Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should accept US President Donald Trump's hostage deal and ceasefire proposal during the meeting between the two leaders in Washington on Monday, former justice minister Haim Ramon argued in an interview with 103FM on Sunday.
"I am largely in favor of the plan," he said. "It's not that the plan is a lifesaver, but the alternative to it is worse."
Ramon expressed his disapproval of Netanyahu's current handling of the Gaza war. "If we continue the maneuver in Gaza, then we are certainly endangering the lives of the hostages. It will be difficult to see the achievements. We will continue with a dramatic deterioration on the international stage, and within Israel, we will be divided about the war."
"It is impossible to go to war without a broad consensus," he said.
Regarding Trump's plan, he said that the question of what the meaning of Hamas will be remains, and assured that "it is impossible for Hamas to rule. We will not allow it to rule."
Say yes to Trump
"I suggest to Netanyahu, in all modesty, to come and say yes to Trump. If Hamas says no, then we will receive global legitimacy to do whatever we want with it."
"President Trump's proposal is coordinated with Arab countries, with the international community, and with us as well. If we say yes and Hamas says no, we will receive a license to eliminate Hamas, however necessary," he continued.
Ramon compared a ceasefire with Hamas to the one that Israel achieved with Hezbollah, explaining that any breach results in counterattacks. "If Hezbollah tries to raise its head," he said, "we will hit it. All of these things can be done and repeated."
He also emphasized the importance of moving forward in order to overcome the difficulties that October 7 has brought.
"There are things that will be very difficult, but there are things that, from our perspective, are beginning to turn the page of October 7.