Israeli negotiator Gershon Baskin concluded a commentary published Oct. 18 with a list of measures that must be taken to fully implement the Gaza peace agreement. These are: 1) “The creation of the new transitional Palestinian professional non-Hamas government for Gaza,” without interference from Israel followed by; 2) “the deployment of over 1,000 Palestinian police cadets who have been trained in Egypt and Jordan over the past months,” also without interference from Israel; 3) “The passing of a UN Security Council Resolution providing international legal legitimacy for the agreement and the mandate for the multi-national stabilization force in Gaza"; 4) “The deployment of the multi-national stabilization force in Gaza, including its clear mandate, rules of engagement, command structure, and funding"; 5) “The creation of the Peace Board headed by President Trump to raise the billions of dollars necessary for the reconstruction of Gaza…” 6) “The immediate deployment of at least $2 billion for the immediate construction of temporary housing for up to 2 million Gazans, repairing infrastructure—mainly water, electricity, sewage, and roads—including clearing of rubble of bombed buildings to make space for the temporary housing"; and 7) “Creating the enabling environment for the Gaza private sector to restart the essential work of rebuilding the Gaza economy.”
Earlier in the commentary, Baskin had called for new elections in both Palestine and Israel. “The Palestinians, I believe, should be gearing up for elections—because that is the only way to recreate Palestinian unity—through the ballot box,” he wrote. Baskin noted that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had promised at the New York meeting hosted by Saudi Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and French President Emmanuel Macron that Palestinian national elections for President and Parliament would take place within one year. He also promised a revised Palestinian election law that would permit only political parties to participate that support the PLO political position of the two-state solution and peace with Israel.
