New Delhi: US President Donald Trump revealed his much-anticipated Middle East peace plan Tuesday, which sought to resolve the territorial conflict between Israel and Palestine. The plan guaranteed a unified Jerusalem to Israel and also recognised its sovereignty over the contentious Jewish settlements on the West Bank.
Palestine, in turn, was offered the possibility of limited sovereignty. Trump also promised the state with $50 billion in international investment to build Palestine and will open a new embassy there.
Trump, while announcing the plan, said, “My vision presents a win-win opportunity for both sides, a realistic two-state solution that resolves the risk of Palestinian statehood to Israel’s security.” He was flanked by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the announcement but no Palestinian representative was present.
Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas vehemently rejected Trump’s peace plan and called it a “conspiracy deal”.
Meanwhile, following the announcement, Netanyahu announced that he would be seeking a cabinet approval to make way for the annexation of 30 per cent of the disputed West Bank.
What does the peace plan entail?
The plan seeks to resolve the decades old Israel-Palestine conflict, and Trump’s son-in-law and senior White House adviser Jared Kushner played a pivotal role in drafting it.
“The plan includes a conceptual map that Mr Trump says illustrates the territorial compromises that Israel is willing to make,” noted BBC.
“The map will ‘more than double the Palestinian territory and provide a Palestinian capital in eastern Jerusalem’, where Mr Trump says the US would open an embassy. The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) said Mr Trump’s plan would give Palestinians control over 15% of what it called “historic Palestine,” it added.
The plan suggested, “No Palestinians or Israelis will be uprooted from their homes”, which means that the Israeli settlements in West Bank will now come under direct control of Israel.
“As part of the proposal, Israel agreed to limit its settlement construction in a four-year ‘land freeze’, during which Palestinian leaders can reconsider whether to engage in talks,” reported New York Times.
Palestine rejects the plan, Israel plans annexation
“I say to Trump and Netanyahu: Jerusalem is not for sale, all our rights are not for sale and are not for bargain. And your deal, the conspiracy, will not pass,” said Palestine’s interim President Mahmoud Abbas.
BBC’s Jonathan Marcus said, “While President Trump is offering the Palestinians a state it would be a much truncated one. No Jewish settlers will be uprooted and Israeli sovereignty will apparently be extended to the settlement blocs and the Jordan Valley.”
On the other hand, Netanyahu has reportedly announced that upon cabinet approval, his troops would be taking over the Israeli settlements in West Bank.
“The only immediate consequence of the Trump peace plan — and possibly all that will ever come of it — was the green light President Trump gave to Israel Tuesday to expand its territory by effectively annexing vast stretches of land it has long coveted on the West Bank,” noted New York Times.