ovation. Some people in the audience wore red hats that resembled his 
"Make America Great Again" caps, although these versions said "Trump, The Peace 
President."

   Netanyahu hailed Trump as "the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the 
White House," and he promised to work with him going forward.

   "Mr. President, you are committed to this peace. I am committed to this 
peace," he said. "And together, Mr. President, we will achieve this peace."

   Trump, in an unexpected detour during his speech, called on the Israeli 
president to pardon Netanyahu, whom he described as "one of the greatest" 
wartime leaders. Netanyahu faces corruption charges, although several hearings 
have been postponed during the conflict with Hamas.

   The Republican president also used the opportunity to settle political 
scores and thank his supporters, criticizing Democratic predecessors and 
praising a top donor, Miriam Adelson, in the audience.

   Trump pushes to reshape the region

   The moment remains fragile, with Israel and Hamas still in the early stages 
of implementing the first phase of Trump's plan.

   The first phase of the ceasefire agreement calls for the release of the 
final hostages held by Hamas; the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners 
held by Israel; a surge of humanitarian aid to Gaza; and a partial pullback by 
Israeli forces from Gaza's main cities.

   Trump has said there's a window to reshape the region and reset long-fraught 
relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

   "The war is over, OK?" Trump told reporters traveling with him aboard Air 
Force One.

   "I think people are tired of it," he said, emphasizing that he believed the 
ceasefire would hold because of that.

   He said the chance of peace was enabled by his Republican administration's 
support of Israel's decimation of Iranian proxies, including Hamas in Gaza and 
Hezbollah in Lebanon.

   The White House said momentum is also building because Arab and Muslim 
states are demonstrating a renewed focus on resolving the broader, decades-long 
Israeli-Palestinian conflict and, in some cases, deepening relations with the 
United States.

   In February, Trump had predicted that Gaza could be redeveloped into what he 
called "the Riviera of the Middle East." But on Sunday aboard Air Force One, he 
was more circumspect.

   "I don't know about the Riviera for a while," Trump said. "It's blasted. 
This is like a demolition site." But he said he hoped to one day visit the 
territory. "I'd like to put my feet on it, at least," he said.

   The sides have not agreed on Gaza's postwar governance, the territory's 
reconstruction and Israel's demand that Hamas disarm. Negotiations over those 
issues could break down, and Israel has hinted it may resume military 
operations if its demands are not met.

   Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble, and the territory's roughly 2 
million residents continue to struggle in desperate conditions. Under the deal, 
Israel agreed to reopen five border crossings, which will help ease the flow of 
food and other supplies into Gaza, parts of which are experiencing famine.

   Roughly 200 U.S. troops will help support and monitor the ceasefire deal as 
part of a team that includes partner nations, nongovernmental organizations and 
private-sector players.