RITTER: Trump's Not Going to Let Weakened Netanyahu Mess up His Nobel Peace Prize Ambition

Can Trump be remembered as the man who brought peace to the Middle East

U.S. President Donald Trump, who played a major role in securing a ceasefire in Gaza, wants to be remembered as the leader who managed to bring peace to the Middle East, and he’s not going to let weakened warmonger Benjamin Netanyahu stand in his way, Scott Ritter, the former UN weapons inspector, told Judge Andrew Napolitano’s “Juding Freedom.”

Ritter said Netanyahu is in a lot of political and legal trouble at home, and he believes Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, played hardball with the Israeli leader.

“I believe that he (Netanyahu) was told, ‘We can help you, but not unless you play ball. If you don’t play ball, we’re done, you’re done, we’re out, you’re in jail, you’ll die in jail, you’ll spend the rest of your life in jail, your wife Sarah will be arrested for corruption, she’ll her life in jail, and that will be your legacy,’” he said. “Or, you can play ball, and we’re going to get this ceasefire…then you’re going to play ball, too, and you’re not going to mess around.”

He continued, “Trump doesn’t want to play games. Trump wants his legacy to be the man who created peace in the Middle East. Whether he can accomplish that, we don’t know.”

The Times of Israel reported Thursday that Hamas confirmed that it will provide the names of another four hostages that are to be released on Saturday.

Trump told reporters at the White House Monday that he does not expect the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas to hold.

“It’s not our war,” he told a reporter. “It is their war. I am not confident. But I think they’re very weakened on the other side,” referring to Hamas.

Netanyahu said Trump, whose campaign was funded by pro-Israel billionaire Miriam Adelson, called him to congratulate him on the deal on Wednesday and made sure to emphasize that the first phase of the deal is only temporary.