The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
Episode: Trump’s Peace Plan: Lessons from the Negotiating Table
Date: October 16, 2025
Host: Jon Stewart
Guests: Daniel Levy (President, US Middle East Project; former Israeli peace negotiator) | Zaha Hassan (Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; former legal advisor to Palestinian negotiating team)
Episode Overview
This episode explores Donald Trump’s high-profile "Peace Plan" for Israel and Palestine in the aftermath of a major ceasefire in the region. Jon Stewart is joined by two experts with decades of direct negotiating experience: Daniel Levy, a key Israeli peace negotiator, and Zaha Hassan, a leading Palestinian lawyer and advisor, who dissect the plan’s promises, its underlying historical context, and the real incentives and obstacles on both sides. The discussion is candid, sharply critical, and occasionally darkly humorous, blending big-picture analysis with ground-level reality checks.
1. Introduction: Jokes, Relief, and the Real Story Behind the Ceasefire
Timestamps: 01:08 – 04:48
- Jon Stewart opens with typical comedic riffs about the ceasefire, jokingly crediting the Riyadh Comedy Festival for the new peace, before pivoting to a more serious introduction of his expert guests.
- He sets the stage for in-depth discussion, highlighting persistent cycles of negotiation, failure, and fleeting hope.
Notable Quote
“Is that the power of the jester? ...Is it time to deploy Fluffy to the other areas of strife in this world?” — Jon Stewart [02:45]
2. Guest Introductions & Credentials
Timestamps: 04:48 – 07:37
- Daniel Levy traces his long career through multiple rounds of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations (Oslo, Taba, Geneva), including direct work with Israeli military and political leaders.
- Zaha Hassan details her experience as legal advisor for the Palestinian UN bid (2010-2012), focusing on internationalization as a tool for leveling the negotiating table and accessing the International Criminal Court.
3. Initial Reactions to the Peace Plan
Timestamps: 08:09 – 12:25
- Both guests express relief at the halt in bombings and hostage releases.
- Daniel stresses the positive but points out the plan’s lack of meaningful content, especially regarding the West Bank, and the paradox of Trump’s outsized but unserious influence:
“It carries all the unseriousness of the imprimatur of Donald Trump... It doesn't have an actual path to peace.” — Daniel Levy [09:44]
- Zaha celebrates humanitarian gains but warns:
“When you get to phase two of the agreement... this transitional period... looks like occupation by another name.” — Zaha Hassan [12:09]
4. Analysis of Trump’s Peace Plan: Structure & Flaws
Timestamps: 15:02 – 18:33
- Zaha offers a step-by-step explanation:
- Plan established after widespread international recognition of Palestine; intended to halt momentum by reframing the issue.
- Trump’s plan centers on Palestinian "worthiness" and external management by a "Peace Board" (Trump, Tony Blair, foreign technocrats, few/no Palestinians).
- Implementation and legitimacy are highly questionable.
- Jon Stewart raises the issue of systemic "benchmarks" that Palestinians must meet to achieve statehood—an unachievable moving goalpost.
Notable Quote
“Palestinian worthiness... there are these stipulations. Palestine has to hit these benchmarks... They will be deemed worthy and get, I guess, a brown belt in governance...” — Jon Stewart [17:43]
5. The ‘Worthiness’ Trap and Asymmetry of Power
Timestamps: 18:33 – 25:18
- Daniel critiques the two negotiating approaches:
- Bulldozing (imposing unacceptable terms on the weaker party).
- Mutual legitimacy (requiring U.S. leveling involvement, which is consistently absent).
- Both guests stress that the bar for Palestinian worthiness is deliberately set too high, enabling endless excuses for Israeli inaction while occupation and settlement expansion intensify.
Notable Quote
“Not only in order to be worthy of the right to self determination... you need to meet these metrics of perfect governance. But even the right not to be bombed to smithereens, you need to meet these metrics.” — Daniel Levy [23:47]
6. Benchmarks as ‘Poison Pills’ — Manufactured Failure
Timestamps: 27:16 – 29:51
- Zaha frames benchmarks as “poison pills” designed to perpetuate Israeli dominance, block true reconciliation, and fragment Palestinian society and leadership.
- Palestinian internal politics: chronic lack of elections, outdated institutions, and external resistance to genuine democratic reform.
7. The International Incentive Structure & Prospects for Genuine Change
Timestamps: 31:39 – 36:14
- Jon asks if the only way forward is with external (international) imposition rather than bilateral negotiation.
- Daniel points to Israel’s impunity as central; incentives must change: there need to be real consequences to maintain progress.
- The current international mobilization (boycotts, protests, pressure campaigns) is a potential game-changer.
Notable Quote
“As long as Israel can do what it does and is treated with impunity... why do you have an incentive inside Israel to do anything different?” — Daniel Levy [33:20]
8. The Role of Arab Governments & Regional Dynamics
Timestamps: 36:14 – 45:48
- Discussion about Arab states’ long-term interest in stability and economic development vs. reality of Palestinian suffering, their past use of proxies (Hamas, Hezbollah), and how events (e.g., bombing of Qatar) have shifted their calculus.
- Regional governments now face public pressure over Israeli actions, Israel’s regional aggressiveness post-October 7, and changing geopolitical alliances (including hedging towards China).
Notable Quote
“They do not want their publics to be watching those pictures of a country that is an ally of their ally... it leads to a whole set of questions which they are not easily going to be able to field.” — Daniel Levy [43:01]
9. Is a Two-State Solution Still Possible?
Timestamps: 47:24 – 52:54
- The viability of a two-state solution is increasingly questioned due to facts on the ground and deepening Israeli political extremism.
- Daniel: There is now profound pessimism among Arab states; Israel will not allow a viable Palestinian state.
10. Zero Sum Mentalities & the Denial of the ‘Other’
Timestamps: 52:54 – 55:17
- The conversation turns dark: current rhetoric and realities feed eliminationist fantasies on both sides, but only one side has the means to impose them.
- Trump and Netanyahu avoid mentioning Palestinians altogether, either in speeches or terms of engagement.
11. Palestinian Representation & Future Leadership
Timestamps: 55:29 – 57:44
- Prospective Palestinian leaders (e.g., Marwan Barghouti) are systematically excluded, reinforcing ineffective and compliant leadership structures.
12. The Plan’s Economic Focus & Underlying Cynicism
Timestamps: 57:44 – 59:30
- Zaha and Jon note a shift from prior "economic peace" rhetoric to outright business opportunism (e.g., “Gaza Riviera,” “Gaza coin”)—the plan now seems more about real estate and tech investments than genuine political self-determination.
13. Constructive Lessons from Other Peace Processes
Timestamps: 61:24 – 63:49
- Daniel and Zaha point to Northern Ireland as a model: phased weapons decommissioning, multilateral involvement, and civil society engagement—none of which appear in Trump’s plan.
14. Trusted Third Parties and the Need for National Reconciliation
Timestamps: 63:49 – 66:28
- The only viable security solution requires trusted Arab actors (e.g., Egypt, Jordan, Qatar) as stabilizing forces.
- Palestinian national reconciliation is essential, but the international community (especially the U.S.) has historically blocked it.
15. The Israeli Political Shift Rightward & Societal Radicalization
Timestamps: 67:16 – 69:16
- The Israeli peace camp has all but disappeared; the Knesset overwhelmingly opposes even the idea of a Palestinian state.
- Israel’s majority is further radicalized, powered by a sense of impunity and lack of external pressure.
16. The Fundamental U.S. Role: Leverage, Pressure, and the Search for Partners
Timestamps: 70:21 – 74:07
- Both guests agree that only pressure from the U.S. can compel Israel to change behavior or allow Palestinian self-determination.
- Saudi Arabia is positioned as a possible Gulf partner for Trump, who craves the prestige of “peacemaker” (and maybe a Nobel Prize).
Notable Quote
“For Trump, there's a lot of ego at play here. And how do you operationalize that in a way that actually could get you... a permanent peace?” — Zaha Hassan [73:04]
17. Building Blocks of Hope
Timestamps: 74:51 – 78:56
- Despite their tough critique, both guests see reason for hope in a changing international environment (boycotts, sanctions, divestment) and unprecedented civil society momentum.
- The ceasefire, freeing of hostages, and blossoming activism represent genuine progress, albeit still fragile.
Notable Quotes
“...as pessimistic as I've been about it and as cynical as I've been about it, it is the most hopeful sentiment about that that I think I've heard.” — Jon Stewart [76:55]
“It's not happening fast enough for people in Gaza or in the West Bank. But it is happening, and I think we should build on that and continue to push for that.” — Zaha Hassan [78:37]
18. Closing Reflections & Tone
Timestamps: 78:56 – 82:22
- Jon and the panel reflect on the oddity that it may take a president fixated on the Nobel Peace Prize to deliver progress.
- Despite cynicism and setbacks, there’s a unique opportunity now—a window that didn’t exist after previous failed efforts.
- The experts, who have “lived through failed peace agreements,” remain more optimistic than Jon himself.
Notable, Memorable Moments
- Trump’s Plan as “Peace by Boardroom” — Repeated ridicule of a peace board run by Trump and Blair, absent Palestinians (10:42, 15:02, 63:30).
- Benchmark Double Standards — If good governance is the metric, “I got bad news for you, America, by the way.” — Daniel Levy [24:17]
- Comparison to Northern Ireland — Both experts advocate learning from that phased, inclusive process with international oversight. [62:21]
- Jon’s recurring dark humor:
“You're gonna stop your fucking bombing and you're gonna let these people go. Or I'm gonna come in there and I'm gonna fucking... You're not gonna have a moment’s peace. Like, maybe that is what—because... Obama didn’t get it done, Bush didn’t get... Nobody got it done.” [81:07]
Key Episode Timestamps
04:48 — Daniel Levy outlines peace negotiation history
06:02 — Zaha Hassan on Palestinian internationalization strategy
09:05 — Initial reactions to the ceasefire and relief
15:02 — Deep dive into the Trump plan structure
18:33 — The weaponization of “worthiness” and benchmarks
23:47 — “Preposterous notion” of conditional humanity
27:16 — How benchmarks poison the process
33:20 — Israel’s impunity and outside pressure
43:01 — Regional states’ new calculation post-Qatar bombing
62:21 — Lessons from Northern Ireland
70:21 — The ongoing centrality of U.S. leverage
74:51 — A hopeful note: change can be built, step by step
78:37 — International activism now “unprecedented”
82:22 — Experts’ optimism in the face of historic failure
Tone & Style
Wry, critical, and insightful—punchy Jon Stewart as ringmaster, with guests offering frank but deeply grounded expertise. Regular infusions of humor offset a sober dissection of high-stakes diplomacy and deeply-ingrained stalemates.
Takeaway
The “Trump Peace Plan” is critiqued as unserious, exclusionary, and lacking legitimate substance—yet the rare window for real change may be opening via international pressure, creative activism, and, ironically, an American president’s hunger for fame. Despite deep cynicism, the guests urge not to mistake the fragile present for more of the failed past: the ceasefire matters, the conversation is shifting, and the building blocks for lasting peace may, just maybe, finally be falling into place.