Deal or No Deal
Engagement, So Many Plans, IHRA, Nuclear Deal: The Weekly Conquest Week of 3.2.25 – 3.8.25
Welcome to the ZioKnight
Week of March 3, 2025
The rule of thumb is generally that when there are two Jews, they have three opinions. This week I participated in an exercise where about 20 Jews came together, varying from anti-zionists to right-wing zionists, and boy were there a lot of opinions.
Agreeing on anything wasn’t the point. Rather, we sought to coexist with different viewpoints and engage in respectful conversations. Thanks to Resetting the Table for a unique counter-cultural experience, and welcome to the new ZioKnights that joined us following it!
Sunday 3.2
U.S. Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff presented a plan to extend phase one of the hostage release deal until the end of Ramadan and Passover. Hamas rejected the plan. In an attempt to ramp up the pressure to secure a release of the remaining hostages, Israel halted the delivery of humanitarian aid into the strip. [1]
Monday 3.3
A national group of anti-Israel school faculty is leading a multifaceted advocacy campaign to oppose the Senate’s adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism.
In DEI training, I learned that we must trust the “lived experience” of the “oppressed,” which in this case is Jews’ definition of antisemitism. I guess this concept doesn’t apply to Jews. [2]
Tuesday 3.4
Visualization of the Reconstruction
An Egypt-led Arab coalition endorsed a $53 billion plan for post-war Gaza. It outlines expanding the land into the Mediterranean with the rubble, constructing a “green… walkable” city, “distinctive Islamic aesthetic” architecture, and gradually ceding control to the Palestinian Authority.
While limestone, pointed arch, domes, and vaults are really nice, the 112-page document seemed to have forgotten addressing Hamas. [3][4]
Wednesday 3.5
President Trump’s Picture Attached to the Message
President Trump responded to the Egyptian proposal with an ultimatum to Hamas: “RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!” [5]
Thursday 3.6
The U.S. is engaging in direct negotiations with Hamas to release the remaining American hostages. This is the first time the U.S. has taken such a move. Prime Minister Netanyahu privately discussed it with the administration. [6][7]
Friday 3.7
President Trump sent a letter to Iran requesting to negotiate a nuclear deal. He threatened that if the negotiations are unsuccessful the U.S. would take military action, which would be “a terrible thing.” [8]
Saturday 3.8
Hamas reportedly agreed to release some living hostages in exchange for a two-month extension of the ceasefire. Israel is sending a delegation to Qatar on Monday to negotiate. The details are sparse as this is a developing story. [9][10]