Jerusalem
Trump's peace plan: 2 states with settlement recognition
Middle East
Senior administration officials, briefing the media on the plan the president announced at the White House on Tuesday, said that under Trump's proposal the
However, it was not immediately clear if the freeze could be extended if a final deal is not concluded in the four-year time period allocated for its implementation.
Trump held a special press conference together with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu where he unveiled the details of the long-delayed proposal, dubbed "the deal of the century." The president said the prime minister told him the Trump administration's proposed plan would be a basis for direct negotiations.
"Today,
Trump has also endorsed a proposed map outlining the two states, which he posted on his Twitter account. The Palestinian state would be double the size of land that Palestinians currently control and would be connected by roads, bridges and tunnels.
The proposed state would be entirely demilitarized, including the Gaza Strip, controlled by Hamas terrorist organization, with a large presence of Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad. "The state of
The plan does call for a four-year
freeze in new Israeli settlement construction, during which time details of a
comprehensive agreement would be negotiated, according to the officials who
spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of Trump's announcement. However, it was
not immediately clear if the freeze could be extended if a final deal is not
concluded in the four years.
Trump went on to say he sent a letter to Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas, where the U.S. president promised if the Palestinian
leadership chooses to accept the plan, the Americans as well as the other
countries "will be there every step of the way to help."
"It's going to work," Trump said. "If
they do this, it will work. Your response to this historic opportunity will
show the world to what extent you are ready to lead the Palestinian people to
statehood."
He said he is ready to enter the negotiations with the Palestinians on the basis of the peace proposal, calling it "a realistic path to a durable peace." He added that Trump's plan "strikes a balance."
"And on this day, you too have charted a brilliant future, a brilliant future for Israelis, Palestinians and the region," Netanyahu said. The prime minister added that Trump recognizes that
Netanyahu added that Palestinian refugees won't have a right of return under the plan. Palestinian right of return is a political position that Palestinian refugees, both first-generation refugees and their descendants, have a right to return to what now is the State of Israel.
"I know that there'll be opposition," Netanyahu said. "There's always opposition. I know there will be many obstacles along the way, much criticism. But we have an old Jewish saying: 'If not now, when? And if not us, who?'"
Both leaders then thanked the Gulf Arab states of
Once the press conference was over, Netanyahu clarified to the reporters that the proposed Palestinian capital would be located in Abu Dis, a neighborhood on the outskirts of
The 50-page political outline goes further in concessions to the Palestinians than many analysts had believed was likely. However, it would require them to accept conditions they have been previously unwilling to consider, such as accepting
The officials said that both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main political challenger in March elections, Benny Gantz, had signed off on the plan. Netanyahu will be beside Trump as he unveils the plan at the White House.
The event comes as Trump's impeachment trial continues in the Senate and
In the run-up to the March 2 election, Netanyahu has called for annexing parts of the
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, last night (Eastern Standard Time), in
Attached photo credits: Koby Gideon (GPO) | |
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