On The Line: Did Trump bring peace to the Middle East?

In this episode of On The Line, Jen Gerson is joined by Vivian Bercovici, Canada’s former ambassador to Israel, appointed by Stephen Harper. Together they unpack the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas — what it really means, how it came together, and why it’s unlikely to last. This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Forestry For The Future. Canada’s housing crisis demands bold, scalable solutions. Build Canada Homes is an opportunity to leverage Canadian wood in modern construction. Wood-based methods like mass timber and modular construction can significantly reduce build times, waste, and carbon emissions, while supporting local economies. Expanding building codes, streamlining approvals, and prioritizing domestic wood in federal projects could double demand and foster job creation in rural and northern communities.Despite trade challenges and market volatility, a partnership between industry and government is vital to stabilize the sector, enhance competitiveness, and deliver innovative, sustainably sourced Canadian wood products for homes across Canada and abroad. With capacity growing across provinces, stable demand and predictable financing are key to unlocking the sector’s potential.We need to Build Canada Homes with Canadian wood. To learn more, visit ForestryForTheFuture.ca.Bercovici draws on her experience in the region to explain the political and military calculations behind the truce, the competing pressures on both sides, and the role of foreign actors trying to claim credit for peace that may already be fraying at the edges.They also turn to Donald Trump, whose fingerprints — however controversial — are still visible in the diplomatic architecture that made this moment possible. Bercovici offers a blunt assessment of the former president’s approach to the Middle East, contrasting his transactional style with the vaguer moral posturing of his successors. The conversation veers from analysis to personal insight, as Gerson presses on whether the current ceasefire is a genuine diplomatic breakthrough or just another pause before the next round of violence.And for our Canadian listeners (and that’s most of you!), there’s a sharp reality check. Prime Minister Mark Carney made sure to appear for the photo op in Egypt, but his actual influence on events was effectively nil. Bercovici and Gerson explore what that absence says about Canada’s diminishing credibility abroad — and what it means when our leaders seem more interested in being seen as global players than in actually playing a role.New episodes of On The Line drop every Tuesday. Subscribe at ReadTheLine.ca, follow us on your favourite podcast app, and don’t forget to leave us a nice review. Audio drops every Tuesday morning, with video rolling out Tuesday evening on YouTube and our social channels. Catch it wherever you listen or watch.YouTube:Video goes live in 30 minutes, at 7:00 Eastern and 5:00 Mountain.Spotify:Apple:And plenty more options here.We hope you enjoy this episode, and don’t miss us next week. We’ll be back with more On The Line.The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today. Please note: a donation is not a subscription, and will not grant access to paywalled content. It’s just a way of thanking us for what we do. If you’re looking to subscribe and get full access, it’s that other blue button!The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: [email protected]. Get full access to The Line at www.readtheline.ca/subscribe