29 jan 2020 Page 1
From Middle East Eye: As Donald Trump hailed his so-called “deal of the century” as a historic opportunity to achieve peace between Palestinians and Israel, Democratic members of congress poured scorn on the plan that has been rejected by Palestinians.
The proposal, which was drafted without the input of any Palestinian groups, allows Israel to keep all of its settlements in the West Bank and annex large parts of the Palestinian territories that it currently occupies.
While Trump has floated his proposal as a “realistic two-state solution”, the plan itself says a Palestinian state – if it materialises – will be demilitarised and without sovereignty over its air space and territorial waters.
In a wave of criticism, many members of Congress denounced the plan as a unilateral attempt to end the chances of real Palestinian statehood.
‘This political stunt gets us no closer to peace or justice’
– Rashida Tlaib
Senator Bernie Sanders, who is running for president, said Washington must ensure a just agreement between Israelis and Palestinians.
“Any acceptable peace deal must be consistent with international law and multiple UN resolutions,” Sanders said.
“It must end the Israeli occupation and enable Palestinian self-determination in an independent state of their own alongside a secure Israel. Trump’s so-called ‘peace deal’ doesn’t come close, and will only perpetuate the conflict. It is unacceptable.”
Sanders’ fellow presidential candidate, progressive Senator Elizabeth Warren was also quick to denounce the proposed deal.
“Trump’s ‘peace plan’ is a rubber stamp for annexation and offers no chance for a real Palestinian state,” she said.
“Releasing a plan without negotiating with Palestinians isn’t diplomacy, it’s a sham. I will oppose unilateral annexation in any form – and reverse any policy that supports it.”
‘Non-starter’
Senator Chris Van Hollen, a prominent Democrat, called the scheme an “anti-peace” plan.
“This one-sided proposal is a cynical maneuver calculated to be rejected by the Palestinians and then green-light illegal annexation,” Van Hollen wrote in a series of tweets.
“It undermines decades of bipartisan US policy and international law. Far from the ‘deal of the century’ this is the ‘disaster of the decade’.”
Chris Murphy, a Senate Democrat and a vocal critic of Trump’s foreign policy, also slammed the deal, saying that it compromises the long term security of both the US and Israel.
“The unilateral annexation of the Jordan River valley and existing settlements, deemed illegal under US and international law, will set back the peace process decades,” he said. “And it risks real violence and massive destabilization inside places like Jordan.”
Several Democrats in the House of Representatives also rejected the so-called “deal of the century”.
Mark Pocan, the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said the plan was a “massive step backwards”. NYT, tweet
Pramila Jaypal, the other co-chair of the progressive caucus, rejected labelling the proposal as a peace plan.
“It is absurd to call Trump’s plan a ‘peace plan’ when Palestinian voices were barred from the discussion,” she said.
“Today’s announcement is further evidence of President Trump’s desire to support Netanyahu’s racist policies over basic human rights for Palestinians.”
For her part, Representative Ilhan Omar said the proposal was “shameful and disingenuous”.
“This is not a peace plan,” she wrote on Twitter. “It is theft. It is erasure.”
Palestinian-American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib noted that the deal was released on the day that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was formally indicted on corruption charges.
“This political stunt gets us no closer to peace or justice,” Tlaib said. “As a member of Congress, I consider it a non-starter.”
Congressman Andy Levin, a Michigan Democrat, challenged Trump’s assertion that the proposal will lead to a two-state solution.
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, who represents a large Arab-American community around Detroit, said the plan “aggravates issues in the region” and fails to ensure a viable state for Palestinians.
“This proposal holds the potential to further the conflict and occupation and is not an earnest attempt at peace in the region,” Dingell said in a statement.
REVEALED: Trump’s ‘deal of the century’ map for a future Palestine, Israel Read More »
The proposal, which was drafted without the input of any Palestinian groups, allows Israel to keep all of its settlements in the West Bank and annex large parts of the Palestinian territories that it currently occupies.
While Trump has floated his proposal as a “realistic two-state solution”, the plan itself says a Palestinian state – if it materialises – will be demilitarised and without sovereignty over its air space and territorial waters.
In a wave of criticism, many members of Congress denounced the plan as a unilateral attempt to end the chances of real Palestinian statehood.
‘This political stunt gets us no closer to peace or justice’
– Rashida Tlaib
Senator Bernie Sanders, who is running for president, said Washington must ensure a just agreement between Israelis and Palestinians.
“Any acceptable peace deal must be consistent with international law and multiple UN resolutions,” Sanders said.
“It must end the Israeli occupation and enable Palestinian self-determination in an independent state of their own alongside a secure Israel. Trump’s so-called ‘peace deal’ doesn’t come close, and will only perpetuate the conflict. It is unacceptable.”
Sanders’ fellow presidential candidate, progressive Senator Elizabeth Warren was also quick to denounce the proposed deal.
“Trump’s ‘peace plan’ is a rubber stamp for annexation and offers no chance for a real Palestinian state,” she said.
“Releasing a plan without negotiating with Palestinians isn’t diplomacy, it’s a sham. I will oppose unilateral annexation in any form – and reverse any policy that supports it.”
‘Non-starter’
Senator Chris Van Hollen, a prominent Democrat, called the scheme an “anti-peace” plan.
“This one-sided proposal is a cynical maneuver calculated to be rejected by the Palestinians and then green-light illegal annexation,” Van Hollen wrote in a series of tweets.
“It undermines decades of bipartisan US policy and international law. Far from the ‘deal of the century’ this is the ‘disaster of the decade’.”
Chris Murphy, a Senate Democrat and a vocal critic of Trump’s foreign policy, also slammed the deal, saying that it compromises the long term security of both the US and Israel.
“The unilateral annexation of the Jordan River valley and existing settlements, deemed illegal under US and international law, will set back the peace process decades,” he said. “And it risks real violence and massive destabilization inside places like Jordan.”
Several Democrats in the House of Representatives also rejected the so-called “deal of the century”.
Mark Pocan, the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said the plan was a “massive step backwards”. NYT, tweet
Pramila Jaypal, the other co-chair of the progressive caucus, rejected labelling the proposal as a peace plan.
“It is absurd to call Trump’s plan a ‘peace plan’ when Palestinian voices were barred from the discussion,” she said.
“Today’s announcement is further evidence of President Trump’s desire to support Netanyahu’s racist policies over basic human rights for Palestinians.”
For her part, Representative Ilhan Omar said the proposal was “shameful and disingenuous”.
“This is not a peace plan,” she wrote on Twitter. “It is theft. It is erasure.”
Palestinian-American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib noted that the deal was released on the day that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was formally indicted on corruption charges.
“This political stunt gets us no closer to peace or justice,” Tlaib said. “As a member of Congress, I consider it a non-starter.”
Congressman Andy Levin, a Michigan Democrat, challenged Trump’s assertion that the proposal will lead to a two-state solution.
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, who represents a large Arab-American community around Detroit, said the plan “aggravates issues in the region” and fails to ensure a viable state for Palestinians.
“This proposal holds the potential to further the conflict and occupation and is not an earnest attempt at peace in the region,” Dingell said in a statement.
REVEALED: Trump’s ‘deal of the century’ map for a future Palestine, Israel Read More »
28 jan 2020
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Trump's 80-page peace plan calls for Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as capital; major Jewish settlement blocs in West Bank to remain under Israeli control; Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state; demilitarization of Hamas in Gaza
President Donald Trump called for the creation of a State of Palestine, ending speculation as to whether his administration, in preparing the Middle East peace plan without input from Palestinian leaders, would abandon a "two-state resolution" to the conflict. The potential future state will include East Jerusalem as its capital but only if the Palestinians take steps to become self-governing. 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 United States will recognize Israeli settlements on the West Bank. In exchange, Israel would agree to accept a four-year freeze on new settlement activity while Palestinian statehood is negotiated. 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, Israel has taken a giant step toward peace," Trump said at a White House event. "Yesterday, Prime Minister Netanyahu informed me that he is willing to endorse the vision as the basis for direct negotiations - and, I will say, (opposition leader Benny Gantz) also endorsed and very strongly - with the Palestinians a historic breakthrough."
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."
Netanyahu then took the stage, comparing the day to "May of 1948." 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, by presenting a realistic path to a durable peace," Netanyahu said.
The prime minister added that Trump recognizes that Israel must have sovereignty in the Jordan Valley and other places "where it can defend itself, by itself."
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 West Bank settlements. It builds on a 30-page economic plan for the West Bank and Gaza that was unveiled last June and which the Palestinians have also rejected.
Under the terms of the "peace vision" that Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner has been working on for nearly three years, the future Palestinian state would consist of the West Bank and Gaza, connected by a combination of above-ground roads and tunnels, according to the officials.
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 Israel's parliament had planned a hearing to discuss Netanyahu's request for immunity from criminal corruption charges. Netanyahu withdrew that request hours before the proceedings were to begin, but Israel's parliament, the Knesset, is still expected to meet. The body had been likely to vote against immunity, dealing Netanyahu a blow.
In the run-up to the March 2 election, Netanyahu has called for annexing parts of the West Bank and imposing Israeli sovereignty on all its settlements there.
Security responsibility for the Jordan Valley would remain in Israel's hands for the foreseeable future but could be scaled back as the nascent Palestinian state builds its capacity, under the terms of the plan, which says that statehood will be contingent on the Palestinians meeting international governance criteria.
The officials said they expected negative responses from the Palestinians, as well as Turkey and Iran, but were hopeful that Jordan and Egypt, the only two Arab nations to have peace treaties with Israel, would not reject it outright. The officials said they expected Gulf Arab states like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and others to cautiously welcome the plan.
The reaction of Jordan, which would retain its responsibilities over Jerusalem's al-Aqsa Mosque under the plan, will be particularly significant, according to the officials, who said Kushner and others were reaching out to Arab leaders ahead of the rollout.
The Palestinians see the West Bank as the heartland of a future independent state and east Jerusalem as their capital. Most of the international community supports their position, but Trump has reversed decades of U.S. foreign policy by siding more blatantly with Israel.
The centerpiece of his strategy was recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moving the American Embassy there. He's also closed Palestinian diplomatic offices in Washington and cut funding to Palestinian aid programs.
Those policies have proven popular among Trump's evangelical and pro-Israel supporters and could give him a much-needed boost from his base as he gears up for a reelection battle this year.
But the Palestinians refuse to even speak to Trump and they are calling on support from Arab leaders. The Palestinian leadership also has encouraged protests in the West Bank, raising fears that the announcement in Washington could spark a new round of violence.
Ahead of the announcement, the Israeli military said it was reinforcing infantry troops along the Jordan Valley.
"Today, Israel has taken a giant step toward peace," Trump said at a White House event. "Yesterday, Prime Minister Netanyahu informed me that he is willing to endorse the vision as the basis for direct negotiations - and, I will say, (opposition leader Benny Gantz) also endorsed and very strongly - with the Palestinians a historic breakthrough."
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."
Netanyahu then took the stage, comparing the day to "May of 1948." 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, by presenting a realistic path to a durable peace," Netanyahu said.
The prime minister added that Trump recognizes that Israel must have sovereignty in the Jordan Valley and other places "where it can defend itself, by itself."
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 West Bank settlements. It builds on a 30-page economic plan for the West Bank and Gaza that was unveiled last June and which the Palestinians have also rejected.
Under the terms of the "peace vision" that Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner has been working on for nearly three years, the future Palestinian state would consist of the West Bank and Gaza, connected by a combination of above-ground roads and tunnels, according to the officials.
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 Israel's parliament had planned a hearing to discuss Netanyahu's request for immunity from criminal corruption charges. Netanyahu withdrew that request hours before the proceedings were to begin, but Israel's parliament, the Knesset, is still expected to meet. The body had been likely to vote against immunity, dealing Netanyahu a blow.
In the run-up to the March 2 election, Netanyahu has called for annexing parts of the West Bank and imposing Israeli sovereignty on all its settlements there.
Security responsibility for the Jordan Valley would remain in Israel's hands for the foreseeable future but could be scaled back as the nascent Palestinian state builds its capacity, under the terms of the plan, which says that statehood will be contingent on the Palestinians meeting international governance criteria.
The officials said they expected negative responses from the Palestinians, as well as Turkey and Iran, but were hopeful that Jordan and Egypt, the only two Arab nations to have peace treaties with Israel, would not reject it outright. The officials said they expected Gulf Arab states like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and others to cautiously welcome the plan.
The reaction of Jordan, which would retain its responsibilities over Jerusalem's al-Aqsa Mosque under the plan, will be particularly significant, according to the officials, who said Kushner and others were reaching out to Arab leaders ahead of the rollout.
The Palestinians see the West Bank as the heartland of a future independent state and east Jerusalem as their capital. Most of the international community supports their position, but Trump has reversed decades of U.S. foreign policy by siding more blatantly with Israel.
The centerpiece of his strategy was recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moving the American Embassy there. He's also closed Palestinian diplomatic offices in Washington and cut funding to Palestinian aid programs.
Those policies have proven popular among Trump's evangelical and pro-Israel supporters and could give him a much-needed boost from his base as he gears up for a reelection battle this year.
But the Palestinians refuse to even speak to Trump and they are calling on support from Arab leaders. The Palestinian leadership also has encouraged protests in the West Bank, raising fears that the announcement in Washington could spark a new round of violence.
Ahead of the announcement, the Israeli military said it was reinforcing infantry troops along the Jordan Valley.
Yossi Dagan and Prime Minister Netanyahu meeting in Washington on Tuesday
With hours to go before president unveils his peace plan, settler leaders tell U.S. officials that they cannot accept any proposal that includes Palestinian statehood, call on MKs and government to not accept such a scheme, no matter what the cost to Israel
Despite being wooed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who even took them to Washington with him on Monday, settler leaders said Tuesday they would not support a Middle East peace plan that includes a Palestinian state.
The comment came hours before U.S. President Donald Trump was due to unveil his long-awaited peace plan that includes such a provision.
"We are very disturbed," David Elhayani, the head of the Yesha Council of Settlements, told U.S. officials in Washington on Tuesday.
"We can not agree to a plan that includes the creation of a Palestinian state to endanger the State of Israel and pose a sizable threat in the future," he said.
"We declare that we will never let a Palestinian state be created, even at the cost of Israeli hegemony over certain territory in the West Bank. We demand that prime minister, his cabinet and Knesset members do not accept any plan that includes Palestinian statehood."
The settlers met earlier Tuesday with Netanyahu, who made a final attempt to garner their support for the Trump plan.
Among those present were senior representatives of the Yesha Council and the heads of the Jordan Valley, Efrat, Mateh Binyamin and Gush Etzion regional councils in the West Bank.
The settler leaders expressed their support for Netanyahu, but expressed their objections to the U.S. plan.
"We came here to strengthen the prime minister's resolve, stand at his side and voice to the White House the opinions of all settlers in a clear manner," they said.
"It was important for us to hear everything first hand and not from hearsay," said the settler leaders. "We emphasized to the prime minister the matters important to the settlers and the nation as a whole: Israeli hegemony and control over the West Bank and the continued development and prosperity of the settlements."
Netanyahu then met separately with Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, who expressed his own concerns over the peace plan, primarily the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, the division of settlements into those inside blocs and those without, the creation of settlement enclaves within Palestinian territory, transfer of territory within Areas B and C to the Palestinians and a settlement construction freeze.
The plan allegedly allows Israel to annex 30% to 40% of Area C, while the Palestinians will have control over about 40% of Areas A and B. This leaves the status of the remaining 30% of Area C unclear.
Under the terms of the 1994 Oslo Accords, Area C is under full Israeli security and civilian control, Area B is under Israeli security and Palestinian civilian rule and Area A is under full Palestinian security and civilian control.
Netanyahu showed Dagan several sections of the peace plan, emphasizing that the West Bank settlements and their continued development are his chief objective.
"The prime minister was intuitive and meticulous and showed that the good of the land of Israel and the settlements are on his mind," said Dagan.
"I feel certain issues are not hammered out and probably won't be until the last moment. We are here in Washington to aid the prime minister and U.S. President Donald Trump on the annexation of all settlements in the West Bank and not - God forbid - risk the continued Jewish presence in the West Bank or the integrity of the state."
The deal apparently leaves 15 settlements in small, isolated enclaves and settlers fear that they will have to evacuate their homes at some point.
Israel will also be required to cede 60 illegal outposts that house some 3,000 settlers.
This is the section that the settlers will struggle with and also contradicts Netanyahu's past promises to the settlers to annex all settlements.
With hours to go before president unveils his peace plan, settler leaders tell U.S. officials that they cannot accept any proposal that includes Palestinian statehood, call on MKs and government to not accept such a scheme, no matter what the cost to Israel
Despite being wooed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who even took them to Washington with him on Monday, settler leaders said Tuesday they would not support a Middle East peace plan that includes a Palestinian state.
The comment came hours before U.S. President Donald Trump was due to unveil his long-awaited peace plan that includes such a provision.
"We are very disturbed," David Elhayani, the head of the Yesha Council of Settlements, told U.S. officials in Washington on Tuesday.
"We can not agree to a plan that includes the creation of a Palestinian state to endanger the State of Israel and pose a sizable threat in the future," he said.
"We declare that we will never let a Palestinian state be created, even at the cost of Israeli hegemony over certain territory in the West Bank. We demand that prime minister, his cabinet and Knesset members do not accept any plan that includes Palestinian statehood."
The settlers met earlier Tuesday with Netanyahu, who made a final attempt to garner their support for the Trump plan.
Among those present were senior representatives of the Yesha Council and the heads of the Jordan Valley, Efrat, Mateh Binyamin and Gush Etzion regional councils in the West Bank.
The settler leaders expressed their support for Netanyahu, but expressed their objections to the U.S. plan.
"We came here to strengthen the prime minister's resolve, stand at his side and voice to the White House the opinions of all settlers in a clear manner," they said.
"It was important for us to hear everything first hand and not from hearsay," said the settler leaders. "We emphasized to the prime minister the matters important to the settlers and the nation as a whole: Israeli hegemony and control over the West Bank and the continued development and prosperity of the settlements."
Netanyahu then met separately with Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, who expressed his own concerns over the peace plan, primarily the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, the division of settlements into those inside blocs and those without, the creation of settlement enclaves within Palestinian territory, transfer of territory within Areas B and C to the Palestinians and a settlement construction freeze.
The plan allegedly allows Israel to annex 30% to 40% of Area C, while the Palestinians will have control over about 40% of Areas A and B. This leaves the status of the remaining 30% of Area C unclear.
Under the terms of the 1994 Oslo Accords, Area C is under full Israeli security and civilian control, Area B is under Israeli security and Palestinian civilian rule and Area A is under full Palestinian security and civilian control.
Netanyahu showed Dagan several sections of the peace plan, emphasizing that the West Bank settlements and their continued development are his chief objective.
"The prime minister was intuitive and meticulous and showed that the good of the land of Israel and the settlements are on his mind," said Dagan.
"I feel certain issues are not hammered out and probably won't be until the last moment. We are here in Washington to aid the prime minister and U.S. President Donald Trump on the annexation of all settlements in the West Bank and not - God forbid - risk the continued Jewish presence in the West Bank or the integrity of the state."
The deal apparently leaves 15 settlements in small, isolated enclaves and settlers fear that they will have to evacuate their homes at some point.
Israel will also be required to cede 60 illegal outposts that house some 3,000 settlers.
This is the section that the settlers will struggle with and also contradicts Netanyahu's past promises to the settlers to annex all settlements.
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The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Monday deployed tents, concrete blocks and built up mounds of dirt and rocks near and at the northern entrance to the West Bank city of al-Bireh.
Social media activists, who circulated pictures of such military preparations on the internet, said the IOF was seemingly bracing for widespread West Bank unrest, which would be triggered by US president Donald Trump’s announcement on Tuesday of his plan known informally as “the deal of the century.” The Israeli army has already put its forces on high alert and deployed six battalions across the occupied territories and along the Gaza border ahead of Trump’s reveal of his plan, according to an army radio report on Sunday. |
