At a Tuesday meeting at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump unveiled his plan for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, which he calls ‘Deal of the Century’.
Calling the deal the “most serious, realistic and detailed plan ever presented,” President Trump said “We are here to offer partnership – based on shared interests and values – to pursue a better future for all.”
The plan, which has the support of Netanyahu and his chief political rival Benny Gantz, would give Israel full control of the settlements and provide a state of their own to the Palestinians. The plan also requires that the Palestinians recognize the State of Israel and to work with Israel to resolve the Palestinian refugee issue.
Under the plan, the Palestinian state would include portions of east Jerusalem and would use Haifa and Ashdod as ports along with Israel’s use of them, as well as Palestinian agriculture in the Jordan Valley. The Temple Mount would remain as status quo, and Jewish and Muslim holy sites in the city will stay unperturbed.
If the Palestinians accept the plan, President Trump said that $50 billion would be infused into the new Palestinian state by the US. Trump’s vision for this state is quite lofty and he says it would cut Palestinian poverty rates in half and their GDP will double or triple.
Netanyahu said he would implement a four-year land freeze in the possibility that the plan comes to fruition.
Palestinian authorities, however, don’t seem to excited to agree to it. Hamas said that it rejects the plan and that ‘all options are open’.
The US Embassy in Jerusalem issued a security alert after Palestinians called for mass demonstration protesting the plan in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.