Speaking at the White House today, President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally announced details from the 80-page peace plan put together by a team of administration members, including Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Trump was clear in announcing the plan that it was intended to be merely a “suggestion.”
“It will be a suggestion between Israel and the Palestinians. It’s the closest it’s ever come,” Trump told reporters. “We have support of the prime minister. We have the support of the other parties, and we think we will ultimately have support of Palestinians. But we’re going to see. And if we do, it’ll be a tremendous tribute to everybody.”
The White House plan calls for the establishment a Palestine state, a major point for Palestinian leaders who have long called for a “two-state resolution” to the conflict between Israel and Palestinians.
“This is an unprecedented and significant development,” Trump said.
“We’re going to show a plan that’s been worked on by everybody, and we’ll see whether or not it catches on,” Trump told members of the press. “If it does, that would be great. And if it doesn’t we can live with it too. But I think it might have a chance.”
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Trump said, “My vision presents a win-win solution for both sides.” The plan greatly increases the territory controlled by the Palestinians, but also recognizes Israeli sovereignty over large settlements in the West Bank. The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, to be illegal under international law, but Israel has disputed this. Palestinians were angered by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s recent declaration that Jewish settlements in the West Bank are legal, and also by the Trump administration’s decision to cut humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.
Trump described the proposal as a “two-state” solution. Under the plan, Jerusalem would remain the “undivided” capital of Israel, he said, repeating the word “undivided” twice for emphasis. But he also said he wants this to be a “great deal” for the Palestinians so they can build an “independent state of their very own.”
The president emphasized the economic benefits that will come to Palestinians under the plan. He predicted that “eight million new Palestinian jobs will be created and their GDP will double and triple.”
“We will help by empowering the Palestinians to thrive on their own to ensure a successful Palestinian state.” All he wants in return, he continued, is Palestinians “ending the incitement of terrorism against Israel.”
Trump directly addressed the head of the Palestinian Authority (PA), Mahmoud Abbas, stating: “President Abbas, I want you to know if you choose the path to peace America and other countries will be there to help you every step of the way.”
Trump said he has written to Abbas, saying that territory set aside for the Palestinian state would remain open for a “transition” period of four years, effectively amounting to a four-year freeze in new Israeli settlement construction.
The Times of Israel reported on January 27 that Abbas’s spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, suggested on Sunday that the Palestinian Authority would reject a key part of the American proposal.
“The [PA] leadership will hold a series of meetings on all levels — including the factions and organizations — to announce its total rejection of conceding Jerusalem,” Rudeineh told the Voice of Palestine, the official PA radio station, according to the government-run Wafa news site.
Netanyahu, who stood alongside Trump during his address, said when it was his turn to talk, “I believe your peace plan strikes the right balance. I’ve agreed to negotiate with the Palestinians on the basis of your peace plan…. You are the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House.”
Photo: AP Images
Warren Mass has served The New American since its launch in 1985 in several capacities, including marketing, editing, and writing. Since retiring from the staff several years ago, he has been a regular contributor to the magazine. Warren writes from Texas and can be reached at [email protected].
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