Larry Kudlow: Are we handcuffing Israel in its fight against terrorism?

We are handcuffed Israel in their struggle to destroy terrorism and save freedom in the Middle East and America? That’s the title of the riff.

Whenever hostages are released it is a wonderful and exciting development.

Israeli and American families have suffered greatly as their children, spouses and soldiers have been imprisoned in the hell of Hamas for the past 15 months. So, let’s start there and be thankful for it.

Let’s hope that the release of the 33 hostages really happens. Unfortunately, that number was around 250 – 15 months ago. Many American hostages are expected to be released during Phase I.

Three are suspected to be alive and four are said to be dead. The evil terrorists, the barbaric Hamas have killed others – it is a hate crime against humanity.

That leads to the second point, which is the question: How good a deal is this? I don’t know all the details. Maybe no one knows all the details, but this is the same deal that Joe Biden was wanted for last May.

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President-elect Trump arguably brought Hamas to the negotiating table by hammering home a vow that “all hell will break loose” if Hamas does not release the hostages.

Even Joe Biden’s State Department said that Mr. Trump is “very serious,” but like former Amb. As David Friedman and others have noted, the war in the Middle East is far from over.

According to reports, Israeli troops will be allowed to remain in the so-called Philadelphia Corridor that separates Egypt from Gaza for at least another six weeks, but are expected to leave and the so-called Phase II of the agreement authorizes complete Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, and some form of “ceasefire”.

Meanwhile, at least 1,000 Palestinians – including 200 who killed Israelis – will be released from Israeli prisons. Well, won’t they go straight to Gaza and resume their violent Jihad against Israel and America?

In the midst of all this, many reports suggest that Hamas is regrouping, recruiting and re-energizing. Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces, but his brother Mohammed Sinwar became the new leader, just like that.

So, if – and it’s a big if – the hostages are released in two stages and the Israeli army is authorized to leave Gaza, and 1,000 Palestinian prisoners are released from Israeli prisons, and Hamas rebuilds itself… How can this really be a thing? good?

President Trump is hailing the deal as a “famous ceasefire,” and surely he and his special envoy Steve Witkoff should be given the benefit of the doubt and should be given credit for freeing the hostages.

There are probably a lot of backstage details we don’t know about. Perhaps Saudi Arabia has been influenced by President Trump to join the Abrahamic Covenant. Maybe Mr. Trump will give Israel the green light to blow up Iran’s nuclear facility.

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Perhaps the IDF still intends to destroy Hamas completely – as incoming Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified yesterday, that he supports killing every last member of Hamas.

Incoming National Security Adviser Mike Waltz reiterated that this morning. Incoming Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, testified today that if Hamas exists, there will never be a ceasefire. Maybe, maybe, but we know that think We know, Hamas will remain in power in Gaza and Israel’s military presence will end in Gaza. It’s not good.

I always thought we would let the IDF go against everything Middle East terrorists, and that we can all thank Israel for not only saving freedom in Israel and the Middle East, but frankly saving all freedom in the West and our Judeo-Christian culture and thus saving America, but putting the handcuffs back. in the IDF will prevent them from destroying terrorism and that high mission of saving freedom in Israel, the Middle East and America.

That’s what worries me.

This article is adapted from Larry Kudlow’s opening remarks on Jan. 15, 2025, edition of “Kudlow.”