Gents, cease the fire, not seize fire

Who takes credit to bring about a ceasefire matters little when a raging conflict puts civilians in bombs' way. So, if Trump says he has put an end to the violence traded by Israel and Iran over the last 12 days, Tel Aviv and Tehran haven't questioned the narrative. Even as Iran and Israel have violated Tuesday's ceasefire, which was separately confirmed by the warring parties, a cessation to attacks would allow all three players to come out claiming victory. Benjamin Netanyahu can tell his people that he has ended Iran's nefarious nuclear weapons-building plan. Ali Khamenei can tell his that he has given Israel, and its supply chain the US, a fitting reply. And Trump, of course, can come out smelling of roses, an aftershave he went in already wearing before 'saving the world'. The question now is whether the cessation of fire will hold.

The fact that Tehran and Washington had an understanding prior to the US dropping bombs on Iranian nuclear sites, and Iran dropping (symbolically the same number) bombs on US military enclaves in Qatar, tell us that shadowboxing has its importance in trying to settle geopolitical wrangles. And despite earlier misgivings with the Israeli PM, by bringing in the cavalry at Israel's request, Trump could not be accused of pussyfooting by Netanyahu after the latter had already gloated about the kind of influence he has with his chaverim in Washington.

Yes, the ceasefire is as tenuous as a Donald Trump claim. The US president has already told Israel, 'Bring your pilots home, now!' With his face to save if bombing resumes full-scale, the US will have more incentive to do what his support base wanted him to do in the first place: not rush in where angels care not to tread. Calls from Tel Aviv notwithstanding.


P.S. But first, someone shut down Israeli's lebensraum in Gaza.