Middle East
The Trump peace plan is to be followed by a non-aggression agreement between Israel, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Egypt and Jordan, and possibly also Morocco.
Despite the significant achievements of the Egyptian security forces, the Sinai affiliate of ISIS is still very much a force to be reckoned with; its threats should be taken seriously.
Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas was joined at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Midtown Manhattan by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who called Abbas a “man of peace” and the “only partner” Israel has in peace negotiations.
“Jerusalem is no longer under the sovereignty of the state of Palestine,” said Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas at the Unite Nations. “Jerusalem is occupied land. Who has the right to give this as a gift to one state or another? We came before you.”
The postponement of the Palestinian resolution is “nothing to celebrate right now,” and that the real “victory or a success will be when we have real negotiations and a peace treaty signed,” said Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon.
American support for Israeli sovereignty in parts of Judea and Samaria, and over the Jordan Valley “is pertinent to our ability to settle the heart of our land without restrictions,” says the Israeli prime minister.
The newest draft, released ahead of Tuesday’s U.N. Security Council vote, no longer mentions the U.S. by name and uses less confrontational language than in the original • P.A. leader Abbas to hold a press conference with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
His tweet warning against unilateral annexation of territory in Judea and Samaria prior to Israel’s March 2 election “wasn’t a threat,” but “lets people know where we stand,” says U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.
“We are already at the height of the process of mapping the area that, according to the Trump plan, will become part of the State of Israel. It won’t take too long,” says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“We want peace and have always wanted peace. The Trump plan is the only vision that actually acknowledges what it will take to achieve peace.”
When asked if he would have ordered the strike on Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg said “it depends on the circumstances. It depends if there was an alternative, and it depends on what the different effects would be.”
The senior adviser and presidential son-in-law said those who want a state “don’t call for days of rage and encourage their people to pursue violence if they’re not getting what they want.”
