It Could Happen Here: "Domination Is Peace: Trump’s 20 Point Peace Plan for Palestine"

Guest: Dana El Kurd
Date Recorded: October 19, 2025 (aired October 21, 2025)
Host: Cool Zone Media (Cool Zone team not present; solo episode with El Kurd)
Main Theme:
A deep critique and analysis of the Trump administration’s newly proposed "20 Point Peace Plan" for Gaza, its political context, and the implications for Palestinians, featuring the perspective of political scientist Dana El Kurd.

1. Overview of the Episode

Dana El Kurd, a Palestinian political scientist and analyst, delivers a detailed, critical breakdown of the Trump administration’s Gaza ceasefire and "peace plan." El Kurd places the announcement in historical and ongoing contexts, scrutinizing both the plan’s substance and the lack thereof—particularly its reliance on external control, the absence of real Palestinian agency, and a pattern of international impunity for Israeli leadership. El Kurd questions whether the plan offers any prospect for genuine peace or justice, or simply entrenches domination.

2. Key Discussion Points & Insights

A. Immediate Context: The Post-Ceasefire Situation

• Ceasefire Talks in Cairo: Negotiators from Israel, Hamas, and several nations meet in Cairo over a new phase of ceasefire. Recent developments include:
  • The release of all remaining Israeli hostages by Hamas.
  • Israel withdrawing from parts of Gaza and releasing some Palestinian political prisoners and bodies of those killed and held since October 7.
• Grim Testimonies: El Kurd highlights the severe abuse, torture, and dehumanization Palestinians have faced in Israeli prisons. Released prisoner bodies showed extreme abuse, and even global activists like Greta Thunberg, detained on the Gaza flotilla, experienced humiliation and violence.
  • Quote: “...if they do this to a white person with a Swedish passport, we can only imagine what they do to Palestinians.” (03:21, paraphrasing Greta Thunberg)

B. The 20 Point Trump "Peace Plan" for Gaza (04:30)

• Crafted with Trump, Jared Kushner, and Tony Blair; details are vague but structure is clear:

  • Key Provisions:
    • Rapid return of remaining Israeli hostages (within 72 hours).
    • Demilitarization of Gaza.
    • Creation of an international stabilization/security force to eventually replace Israeli troops—a buffer zone maintained.
    • Formation of a "technocratic, apolitical" temporary Palestinian government dealing solely in service provision, under the strict supervision of a "Board of Peace" (Trump, Blair, and others).
    • Language about economic development and "de-radicalization" programs.
    • Disavows formal ethnic cleansing, but only in so many words.
    • Palestinian statehood "might" be considered, but only if Palestinians "comply" and the PA is "reformed" to international satisfaction.
  • Quote: “If the Palestinians do good, if they comply with the International Security Force, if they take orders from the Board of Peace and ‘reform’ the PA in some way... then maybe their demands for self-determination and statehood will eventually be discussed.” (07:37)

• Palestinian Exclusion: The plan is presented with little to no Palestinian input; real agency is missing.

C. The Meaning of “Reforming the PA” (Palestinian Authority) (08:09)

• Western and Israeli Perspective: “Reforming the PA” usually means installing "acceptable" leadership (e.g., pushing Abbas to appoint a US/Israel-friendly vice president like Hsin al Sheikh, a businessman/security figure who polls at 2% among Palestinians).
• What Reform Doesn't Mean: Not about actual democracy, not about letting all Palestinians participate, not about reforming the PLO’s structure—just creating a plausible rubber-stamp.
  • Quote: “Even if most Palestinians, 85% in the latest poll are dissatisfied with the PA's conduct and 42% support the dissolution of the PA altogether, this is a dangerous game to play.” (10:56)

D. Lessons from Other Peace Processes (15:25)

• Necessity of Public Buy-In: El Kurd notes that genuine peace is impossible without societal buy-in. Otherwise, you get “authoritarian conflict management” rather than true resolution—structural violence is maintained for the sake of control.
• Double Standards of International Mediation:
  • Good Friday Agreement (Northern Ireland): Included referendums and input from all parties, even militant groups.
  • Yugoslavia/Bosnia: Perpetrators of genocide faced international courts.
  • Israel/Palestine: No talk of accountability for leaders accused of war crimes—Trump even backs Netanyahu in the Knesset and supports him during domestic corruption scandals.
    • Quote: “When international leaders or ex leaders.. think about conflicts in the Middle east involving Arabs, then public buy in, democratic processes... no longer factor into decision making, the buy in and opinion of the public matters, but apparently only certain publics.” (16:54)

E. Fundamental Problems with the "Strangle Contract" (19:29)

• Unequal Bargaining: Drawing on scholar Marika Sosnowski (University of Melbourne), El Kurd labels this ceasefire/peace plan a “strangle contract,” not a peace accord between equals.
  • Only Minimum Concessions: Hostage release, partial Israeli withdrawal, aid allowed in—these are just the basics, not real gains for Palestinians.
  • Lack of Leverage: Israel can accuse Palestinians of non-compliance and resume war at any time; Palestinians have no meaningful recourse.
  • International Mediation Not Neutral: With Trump, Kushner, and Blair leading, bias is built-in.
  • Quote (from Sosnowski): “If there is a ceasefire, people know the devil is coming.” (21:19, quoting Palestinian leader from Yarmouk camp)
• Violations Continue: Even after the "ceasefire," killings and abuses against Palestinians go on, yet these aren't treated as breaches by international headline writers.

F. Conclusion: No Genuine Peace Without Justice or Participation (22:14)

• The Trump/Blair plan is domination framed as peace. Palestinians lack agency, while the international community—especially under US or Israeli patronage—sidelines justice and accountability.
• Quote: “Because the Trump administration has twisted the meaning of words where domination equals peace and injustice equals stability... once this happens, I fear very few will question the premise of this agreement and the entire peace process to begin with. A peace process where Palestinians aren't even allowed to participate. No one can be surprised when this doesn't last, and no one can be surprised that this cannot be the basis for sustainable peace. But hey, I hope I'm wrong.” (22:19)

3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Israeli Prison Abuse/Greta Thunberg:

  “If they do this to a white person with a Swedish passport, we can only imagine what they do to Palestinians.” (03:21)

• On US/Israel Control of PA Reform:

  “What reforming the PA does not mean, it looks like, is actual democratic reform, where Palestinians can choose not only their president but also on their legislative representatives... It looks like reforming the PA doesn't mean all Palestinians will be allowed to participate...” (09:37)

• On Public Buy-In’s Absence:

  “If you don't include people's buy in, what you're banking on is being able to suppress people. And what you want isn't really peace, it's authoritarian conflict management. It's illiberal, it maintains structural violence in the name of preserving peace.” (15:25)

• On Double Standards:

  “The buy in and opinion of the public matters, but apparently only certain publics.” (16:56)

• On Nature of the Ceasefire:

  “She [Sosnowski] expresses concern that this agreement is highly coercive and that it enables the more powerful party to force the weaker party into agreeing to anything in order for them to survive. This is in direct contrast to a bargain between two equal parties that can sustain peace.” (20:25)

4. Important Timestamps

• [02:33] Dana El Kurd introduces the state of the ceasefire, prisoner exchanges, and initial abuses.
• [04:30] First comprehensive description of the Trump 20 point plan.
• [08:09] Deep dive on “reforming the Palestinian Authority.”
• [10:56] Polls showing PA illegitimacy among Palestinians.
• [15:25] Lessons from global peace negotiations; why public buy-in matters.
• [16:54] Double standard in international conflict resolution.
• [19:29] Scholar Marika Sosnowski's critique—“strangle contract,” lack of leverage, continuing violence.
• [22:14] Closing reflections on the failure of the plan to provide real peace or justice.

5. Tone & Style

El Kurd’s tone is incisive, analytical, and unflinching—grounded both in political science expertise and personal connection to Palestinian realities. She skewers the hypocrisy and performativity of international processes while emphasizing lived reality for ordinary Palestinians. Her language alternates between sober analysis and sardonic, biting asides (“It’s like, is the state in the room with us now?”).

6. Final Takeaways

• The Trump/Kushner/Blair “peace plan” is more about entrenched domination and performative governance than genuine resolution.
• Palestinians have no real seat at the table; “reform” is code for installing a client government, not democratic accountability.
• The international community applies very different standards of process, participation, and justice in the Middle East as compared to other world conflicts.
• Without true public engagement, accountability, and sovereignty, cycles of violence are likely to continue—masked as “peace” by those in power.
• As El Kurd concludes: “No one can be surprised when this doesn’t last... But hey, I hope I’m wrong.” (22:40)