We all seem to be lost in an illusion that a protective hand in the White House has everything under control.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the longtime UN agency as a “subsidiary of Hamas.”

After his recent turnaround speech that drew heavy criticism, Netanyahu now refers to the events of October 7 as an “attack” (using the Hebrew word for a large-scale military assault).

Israeli foreign minister in Washington for key talks on Trump’s Gaza roadmap and Mideast security coordination.

A series of critical issues are on the table: Phase Two in Gaza, disarmament of Hamas, Qatari schemes, Israel’s opposition to F-35s for Turkey, and warnings about Iranian centrifuges.

Trump hinted at rising tensions between Jerusalem and Damascus, writing that “it is very important that Israel maintain a strong and true dialogue with Syria.”

Though Palestinian statehood remains a non-starter, the US scheme is likely to result in part of the coastal enclave remaining in the hands of Hamas, not usher in an era of peace.

The UN Security Council has adopted the US initiative to establish an international stabilization force as well as the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.

Something just happened in New York that would have been considered utterly unthinkable just a few months ago.