Trump Administration
Israeli communities in the West Bank/Judea and Samaria would remain in place, but not be expanded. Security checkpoints would be reduced, allowing for more freedom of movement for people and goods.
Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett’s concerns about the Kushner interview on Sky News Arabia: “There’s a clear and immediate danger in front of us: the establishment of a Palestinian state.”
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Iran harbors “vile anti-Semitic hatreds and threats of violence,” adding that “the Iranian regime openly advocates another Holocaust, and it seeks the means to achieve it.”
“Sorry @FoxNews & @TreyYingst your sources gave you bad info,” tweeted U.S. special envoy Jason Greenblatt. “While the plan is close to complete, we aren’t there yet & we’ll continue to refine it until release.”
A U.S. State Department official told JNS, “We intend to release the president’s vision when the administration concludes that we have maximized its potential for acceptance, execution and implementation.”
“That has caused a tailspin in Iran’s economy,” declared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The top U.S. diplomat proceeded to highlight the Trump administration’s accomplishments in the region in that “we’ve learned from our mistakes. We’ve rediscovered our voice. We’ve rebuilt our relationships. We’ve rejected false overtures from our enemies.”
“When you’re there, you’ll be able to understand perfectly why we’ll never leave the Golan Heights and why it’s important that all countries recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton.
Avigdor Lieberman divulged details on U.S. “deal of century” before resigning, Al-Hayat reports • Plan calls for Palestinian state in the Gaza Strip and expanded powers for Palestinian Authority in Judea and Samaria • Lieberman: “The report is false.”
In Brazil, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the Trump administration plans to present the “deal of the century” at a time “they believe would be the most conducive to its success” • U.S. agrees that presenting plan during election cycle would undermine its chances.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and other officials have warned against releasing the plan during the Israeli election season, so that the vote is not a referendum on the American proposal.
Some excitement—and perhaps a lot more doubt—has been swirling in political and academic circles about the ongoing nature of Jerusalem’s Gulf-oriented approach to diplomatic, and hopefully, economic relations.
