I am cautiously optimistic about the current plan for peace in the Middle East. However, I am not sure peace is possible without some serious cultural changes in the area.

One thing that works in favor of peace is President Trump’s understanding of economic leverage. As “drill, baby, drill” is implemented in America, the oil-rich countries in the Middle East lose a lot of clout in world politics. As radical Islam fights to keep its followers trapped in previous centuries, many moderate Muslims seek to join the modern world. The Abraham Accords represent dangling economic prosperity and the fruit of Israeli scientific research in front of the Arab world in exchange for putting aside animus toward Israel.

Remember, Israel is the country that has made the desert bloom.

There are some serious roadblocks to peace in the Middle East. Are the people who will live in Gaza going to continue to teach their children to be martyrs—to kill Jews in order to get to paradise? Are the people who will live in Gaza going to continue to pay money to families of martyrs who kill Jews? Will future maps in Gaza include Israel?

Hamas is currently backed into a corner. If they refuse the deal, they will probably be eliminated within weeks. If they agree to the deal, they survive, get their terrorists our of Israeli jails, and hope to rise again. If Hamas refuses the deal and Israel is forced to clear Gaza of Hamas by force, it is very unlikely that any hostages will be found alive. This deal is the only path toward getting any remaining hostages that are alive back alive.

It has been reported that President Trump has given Hamas four days to accept the peace plan.

I have no doubt that the civilized world wants to see peace in the Middle East. I’m just not sure how much of the Middle East wants to be part of the civilized world.